Following the appointments made so far by President Muhammadu Buhari which at the moment is against the Federal Character Principle, the All Progressives Congress and Presidency have at different fora stated that the more appointments to be made will be balanced and more inclusive.
The Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution states that the government must ensure “the principles of proportional sharing of all bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels of government.”
This was as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said yesterday that Buhari would not relegate any section of the country in his appointments. He said the appointments made so far represented only a small fraction of the positions to be filled and explained that those appointed were mostly people who had been working with the president, whose posts were just being formalised.
Buhari drew the ire of many across the country on Thursday when he released a list of six new key appointees, which was widely criticised as the accentuation of an uneven geopolitical distribution of appointments since his inauguration on May 29.
Responding to the widespread misgivings over the appointments, the chairman, All Progressives Congress, Odigie-Oyegun said, “It is too early and superficial to say the appointments were lopsided; it is too early. We are just a little over two months into the government. The appointments made so far are personal staff members of the president. And it is his prerogative to make those appointments.”
The APC national chairman stressed, “Even though we were marginally involved in those appointments, the party will henceforth be fully involved in the subsequent appointments; that is where the supremacy of the party will come to bear. Nigerians should exercise a little patience. There will be board appointments, ministerial positions and a lot of others positions.”
Another APC leader from the South-west, who preferred anonymity, told THISDAY on Saturday by telephone that some party leaders had planned to meet with the president early this week to discuss the subsequent appointments and other national issues. He expressed fear over the harsh criticism the recent appointments had generated from members of the public, including many supporters of the APC.
The APC leader, who is a member of the party’s National Working Committee, said, “We are very mindful of the widespread criticisms the president’s recent appointments has generated. While some of our leaders have tried to rationalise them, many of us are not very comfortable with them. And we have agreed to meet with Mr. President early next week (this week) to raise some concerns with him.
“Yes, the president must take some tough decisions right now, but we have a party with huge followers to keep. Many of our members are not happy with unfolding events.”
But Shehu maintained that Buhari did not intend to disregard any part of Nigeria in his appointments.
He stated, “Our brothers and sisters and fellow countrymen should bear with the new administration as it takes its measured steps towards an effective take off. These appointments are just beginning.
“The ones down so far, apart from the security services, are mostly of people acting as unofficial advisers or staff of the president. They are mostly men and women who have been doing things for the president and the positions are being formalised.
“Statistically, the appointments don’t amount to five per cent of what is to come. There will come ministers, heads of government departments, federal boards and ambassadors.
“At the end of the exercise, no part of the country will be left feeling left out.”
Buhari had on Thursday announced his six new appointees in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina. They were Engr. Babachir David Lawal – Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Alhaji Abba Kyari – Chief of Staff to the President; Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) – Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service; Mr. Kure Martin Abeshi – Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service; Senator Ita S.J. Enang – Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate); and Hon. Suleiman A. Kawu – Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).
Lawal is from Adamawa State (North-east), Kyari is from Borno State (North-east), Ali hails from Bauchi State (North-east), Abeshi is from Nasarawa State (North-central), Enang comes from Akwa Ibom State (South-south), and Kawu is from Kano State (North-west).
The six appointments brought to 29 the number of officials chosen thus far by the president to man key sectors, including defence, energy, and the economy. Altogether, Buhari is yet to appoint someone from the South-east. Most of the appointees are from the North-west, where Buhari comes from, and North-east, where his wife, Aisha, hails from.