Tinubu’s appointment of son-in-law to head FHA: Here’s what stakeholders say

BUSINESS DAY

President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of his son-in-law, Oyetunde Ojo, as the managing director of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has been drawing flaks from Nigerians, especially housing sector stakeholders, since after the announcement.

Tinubu appointed Ojo alongside Shehu Osidi who is to head the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). The appointments, according to presidency sources, is part of the reconstitution of the executive management teams of parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

Though government apologists say it is the first time since taking power last May that Tinubu has appointed a relative to his government, housing stakeholders have faulted the president’s action, describing it as naked nepotism that was the stock-in-trade of failed previous administrations.

“Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo is married to President Tinubu’s eldest daughter, Folashade. We are told that Ojo was appointed on merit, having over a decade of work experience in the housing and hospitality industries, but there are so many professionals more qualified for the position than the president’s son-in-law,” an estate developer, who pleaded anonymity, noted.

According to the developer, “after the dire consequences of nepotism in past administrations in this country, one had expected that appointing a son-in-law or any relative for that matter to head a critical housing agency such as FHA should be President Tinubu’s last consideration.”

BBC News at the weekend highlighted some of the negative comments that have trailed the appointment, quoting someone who posted on his X saying, “blatant nepotism is a leadership weakness; it’s unfortunate Nigerian leaders don’t see it as a form of ethical failure.”

Olufunso Adebayo, a real estate market advisor and consultant, noted in a phone interview with BusinessDay that FHA is not an agency that should be treated with the kind of appointment the president has made for its managing director, explaining that the housing authority has low performance burden on its shoulders.