The appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday have been described as lopsided.
Among those who faulted the appointments were a retired Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav; a former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife; and the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum.
Out of the six appointees named on Thursday by Buhari, according to a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, only one was a Southerner.
This was more so as one of the key positions, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, had been calculated to go to either the South East or South South.
While Engr. David Lawal was named as the SGF, Alhaji Abba Kyari emerged as the Chief of Staff.
Retired Colonel Hameed Ali emerged as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service and Kure Martin Abeshi was named as the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service.
Senator Ita Enang, the only Southerner among the lot, became the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) and Hon. Suleiman Kawu the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).
Reacting on behalf of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, its President, Alhaji Yerima 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.
“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.”
Ezeife said the new appointments have marginalised the South East.
“I do not know the rationale behind those appointments.
“No South East person is in those appointments.
“So I am not interested.”
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.”
Lawal hails from Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and worked with the Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited and Data Sciences Limited before establishing his ICT and Telecommunications consulting firm in 1990.
He is also a member of the Nigeria Computer Society, the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.
Lawal is the National Vice Chairman, North East of the All Progressives Congress.
Kyari holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Law and Sociology from the University of Cambridge and the University of Warwick.
He worked with the New Nigeria Development Company, New Africa Holdings, African International Bank, United Bank for Africa, Unilever and Mobil in various capacities.
He hails from Borno State.
Ali holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Criminology.
He was military administrator of Kaduna State.
Abeshi hails from Nasarawa State.
He joined the Nigerian Immigration Service in 1989 as an Assistant Comptroller.
His educational qualifications include a Master’s degree in Public Administration.
Enang was the Chairman of the Rules and Business Committee of the 7th Senate.
He hails from Akwa Ibom State.
Until the last general election in March and April, he was a staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He recently decamped to the APC.
Kawu was a member of the 7th House of Representatives.
He hails from Kano State and is a staunch member of the APC.
Trending
- LASG Promote Environment Hygiene, Steps up Campaign to end open Defecation
- Odumeje ‘Indaboski’ is a true man of God, says Nkechi Blessing
- Workers trapped as building collapses in Kano
- NAFDAC seals bakeries, medicine stores, water factories in Plateau
- Worldwide Anglican Church gives Nigerian Bishop Adeoye new appointment
- Delta: Police arrest 2 kidnappers, recover corpses as kidnap victim escapes
- Delta CP presents over N47m to 22 deceased officers’ families
- Manage your temper, self-defence claims are for court to decide- Delta PPRO