Muhammadu Buhari has kept Nigerians guessing with respect to the
appointment of key positions like the Secretary to the Government of
the Federation, the media and his publicity team.
Unlike his predecessors and most state governors, Buhari had yet to
announce the names and designations of those he has picked to perform
these and other functions on Saturday.
The various statements issued from the Office of the President at the
Presidential Villa on Saturday were signed by Mr. Garba Shehu, the
erstwhile Director of Media and Publicity of the now defunct All
Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.
Shehu told one of our correspondents on Saturday that the presidential
campaign media team had continued to work for Buhari pending the
official appointment of his spokespersons. "It is the same campaign
team," he said.
When probed on whether Buhari would be addressing the country soon to
declare his next course of action, he said the President had said all
he had to say in his inaugural ceremony and gala speeches.
Buhari, who succeeded Goodluck Jonathan, was sworn in as President on Friday.
Buhari had in a recent interview with a national daily revealed that
he would depart from the norm in his approach to putting together his
team.
Specifically, he said, "I am going to quote myself because I heard in
one of the interviews that I said the type of people I am supposed to
appoint like the cabinet and the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation and Service Chiefs, will be different.
"Definitely my approach is going to be different from what we had
under the PDP where governors nominated ministers.
"I have been around long enough to know the people that I can approach
for things like that. Deliberately, we will look for competent people,
dedicated and experienced to head ministries."
While reacting to a list of ministers and advisers being circulated on
the Internet, Buhari said at the time he had not written anything on
paper for anybody to see.
However, there were news reports that governors submitted lists of
their nominees for appointment into Buhari's cabinet.
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha who is also the Chairman of the
Progressives Governors' Forum was reported to have confirmed to
journalists that he submitted a list of three persons.
There have also been reports listing former Lagos State governor,
Babatunde Fashola, his former Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode
Fayemi and former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi as some of
those to be appointed as ministers.
Another report had named the President of the Nigerian Guild of
Editors, Femi Adesina as the possible choice as Special Adviser on
Media.
Leaders of the party, the All Progressives Congress, were also not
willing to comment on the President's actions, noting that Buhari had
transited from being the President-elect to President.
An APC leader who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, "You will
agree with me that things have changed. Buhari is now the President
and what you are asking me to comment on is not a party matter any
longer. It is his prerogative as President to make an announcement
when he chooses."
A member of the Buhari campaign team, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, also said,
"Muhammadu Buhari is not a man you can push. I am sure he will make an
announcement soon. He is a man who is prepared to hit the ground
running, just exercise a little bit of patience."
Also speaking on the issue, another member of the team, Mr. Rotimi
Fashakin said, "What I think we need to do is to allow the new
President – it is not that his mind is not made up on who he wants.
"It is a big decision to pick a person out of the whole pack to speak
for him and present him for who he is and what he is.
"To be able to make an announcement of who is going to be Chief of
Staff, National Security Adviser and so on, I think it will not be
long. Allow him a few hours, may be a day or two, we will all have a
clearer idea."
In his inaugural speech, the President warned political forces or
anyone who thought he would be answerable to him in the next four
years, saying he belonged to nobody. "Having just a few minutes ago
sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as
President to all Nigerians. I belong to everybody and I belong to
nobody," he said.
He allayed the fears by some suspected past corrupt leaders who might
view Buhari's presidency as coming to victimise them.
The President reassured such persons that their fears were unfounded,
adding that he had opted to put the past behind him.
Read more at PUNCH:
t.co/WPujXIgBoM
No comments:
Post a Comment