Breaking: Col. Umar to Buhari: Your skewed appointments will ruin you, Nigeria
A former Military Governor of Kaduna State, retired Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari that his “skewed” appointments into federal positions will bring ruin to Nigeria and will leave his Administration with no record to refer to.
Umar, in an Open Letter to the President, obtained by The Eagle Online on Sunday, said history will not be kind to Buhari if he continues with his manner of appointments, which he noted had generated cause for concern among Nigerians.
The blunt retired Army Officer said the President should be quick to draw from the lessons left behind by the Administrations of late Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Olusegun Obasanjo (Military Government) and late Alhaji Shehu Shagari in terms of appointments.
He cited the case of the failure of Buhari to appoint former Supreme Court Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria despite the fact that he was qualified for the position, leading to the insinuation that this was done because he was a Christian and Southerner.
He said Buhari has one more opportunity to correct the impression that he is skewed in favour of a section of the country and religion with the ongoing move to fill the vacant seat of the President of the Court of Appeal.
He said as it is, the most senior Judge, Justice Monica Dongban Mensem, a Northern Christian, is serving out her second three months term as acting Chief Judge without firm prospects that she will be confirmed substantive head.
He said despite that fact that he does not know Mensem, those who do attest to her competence, honesty and humility, adding: “She appears eminently qualified for appointment as the substantive Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal as she is also said to be highly recommended by the National Judicial Council.
“If she is not and is bypassed in favor of the next in line who happens to be another northern Muslim, that would be truly odd.
“In which case, even the largest contingent of PR gurus would struggle to rebut the charges that you, Mr. President, is either unwilling or incapable of acting on your pledge to belong to everyone – and to no one.
“I hope you would see your way into pausing and reflecting on the very grave consequences of such failure not just to your legacy but to the future of our great country.”
Sunday 30th May 2020
Muhammadu Buhari,
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
