Uproar over appointments, as Buhari favors the Northerners

The Internet, particularly the social media and blogs, are agog with reactions and counter-reactions and Nigerians, especially those from the southern part of the country expressed concern over the appointments made so far by President Buhari. They said the appointments were lopsided and not in the best interest of the country.

While the President Buhari is from Katsina State, Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, are from Kwara and Bauchi states respectively. The judiciary is led by Justice Mahmud Mohammed from Taraba State. Of the nine appointments made by Buhari so far, eight are from the North, while one is from the South. 

The appointments are: Director-General of the State Services, Lawal Daura, Katsina State; Acting Chairman, the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari, Jigawa State; Director, the Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Mordecai Danteni Baba Ladan; and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, Kano State.

Others are the State Chief of Protocol, Mallam Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure; Aide De Camp, Lt.-Col. Muhammed Lawal Abubakar, Kano State; Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu; and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, South-West.

The appointments, however, drew the ire of Nigerians who asked Buhari to respect the country’s principle of federal character.