LAGOS AUGUST 28TH (URHOBOTODAY)-President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment, yesterday, of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, his Chief of Staff and four others was greeted by angry reactions as some described it as lopsided and sectional.
Same sentiments were expressed with the president’s earlier appointments.
President Buhari, yesterday appointed, his long time political associate, Engr. David Lawal as Secretary to the Government of the Federation and former banker, Alhaji Abba Kyari as Chief of Staff.
The appointments went against the grain of political permutations which had seen some key political figures being mentioned as likely appointees to the coveted offices.
Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), who had acted as chief of staff to Buhari in his private capacity and as presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was named Comptroller-General of Customs in a key indication of the President’s yet-to-be unveiled agenda for the service. Ali was a former military administrator of Kaduna State, and was in the Military Police as a soldier before his retirement.
Also appointed, yesterday, were Mr. Kure Martin Abeshi as Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service; Senator Ita Enang as Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) and Hon. Suleiman Kawu as Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).
The appointments which were announced by Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity were with immediate effect.
Reacting to the new appointments, President, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, said the appointment is seen to be lopsided.
Shettima said: “It is unfortunate the way the situation is, because one becomes worried. We must be seen to be nationalistic than being sectionalised. I am beginning to feel uncomfortable because the complaint is that the appointments are seen to be lopsided. I also do not think that is the intention of the government. However, no matter how we pretend, the reality is that things are not done in the right way.”
He, however, said “the government should be seen to be more nationalistic than sectionalised. If we truly believe in true federalism and federal character, it should go round. We cannot say that a particular area has the best brains in the country. I think the government should look into that area thoroughly in as much as the President has good intentions.”
On his view former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwumeka Ezeife, said the new appointments have marginalised the South-East.
He said: “I do not know the rationale behind those appointments. No South-East person is in those appointments. So I am not interested.”
Also speaking, a retired Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav said: “I see the appointments as lopsided. Nigeria is too big to have majority of the appointees from one section of the country. We have competent people in every part of Nigeria. For that reason, he (Buhari) should spread the appointments to every part of Nigeria.
“If he (Buhari) is looking for honest people, there are honest people in every part of Nigeria, just as we have dishonest people in every part. Most Nigerians voted for him, even those who did not vote for him are his subjects and he is bound to carry every one along.”
Vanguard