Tinubu should appoint Yahaya Bello as minister of finance to continue from where he stopped and also appoint Seyi, his son — Mahdi Shehu, Activist

Political commentator Mahdi Shehu has called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello as Nigeria’s new Finance Minister.

Shehu made the statement in a viral video posted on the official X handle of NEWS CENTRAL TV, where he was responding to a question about the President’s potential plans to reshuffle his cabinet.

According to Shehu, none of President Tinubu’s current ministers have performed well, and there is no sector in the country that is functioning effectively. In his view, rather than simply reshuffling the existing cabinet, the President should instead appoint more people, including Yahaya Bello as the new Finance Minister.

“I think rather than changing the cabinet, he should increase the cabinet. I recommend he gives more people employment. I recommend that he appoints Yahaya Bello as the Minister of Finance so that he can continue from where he stopped,” Shehu said in the video.

The political commentator’s endorsement of Yahaya Bello for the crucial Finance Minister position is a surprising and controversial suggestion, given the former Kogi governor’s own recent allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello had accused the anti-corruption agency of attempting to tarnish his image for political reasons, claiming that the EFCC was carrying out a “hatchet job” on his behalf. This raised questions about Bello’s own financial management during his time as Kogi’s governor.

Shehu, however, appears to have confidence in Bello’s abilities, suggesting that he can “continue from where he stopped” in the finance sector.

The commentator also went a step further, recommending that the President appoint his son, Seyi Tinubu, as a minister, stating that “what is the difference between Seyi and a minister?”