MORE OUTRAGE OVER BUHARI’S APPOINTMENTS

President Muhammadu Buhari

The outrage over the appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari has continued with more Nigerians accusing the President of being ethnically biased. There is an apparent consensus that the appointments did not reflect Nigeria’s ethnic diversity.

The Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in its reaction, said the appointments should not be greeted with enthusiasm, saying that it is more concerned about the delivering of good governance. Similarly, a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on his Facebook page, said Nigerians are already witnessing the consequences of his pre- election warning of not voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said: “Nigerians wanted change and now we have got it. No one should complain because this is what our people wanted. Those of us who warned the country that this would happen were insulted and lampooned. Now we have to live with the consequences of our choice for the next four years. Welcome to the new Nigeria. Welcome to change.”

Also reacting, former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope said: “ Democracy to Buhari is government  of the Northerners by the Northerners and for the Northerners. God bless Nigeria. “

The immediate past Senate Majority Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma- Egba, who hailed the appointments, said this is not the first time someone outside the Customs was chosen to head the agency.

Ndoma–Egba said: “They are  competent with proven integrity. It will not be the first time someone will be appointed from outside to head Customs. Dr.Bello Haliru  Mohammed, current  acting Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT was appointed to head Customs from outside. “

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe,  stressed that no one should be surprised at the appointments because the President had allegedly pledged to give priority to those, who voted for him.

He said:  “No one should be surprised over what is happening or the shape of the political appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari.  To be fair to him, the President said during his recent state visit to the United States of America, that he will reward those who voted for him. Again, it could be the style of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). That is to say, that the party has chosen as a style, to run a government that encourages alienation of a sizeable portion of its people, as well as one that promotes exclusivity.

“Every political party has its style, like the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) that adopted its own style of running an inclusive national government, which reflected the true character and national outlook of the Nigerian people. PDP’s style was inclusive not minding the voting pattern of any section of the country or where its support base was derived. For any party, there should not be any political barrier or alienation of any constituent part, because after elections the President is the President and father of all Nigerians irrespective of political leaning.

“My hunch is that the appointments so far, which has surreptitiously thrown up the prevailing circumstance, has failed to encourage our people’s hunger and quest to build a nation state out of a heterogeneous Nigeria. The appointments as it were does not also support the effort to weave a more cohesive country that would metamorphose into a nation where unity and love will prevail. The founding fathers of our nation had this in mind when the notion of “Federal. Character” was inscribed in the constitution and a commission created for that purpose. That a President of elder statesman status would willfully breach this fibre that holds this country together is highly regrettable.

“My take is that, it is a ‘Buhari country’, it is the reality, so he can play around with his choice as his mind and conscience directs him. After all he did not win election in the South East and  South-South and yet he became President, therefore, the South should be orphaned for not voting for him. Perhaps that is the stark reality that the people of the South in Nigeria should face. The Buhari government will also come to an end one day. Nonetheless, it could have been good and politically expedient if President Buhari sees himself as President of Nigeria, which is the hallmark of a statesman and not that of President of a section of the country. “

The Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, said: “The President has his reason, that’s all I can say.” (vanguard)