PANIC,ANXIETY AND MIXED FEELINGS TRAILS BUHARI APPOINTMENT

The recent happenings within the ranks and files of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress APC is not in anyway different from superlative suspense and later turned reactions. 

Similarly, announcement of the ministerial appointment which came after good and solid six months. No fewer than three sets of comprehensive lists were flying in the public, Before it all ended up having just few of the permutation which culminated to series of grievances that shook the party to the very foundation. 

Ordinarily, One would have expected the mega party to use the grace period of match 29 to May 29 2015 to have some perfection to come up with immediate cabinet but alas,it took whopping six months for Nigeria to have a cabinet in place.What then is the difference when for the first time in the history of this country and for a government to wait for almost three years in government before inauguration of board members into various agencies.

To make matter worst is the fact that it came down to have eight dead persons,misspelling of names, repetition etc.

The list of the new appointees also shows duplication of names, with few persons appointed into more than one board.

Sabo Nanono was appointed a member of the board of the National Agency for Science and Engineering, NASENI. He was, however, also appointed chairman of the board of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC.

Kabiru Matazu was appointed chairman of FCT Universal Education Board and also appointed to chair the board of Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.

Umaymah Abdullahi was named on the board of Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri as well as the Federal Medical Centre, Sokoto.

Also Habiba Umar was appointed on the board of the Federal Medical Centre, Yola and also Federal Medical Centre, Birnin-Kebbi.

Just imagine appointment of NON-APC as members of board, A Kano governorship aspirant, Ibrahim El-Amin, popularly known as Little, was appointed board member of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.

In August, Mr. El-Amin decamped from APC to PDP in what was seen as heralding the eventual defection of the former Nigeria Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Another person from Kano and close confidant of Mr. Abubakar, Murtala Adhama, was also appointed into the board of Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority.

Mr. Adhama, though not known to be a party man in Kano politics, is, believed to be among Mr. Abubakar’s close strategists.

Another ally of Mr. Abubakar that made it into the list is Bashir Ibrahim. Mr. Ibrahim is factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM.

He was appointed member of the board of Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority.

It is unclear if the three men would pick up their appointments, or ignore them considering the new political stance of Mr. Abubakar.

However, it is not illegal or inappropriate to appoint opposition politicians into such offices. A serving minister, Aisha Alhassan, is still holding on to her office, despite her public pledge of loyalty to Mr. Abubakar who is expected to be a PDP presidential candidate in 2019.

Another controversial appointee is Donald Ugbaja, who is believed to be a late former deputy inspector general of police.

The former police chief died a few weeks ago.

Mr. Ugbaja was appointed a board member of the Consumer Protection Council.

A third person, Christopher Utov, was appointed board member of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research.

He is believed to be the same person as a Catholic priest from Benue State who died on March 18.

In a country of about 180 millions of people,there is bound to be people with similar and identical names when indeed there was no pre-selection exercise or screening to see who and who is existing, reliable or loyal to be so considered but a mere name mentioned made many an appointees. Should Namadi Abubakar expect appointment as Amadi Abubakar?, Obiano Christian as Biano Christian?, Deji Jakande expect appointment as the list indicate Deji Akande,or should Rotimi Makinde expect appointment when indeed the list released reflect Rotimi Akinde, when many of them do not even reside in Nigeria, have any commitment to the party not to talk of having APC membership card, They don't exist in any local ward or known in any State. This appointment is so much muddled up and highly confusing. 

*What a way of changing life.*

*~Obadimu Dekunle Veron, Political Analyst*