On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments sparked a lot of criticisms from different corners.
Buhari named Babachir David Lawal, from Adamawa State, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Abba Kyari, from Borno, as his Chief of Staff.
He appointed Hameed Ali, a retired colonel from Adamawa, as the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service.
Ali was also reportedly involved in the Murder of Later environmental rights activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa.
The Ohaneze Youth Council has in a statement expressed dissatisfaction for President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent appointments saying it shows that he has a glaring hatred for the Ndigbo.
President of the of the OYC, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, in a statemen jointly signed with the group’s Public Relations Officer, Hon. Obinna Adibe, urged the President to reverse the appointments immediately.
The statement read “We stand to condemn this glaring hatred for Ndigbo by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. We recall that apart from several other appointments, Buhari’s government has also appointed Service Chiefs and in a similar manner, he sidelined the South-East zone.
“As if that was not enough, the long-awaited position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, has come at last and this government deemed nobody from the South-East qualified enough to occupy that position, which was earlier zoned to Ndigbo.
“We are indeed shocked by this turn of events, which are totally at variance with Mr. President’s earlier stand that he was for nobody but that he was for everybody. We are at a loss where this statement fits in, considering all the actions he has taken so far, which are all against the interest of Ndigbo.
“Where is the justice; where is the equity; where is the one Nigeria? How long shall Ndigbo be pushed to the walls?
“The Ohaneze Youth Council is saying it loud and clear that these appointments are unacceptable to us and we urge Mr. President to reverse them, otherwise it would appear that there is a grand-design to annihilate the Igbos out of the political and economic system in this country.”
“We use this medium to urge Mr. President to right these wrongs and move the country forward as one. Tribalism has never paid Nigeria and this period will not make any difference”.
Former Minister for Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode in a Facebook post also reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent appointments.
Fani-Kayode said “Nigerians wanted ‘change’ and now we have got it. No-one should complain because this is what our people wanted.
“Those of us that 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’.”
Fani-Kayode also listed prominent positions and the region of the appointee.
1. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – north,
2. Senate President- north.
3. Speaker of the House of Representatives- north.
4. Chief Justice of the Federation- north.
5. President of the Court of Appeal- north.
6. Chief Justice of the Federal High Court- north.
7. Secretary to the Federal Government- north.
8. Chief of Staff to the President- north.
9. Chief of Army Staff- north.
10. Chief of Air Staff- north.
11. Comptroller General of Customs- north.
12. Director-General of State Security Services (SSS)- north.
13. National Security Advisor- north.
14. Director General NIMASA- north.
15. Chairperson of the Independant Electoral Commission (INEC)- north.
16. Comptroller-General Immigration- north.
17. Accountant-General of the Federation – north.
18. Commander of Civil Defence Corps- north.
19. Chief Security Officer to the President- north.
20. ADC to the President- north.
21. Principal Secretary to the President- north.
22. Senior Special Assistant to the President on media- north.
23. Chairman of the EFCC- north.
24. MD Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)- north.
25. Head of Service – north.
26. DG National Communication Commission (NCC)- north.
27. Chairman NDLEA- north.
President, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, also described the appointment as sectional.
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.”