Ijaw Youth Council: “Buhari’s appointments violate federal character principle”

The body Ijaw Youth Council has made a public announcement on their displeasure over President Muhammadu Buhari recent appointments. The council said Buhari contravene the provisions of the country’s federal character principle. They believe Buhari’s appointment is lopsided and goes against the constitution.

In a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, Eric Omare, said Buhari’s lopsided appointments did not respect the principle as stipulated in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

“Though we are not surprised because we have always known that President Buhari’s understanding of Nigeria is from Lokoja to Sokoto. Buhari has never regarded the southern part of Nigeria as a part of the larger entity called Nigeria.

“However, the IYC is pained that the leaders of Buhari’s All Progressives Congress from the South-South and South-East zones lack the gut to insist that the constitutional provision on federal character should be obeyed.

“It is, indeed, strange that the same people are now comfortable even with the most flagrant violation of the Nigerian constitution by President Buhari and lack the courage to challenge Buhari’s lawlessness.

“Ironically, some of them take delight in maligning former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration on a daily basis instead of focusing on how to give the South-South and South-East zones attention in Buhari’s administration.”

He said the IYC does not believe in competence as a requirement for appointment but rather federal character should be considered.

Omare said while the council agreed that competence is important, it added that there was no section of Nigeria that did not have competent hands to manage any position given to them adding that the northern part of Nigeria could not claim to have more competent people than the southern part.

Omare called on South-South and South-East leaders in Buhari’s party to demand that what was due to the two zones should be given to them.

He said the contribution of the two zones to the emergence of Buhari was completely irrelevant when appointments were being made.

But really shouldn’t competence be considered, one has to be competent to be able to perform effectively. Federal character is in the constitution but if by going by that alone then people appointed will only be there based on constitution and not on what they can do and how well they can perform.