FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS: COMPARE & CONTRAST - Ogunsanwo

Political appointments in 1999 was evenly distributed among all the 6 geopolitical zones in the country to engender unity, equity, fairness and justice

I will briefly outline how the appointment into six major positions were shared in the past and what obtains today and what can be done to ameliorate rising restiveness in some parts of the country

1999 - 2007 ( Obasanjo Presidency )
President: Olusegun Obasanjo (Ogun, SouthWest)

Vice President: Atiku Abubakar (Adamawa, NorthEast)

Senate President: Evans Enwerem (Imo),Chuba Okadigbo(Anambra),Adolphus Wagbara(Abia),Anyim Pius Anyim (Ebonyi), Ken Nnamani(Enugu) All from SouthEast

Speaker: Salisu Buhari(Kano) Ghali Naaba(Kano) Aminu Bello Masari(Katsina) All from NorthWest

SGF: Ufot Ekaette ( Akwa Ibom, SouthSouth

Chief of Staff: Gen Muhammed Rtd (Kwara, NorthCentral)

2015- Till Date ( Buhari Presidency )

President: Muhammad Buhari (Katsina, NorthWest)

Vice President: Yemi Osinbajo (Ogun, SouthWest)

Senate President: Bukola Saraki (Kwara, NorthCentral)

Speaker: Yakubu Dogara (Bauchi, NorthEast)

SGF: Babachir David Lawal (Adamawa, NorthEast)

Chief of Staff: Abba Kyari (Borno, NorthEast)
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To any discerning and sane mind its obvious that the appointments from 1999 - 2007 will engender unity and all the 6 geopolitical zones were properly represented

Compare and contrast with the lopsided and jaundiced composition from 2015 till date which negates spirit of brotherliness

I know too well that some people might want to trace the genesis of the problem to the fractured emergence of the principals of the bicameral legislature

Both the Senate President and the Speaker emerged on 8th June 2015 well before the two appointments of SGF and Chief of Staff were made around September or October 2015

In my own view, it was a big error appointing the duo of B D Lawal and Abba Kyari who are from NorthEast when the SouthEast and SouthSouth geopolitical zones are complete left out

Assuming the two appointments were given to SouthSouth and SouthEast, the restiveness by IPOB & MASSOB and rising militancy from Niger Delta Avengers might not arise at all, but what do I know self

No one can tell me that there are dearth of core loyalists from both SouthEast and SouthSouth who can work with Mr President in this government

Its better late than never and I hope Sen Babafemi Ojodu ( Special Adviser,Political) a seasoned journalist and politician can give robust advise to his principal on the lopsided nature of the appointments

I sincerely hope there is a bit of sense herein.

Femi Ogunsanwo