South kicks as North takes top positions

OBINNA EZUGWU|

Though pundits hold that it is a bit early to draw conclusions, the fact remains that the South is concerned that most of the appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari so far, favours only the North. OBINNA EZUGWU reports

Politicians and opinion leaders in the South have expressed concern over what they perceived to be an attempt by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration to grossly marginalize its people in the sharing of key political offices in his government.

This is coming against the backdrop of the appointments that have been made so far, which favours the North leaving the South out of strategic political appointments.

Recently, President Buhari reportedly appointed Colonel Hamidu Ali, a former military administrator of Kaduna State as his Chief of Staff contrary to the widely held believes that the post would be given to a Southerner as a way of ensuring equity and fair play in the new administration. However, the Presidency later denied making such appointment.

Already, the North has effectively taken over the leadership of both arms of the National Assembly with Bukola Saraki emerging as senate president and Yakubu Dogara as speaker of the House of Representatives. Only on Tuesday, the Federal Government appointed Mr. Mordecai Danteni Ladan as the head of the Department of Petroleum Resources. He took over from the former DPR Director, Mr. George Osahon.

Reports have it that the new management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, will comprise about seven top  people from the North.

Some notable political figures from the South who played key roles in the formation and success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the electioneering campaign had been tipped for the post of chief of staff to the President. Some of the suggested names included the immediate past governors of Lagos and Rivers states, Babatunde Fashola and Rotimi Amaechi as well as former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi.

The president had also not long ago appointed Ahmed Idris from Kano state as the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), making him another Northerner to hold a high profile portfolio in Buhari’s administration. The post of AGF it would be recalled had been vacant since June 12, 2015 following the retirement of Jonah Otunla.

It was gathered that following Otunla’s resignation as AGF, the Head of Service of the Federation, Barrister Danladi Kifasi conducted test for prospective candidates for the position after which Idris emerged out of about twenty qualified candidates. It should be noted however, that during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo the AGF was Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwabo, the incumbent governor of Gombe State.

On Monday, the Federal Government also announced the appointment of Mr. Modecai Danteni Baba Ladan as the new Director of the Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR).

Recently, reports had also emerged that some powerful individuals from the core Northern part of the country had begun to strategize on how to take over the NNPC following the recent dissolution of the Corporation’s Board by President Buhari. A national newspaper (not Hallmark) reported that three names from the North East and North West are already being considered for the post of NNPC Group Managing Director (GMD). The names tipped in the report include; Malam Isa Inuwa from Kano State, Dr. M.K Baru from Bauchi and Alhaji Sa’ad Farouk from Sokoto State.

The report also revealed that strong individuals from the North have already positioned themselves to take up existing juicy vacancies in the corporation while the remaining less attractive positions may be handed down to people from other parts of the country.

Of all the appointments made so far by President Buhari, the only notable Southerner that has found his way into his team is Femi Adesina, who was named alongside Shehu Garba as his spokesperson. Analysts however, believe that Adesina’s appointment will only serve to protect Buhari from any possible attacks by the predominantly Yoruba and Lagos based Nigerian newspapers. The belief is that Garba will be the face of the Buhari’s media while Adesina will only serve to relate with the South West press in that sense.

Although Adesina had in the wake of the recent announcement that Buhari has appointed Ali as COS, refuted the claims without giving much details, there are strong indications that the president indeed has made the appointment.

Also the post of Secretary to the Government of the Federation which was previously speculated to be zoned to the South East, is believed eventually go to the North east to compensate it for the lose of Senate President.

It is not surprising therefore that the recent developments have elicited reactions from leaders of thought in the South who expressed reservations for Buhari’s tendency to favour the North.

Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman, the President of a human rights group, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) had for instance in a chat with Hallmark noted that Buhari’s appointment so far does not reflect the ideal nature of Nigerian democracy, insisting that the country does not belong to the North only.

“Buhari does not need to create enmity between himself and other parts of the country with his pattern of appointments. He should not appoint only Northerners into strategic positions, what he has done so far do not reflect the true composition of the Nigerian state. Nigeria does not belong to the North only,” Adeniyi said.

He went on to advice the President to start delivering on his promises to Nigerians which made them vote for him during the presidential election.

In his on assertion, Silas Ogbodo, the House of Representatives candidate of the People for Democratic Change (PDC) in the last election in Enugu State attributed Buhari’s actions to the fact that he got massive support from the North during the presidential election. He noted however that it was still a bit early to draw conclusions.

”It is expected, the question is whether he would go political with his appointments. If he does, then he is likely going to appoint mostly Northerners because he got more support from the North. But I think we cannot conclude now that he has only made few appointments. Let’s not judge him now.”

For Robert Okechukwu Okoroji, a former governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Lagos State, the South especially the Igbo should not border about the appointments. He also noted that the Igbo have no regrets over their voting pattern. “The Igbo should have no regrets, we voted out of conviction, what matters are that we move on from here.”

The South East and South-South should stick together and form a united front. They cannot do that by prostrating for Buhari to get appointments. We would be belittling ourselves if we go and beg for appointments. Buhari cannot do without us if we are united,” Okoroji stressed.

Also responding to the development, the Secretary General of the apex Igbo socio-political group, Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, Chief Joe Nworgu opined that it was still not time to draw conclusions as there are still other appointments to be made. “It is too early in the day for me to begin to speak on the issue of appointments, let us wait and see things develop under the new government.”

According to Engr. Vita Abba, the immediate past Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, what should matter must to Buhari is fairness and objectivity. “What matters most is objectivity on the part of the President’s template for overall development of the nation.”

The conclusion of many is that the South should keep its fingers crossed and see what the president does with the remaining positions. Among the positions of interest that has not yet been occupied and which some Southern leaders are hopeful about are the finance minister, EFCC chairman, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), National Security Adviser (NSA), Minister of Works and Principal Secretary and Attorney General.

But among the above portfolios, it is unlikely, as many have suggested that Buhari will give a Southerner the post of NSA, EFCC chairman or Attorney General. Although some are of the opinion that Fashola might be considered for the position of Attorney General.

Rotimi Amaechi and Ogbonnaya Onu have been variously tipped for SGF, but it remains to be seen which side it goes.

Mr. Odemegwu Onwumere, told Hallmark that Buhari is an alarmist and has religious/northern agenda. He said we should not expect much from him.

“His agenda is against the south. Don’t forget that Yoruba  leaders said they regretted voting for him, so Buhari is pursing northern interest.