President Buhari's security chiefs' appointment lopsided -Obasanjo

Nigerian ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of favouring people from his geopolitical region in the appointment of his security chiefs, saying both the National Assembly and the Federal Character Commission have failed in their duties to rein in the president.

All the heads of Nigerian security institutions are headed by persons from the north, the president's geopolitical zone, excluding southerners and contrary to the dynamics of the country's politics.

For instance, the Department of State Security (DSS), National Security Adviser (NSA), Nigerian Police, Minister of defence, head of Immigration, Customs, National Intelligence Agence (NAI) and Chief Army Staff are all headed by persons of northern descent.

Obasanjo spoke at the launch of a new political pressure group in Abeokuta on Thursday.

“Let me emphasise important areas, programmes, priorities or processes for improved attention. To start with, we seem to have taken nation building for granted. Nation building must be given continued attention to give every citizen a feeling of belonging and a stake in his or her country," Obasanjo said while registering as a member of the new coalition for Nigeria moment..

“For instance, the Federal Character principle, as espoused in our constitution, was to guide the leadership to search for competent holders of major offices to be distributed within the entire nation, and avoid concentration in a few ethnic hands or geographical places, as we currently have in the leadership of our security apparatus."

He said to avoid such non-integrative situation, the National Assembly and the Federal Character Commission, must raise the alarm or call for correction of actions by the executive that violates the spirit of our constitution.

On the new coalition, the ex-president said “if there are people of like minds, people who share the views and the aims and objectives of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement who want to join this movement, we will not object, we will welcome them.”

He said the movement did not regard itself as a third force, but “it sees itself as a popular movement that can accommodate all Nigerians irrespective of their political interest or affiliations and will propel Nigeria forward.”
Obasanjo added, “This is the new message in town, the new dance in town, the ceremony in town and I will appeal to you to join this ceremony and dance in town.