A former Military Administrator, retired Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, has criticized the Federal Government for favoring the North in its appointment.
Umar, in a statement on Thursday, said this against the background of the Presidency to confirm Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Onnoghen, who has been acting as the CJN, will see his tenure in acting capacity run out in a few days.
If this happens, it means Onnoghen can no longer be appointed as the substantive CJN except the National Judicial Council resubmits his name or another person’s.
Umar said this is unfortunate as the government’s appointments are in favor of the North.
He said in the statement: “In a few days, the tenure of acting appointment of Justice Onnoghen will expire. Going by our extant Constitution, the Acting CJN will be disqualified from appointment as the substantive CJN unless the NJC resubmits his nomination to the President.
“Without providing any cogent and plausible or believable reason for its failure to forward the name of Justice Onnoghen to the Senate for confirmation, the Presidency leaves Nigerians guessing and speculating about the reasons.
“Already, many analysts view this action as a ploy to deny a Southerner his right to succession based on his seniority in keeping with the appointment protocol observed the NJC in making the appointment.
“In the event of this occurrence, the NJC must not forward any other name nor should the Senate confirm any other nominee.
“This will serve to check the excesses of this administration and reinforce the unity of the nation which has already been pushed to the precipice by the recruitment and appointment policies of a government which tends to favour the north in violation of the Federal Character provision of the Constitution.”
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