PRESIDENT BUHARI’S GROSS NEPOTISM ON THE APPOINTMENT OF HIGH-RANKING FEDERAL OFFICIALS IS A GREAT CAUSE FOR CONCERN
January 19, 2021 | News
Agreed that on the general scale, the issue of nepotism, favouritism, ethnicitism, religion, and political affiliations have been the attributing factors that have made the Nigerian nation not to have political leaders that ought to be elected/appointed on merit and qualification to effectively and efficiently lead the country to great heights.
PRESIDENT BUHARI’S GROSS NEPOTISM ON THE APPOINTMENT OF HIGH-RANKING FEDERAL OFFICIALS IS A GREAT CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Agreed that on the general scale, the issue of nepotism, favouritism, ethnicitism, religion, and political affiliations have been the attributing factors that have made the Nigerian nation not to have political leaders that ought to be elected/appointed on merit and qualification to effectively and efficiently lead the country to great heights. But the degree and level this is evident in the polity varies in different past and recent governments. However, it appears it is more obvious and prevalent in the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari than we have ever seen same in past governments.
Looking at the administration of President Buhari, it seems as if there is a hidden law in place that has placed and made Federal Appointments to favour the Northern Nigerians only. From the INEC Chairman, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and Other Services Chiefs like Defense, Army, Airforce, EFCC, DSS, National Security Adviser (NSA), and then the GMD of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), NNPC Directors, DG of NDLEA, etc., are all majorly from the Northern Nigerian. One then begins to wonder if something bad will happen in Nigeria if President Buhari appoints a qualified Southerner to any of the stated ‘strategic’ Federal positions? Why can't he trust Southerners enough to appoint them in sensitive positions?
Truth be told, I really do not think President Buhari believes in a ‘One Nigeria,’ hence he does not care, or has any regard or consideration for the other parts of the country when appointing people in all the sensitive positions with only those from one section of the country. If truly he believes in the One Nigeria Project, then it should be seen in his appointments, dispositions, and body language. Sadly, that has not been the case.
A look at all the Federal Government appointments to sensitive top Government positions since its inception in 2015, as well as the ‘body language’ and disposition of the Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is very clear and undeniable indicators of this verifiable fact – that President Muhammadu Buhari’s proclivity at pampering his ethnic stock over and above the other ethnic nationalities, is the highest Nigerians have witnessed in the country’s history. When people are appointed by the Presidency, and such appointments are not based on merit, expertise, established laws that put into consideration the country’s multi-ethnicity, credibility and integrity of the persons in question; then that government should be called what it is – a corrupt government that is clothed in gross nepotism and dictatorship. There are countless published/unpublished interviews by relevant stakeholders, elder statemen, including letters/articles, and public statements justifying this fact.
For instance, towards the end of Buhari’s first term in Office, a Kano State-based politician and social critic, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, then reiterated his claim of nepotism against President Muhammadu Buhari during an interview with one of the national dailies. Mohammed, a Second Republic lawmaker, accused the president of surrounding himself with unqualified persons who only got their positions because of personal ties with him or his cronies. He identified one of the persons with personal ties with the president who is presently in his government as Personal Assistant to the President, Sabiu Yusuf Tunde, who is the son of the President’s niece and younger sister to Mamman Daura, the President’s closest confidant. According to Mohammed, Tunde, who is in his 20s, had never worked in his entire life before his present appointment but “is one of the wealthiest 20-year-old persons in Nigeria.” Speaking on allegations of nepotism against Buhari, Mohammed said: “This is an update of what I started saying two years ago. They now have their sons, daughters, sons-in-law, and nephews as beneficiaries of the appointments made so far… If they are going to treat this country as if it was conquered by them and or by their families, you can imagine what the picture would look like, if Buhari were to be given a second term and how they are going to use our resources and how they are going to abuse power…”
The truth of the matter is that, if we are One Nigeria, then why has Buhari been appointing only people from Northern Nigeria to occupy sensitive Federal positions since he came into power? Without a doubt, President Buhari’s Federal Appointments are dividing this country. He only tried to make his Federal Appointments to look ‘balanced’ with his Cabinet Ministers, who are nothing but ‘messengers’ of the Presidency that can only make noise without making any serious Executive impact.
Mind you, I am not against the Federal Appointments of people from the North. But in a situation where it is only those from one section of the country that are appointed in such sensitive positions by a Government that has been in power since 2015, then it greatly calls for concern. Almost all the major appointments in the Presidency and the Federal Ministries and Departments, whose structure of power streams from the Center – Abuja, are headed by people from Northern Nigeria. This is absolutely very unhealthy, and a recipe for disaster because it only breeds disunity, animosity, and suspicion amongst the Nigerian populace. Are they saying that no one from the Southern parts of the country is qualified to occupy any of these Federal positions? Buhari should be reminded that he was elected to govern the entire country and not only the people from the Northern Nigeria.
A sincere leader whose duty is to take the whole country and its citizenry as ‘his constituency’, should not be practicing this level of gross nepotism in a country like Nigeria that is multifaceted in all dimensions. President Buhari’s One-sided Federal Appointments are clear indicators to justify that he has no regard for other sections of the country other than his, and that he is a dictator who does not care about the yearnings, cries, problems and aspirations of the Southern parts of Nigeria. Our nation is degenerating at a fast pace and we need to save it now. We as a people must positively change our attitude towards our country if we do not want it explode before us one day. It is in the light of these that I strongly advise President Muhammadu Buhari to heed advice, and change his ways. Otherwise, this hole that he is digging today, will end up swallowing them and every person in Nigeria.
President Buhari should also be reminded that he will not rule Nigeria throughout his life time, hence he should learn from the mistakes of others before him like Ibrahim Babangida. He should think of his post administration impact on himself and family, after exiting government. If President Buhari doesn't listen, his family members should advise him properly so they won't regret the mis-governance of their father and husband. He should not think he will be on top for ever. Power is not permanent in one's life time.
Zik Gbemre.
January 19, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
Agreed that on the general scale, the issue of nepotism, favouritism, ethnicitism, religion, and political affiliations have been the attributing factors that have made the Nigerian nation not to have political leaders that ought to be elected/appointed on merit and qualification to effectively and efficiently lead the country to great heights. But the degree and level this is evident in the polity varies in different past and recent governments. However, it appears it is more obvious and prevalent in the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari than we have ever seen same in past governments.
Looking at the administration of President Buhari, it seems as if there is a hidden law in place that has placed and made Federal Appointments to favour the Northern Nigerians only. From the INEC Chairman, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and Other Services Chiefs like Defense, Army, Airforce, EFCC, DSS, National Security Adviser (NSA), and then the GMD of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), NNPC Directors, DG of NDLEA, etc., are all majorly from the Northern Nigerian. One then begins to wonder if something bad will happen in Nigeria if President Buhari appoints a qualified Southerner to any of the stated ‘strategic’ Federal positions? Why can't he trust Southerners enough to appoint them in sensitive positions?
Truth be told, I really do not think President Buhari believes in a ‘One Nigeria,’ hence he does not care, or has any regard or consideration for the other parts of the country when appointing people in all the sensitive positions with only those from one section of the country. If truly he believes in the One Nigeria Project, then it should be seen in his appointments, dispositions, and body language. Sadly, that has not been the case.
A look at all the Federal Government appointments to sensitive top Government positions since its inception in 2015, as well as the ‘body language’ and disposition of the Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is very clear and undeniable indicators of this verifiable fact – that President Muhammadu Buhari’s proclivity at pampering his ethnic stock over and above the other ethnic nationalities, is the highest Nigerians have witnessed in the country’s history. When people are appointed by the Presidency, and such appointments are not based on merit, expertise, established laws that put into consideration the country’s multi-ethnicity, credibility and integrity of the persons in question; then that government should be called what it is – a corrupt government that is clothed in gross nepotism and dictatorship. There are countless published/unpublished interviews by relevant stakeholders, elder statemen, including letters/articles, and public statements justifying this fact.
For instance, towards the end of Buhari’s first term in Office, a Kano State-based politician and social critic, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, then reiterated his claim of nepotism against President Muhammadu Buhari during an interview with one of the national dailies. Mohammed, a Second Republic lawmaker, accused the president of surrounding himself with unqualified persons who only got their positions because of personal ties with him or his cronies. He identified one of the persons with personal ties with the president who is presently in his government as Personal Assistant to the President, Sabiu Yusuf Tunde, who is the son of the President’s niece and younger sister to Mamman Daura, the President’s closest confidant. According to Mohammed, Tunde, who is in his 20s, had never worked in his entire life before his present appointment but “is one of the wealthiest 20-year-old persons in Nigeria.” Speaking on allegations of nepotism against Buhari, Mohammed said: “This is an update of what I started saying two years ago. They now have their sons, daughters, sons-in-law, and nephews as beneficiaries of the appointments made so far… If they are going to treat this country as if it was conquered by them and or by their families, you can imagine what the picture would look like, if Buhari were to be given a second term and how they are going to use our resources and how they are going to abuse power…”
The truth of the matter is that, if we are One Nigeria, then why has Buhari been appointing only people from Northern Nigeria to occupy sensitive Federal positions since he came into power? Without a doubt, President Buhari’s Federal Appointments are dividing this country. He only tried to make his Federal Appointments to look ‘balanced’ with his Cabinet Ministers, who are nothing but ‘messengers’ of the Presidency that can only make noise without making any serious Executive impact.
Mind you, I am not against the Federal Appointments of people from the North. But in a situation where it is only those from one section of the country that are appointed in such sensitive positions by a Government that has been in power since 2015, then it greatly calls for concern. Almost all the major appointments in the Presidency and the Federal Ministries and Departments, whose structure of power streams from the Center – Abuja, are headed by people from Northern Nigeria. This is absolutely very unhealthy, and a recipe for disaster because it only breeds disunity, animosity, and suspicion amongst the Nigerian populace. Are they saying that no one from the Southern parts of the country is qualified to occupy any of these Federal positions? Buhari should be reminded that he was elected to govern the entire country and not only the people from the Northern Nigeria.
A sincere leader whose duty is to take the whole country and its citizenry as ‘his constituency’, should not be practicing this level of gross nepotism in a country like Nigeria that is multifaceted in all dimensions. President Buhari’s One-sided Federal Appointments are clear indicators to justify that he has no regard for other sections of the country other than his, and that he is a dictator who does not care about the yearnings, cries, problems and aspirations of the Southern parts of Nigeria. Our nation is degenerating at a fast pace and we need to save it now. We as a people must positively change our attitude towards our country if we do not want it explode before us one day. It is in the light of these that I strongly advise President Muhammadu Buhari to heed advice, and change his ways. Otherwise, this hole that he is digging today, will end up swallowing them and every person in Nigeria.
President Buhari should also be reminded that he will not rule Nigeria throughout his life time, hence he should learn from the mistakes of others before him like Ibrahim Babangida. He should think of his post administration impact on himself and family, after exiting government. If President Buhari doesn't listen, his family members should advise him properly so they won't regret the mis-governance of their father and husband. He should not think he will be on top for ever. Power is not permanent in one's life time.
Zik Gbemre.
January 19, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes