Ex-Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has sensationally claimed that Bashir Jamoh, the newly-appointed Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), is President Muhammadu Buhari’s in-law.
He made the claim in a series of tweets on Thursday while reacting Jamoh’s appointment, following the removal of Dr. Dakuku Peterside as head of the maritime regulatory agency.
The Herald could not independently verify the claim.
Appointed in 2016, Peterside’s tenure is billed to end on March 10, 2020.
He is a well-known ally of Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi.
Fani-Kayode, who claimed nepotism and ethno-religious bias on the side of the president in the appointment, reiterated his earlier claim that Buhari is out to fill key positions in the nation with members of his tribe and religion.
The ex-minister added that Southerners that helped bring Buhari to power should be ashamed of themselves.
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See tweets:
Buhari has kicked out Rotimi Ameachi's ally &southern Christian, Dakuku Peterside, &appointed yet another northern Muslim into a key position in his Govt.. His name is Bashir Jamoh from Kaduna state.Apart from being from a northern Muslim he is also the President's in-law..1/2
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) March 5, 2020
…I wonder how Buhari's useful idiots and accursed slaves from the south feel about that? Even the few crumbs that he gave them are now being taken away. Poor lost souls.
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) March 5, 2020
Meanwhile, Peterside’s tenure has been filled with controversy lately.
The Herald recalls how NIMASA faced probe by the House of Representatives in February for allegedly failing to audit its account for six years, five of which were under Peterside.
The Senate also threatened to issue an arrest warrant against the former NIMASA DG over his refusal to honour an invitation of the Joint Committee on Navy, Maritime and Finance over an administrative matter.
Meanwhile, Amaechi, whose ministry supervises NIMASA, has denied knowledge of Peterside’s removal.
He said that since Peterside’s tenure has not expired, Buhari could not have unilaterally appointed his replacement.