Leaders of the All Progressives Congress have kicked against President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of more northerners into his government.
According to PUNCH, a leader of the party who spoke anonymously said, ”The President does not consult before making most of these appointments and I can tell you that Nigerians are going to term the party and the President as a northern party and the President of Northern Nigeria”.
Another APC leader said the party must devise a way of managing the backlash that would follow the appointments. He said, ”Though the President did not get much votes from the South-East but we must not neglect the zone in key appointments. Even the South-West that supported and was the backbone of the party, what are we giving the zone in appreciation? We need to be careful before the party is destroyed”.
A member of the state executive of APC in a South-West state, said, ”“When President Olusegun Obasanjo took over, you saw balance in appointments as he reflected federal character. President Goodluck Jonathan too reflected a semblance of balance. Buhari is pursuing a northern agenda. This is the same agenda pursued by the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, when everything was pro-North. Buhari made six appointments at a go and five of them are northerners”.
An APC chairman in a South-West state, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said, ”This is not good at all. Why should he choose everybody from the North? I am sure he did not confide in anybody before drawing up the list and making the announcement. We will continue to watch. It is condemnable”.
Nigerian Bulletin
