Moses Ofodeme
Former Military Governor of Kaduna State; Col. Abubakar Umar (retd), has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of making lopsided appointments favouring the North, warning that the developments may destroy the country, if not checked.
Col. Umar made this known in an open letter addressed to Buhari on Sunday.
Umar, who urged Buhari to borrow a leaf from the administration of erstwhile leaders; such the late Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Alhaji Shehu Shagari in terms of appointments; noted that Nigeria had become dangerously fragmented.
He warned that the country is on the verge of an implosion due to the skewed appointments of Buhari.
Umar made his reservations known in a letter titled; Mr President, please belong to all of us and dated Sunday May 31, 2020.
“I have been prompted to write you this open letter, Mr. President, by the loud sounds of drums; singing and dancing that erupted within many groups in the last few days on the grounds that you attained the 5th year in office as President of Nigeria.
“It comes as no surprise that enthusiasm for the celebration is not shared equally by segments of the public. While your admirers and supporters believe you have performed well; many others believe the five years you have been in office as our President has not met the yearnings; expectations and change promised Nigerians.
“And truth be told, Mr President, there are quite a lot of things that speak to your remarkable accomplishments; not least of which is that for the first time in our democratic history, a sitting President was defeated. That feat was achieved by Muhammadu Buhari. The reason was the public belief of you as a man of integrity.
“At this time and in the light of all that have happened since you took office; any conversation with you, Mr President, cannot gloss over the chaos that has overtaken appointments into government offices in your administration. All those who wish you and the country well must mince no words in warning you that; Nigeria has become dangerously polarised and risk sliding into crisis on account of your administration’ lopsided appointments; which continues to give undue preference to some sections of the country over others.
“Nowhere is this more glaring than in the leadership cadre of our security services.”
Indeed, Col. Umar predicted that the situation, if not checked, will bring Nigeria to its knees.
“The skewed appointments into the offices of the Federal Government; favouring some and frustrating others, shall bring ruin and destruction to this nation.”
However, he urged Buhari to take action in stopping the impending doom.
“I need not remind you, Mr President, that our political history is replete with great acts of exemplary leadership which, at critical moments, managed to pull this nation back from the precipice and assured its continued existence.”