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The triumph of President Bola Tinubu at the February 25, 2023 presidential election came at some costs. In the first instance, the weight of the trust Nigerians thrust on him was heavy, especially when considered against the backdrop of the precarious situation in which the country is currently enmeshed in. In Tinubu, Nigerians found a glimpse of hope.
To say the least in the mildest way, the trust was not a blind one; rather, it is based on his past antecedents in governance. He has gained positive notoriety as a recruiter-in-chief of. The thinking is that Tinubu is the lifeline on which the hope of redeeming Nigeria is hinged. Nigerians trust Tinubu’s pedigree not to settle for less. Records speak for themselves that Tinubu is not a man who entertains excuses. That is why he can search till the end of the earth to pull out result-oriented, tested and trusted brains to form his cabinet. Hence, he cannot afford to disappoint.
So far, Nigerians have started applauding Tinubu for the appointments already made. Their expectation is that he’ll maintain this streak without deviating. Though President Tinubu is a maverick politician who can never be tossed, dictated for or cowed around, the federal character principles impose some restraints. For instance, Section 147(3), which speaks to the need to appoint a minister from each state of the federation, serves one major purpose. It reinforces Section 14(3) in terms of ensuring that the federal character of Nigeria is reflected in the appointment of ministers. Accordingly, it enjoins the president to ensure that a minister is appointed from each state of the federation.
As excellent as the foregoing constitutional provision is, the president must however ensure that his templates for selecting those to work with as ministers and other cabinet members are not lowered. As expected, Since February when Tinubu was declared winner of the presidential election, political jobbers have gone to town, peddling names of those who are best suited to be appointed as ministers and officials of the new government. Now that Tinubu has taken office, these scavengers have intensified their nefarious activities of misleading the government, while lobbying for former government officials with questionable characters to be appointed ministers of head of key government agencies.
Tinubu cannot fall into this trap. He is a leader of no mean experience and pedigree. His administrative acumen is so vast that he knows the implications of appointing or working with those that are ill-equipped and whose reputations are tainted.
For example, one of the names that are being peddled for appointment as minister is a former Managing Director of a federal government revenue yielding agency. The MD was forced to step aside by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu cannot afford to base his appointments on politics and party affiliation because of people like this. The enormity of responsibility on Tinubu’s shoulders is beyond politics. It is a national duty that requires open-mindedness and courage. The president should consider the larger picture, rather than party patronage. The buck stops on the president’s table. If he fails to deliver, no one will share the blame with him.
President Tinubu understands the harshness of the judgement of history; hence, he will defy the immense pressure some henchmen are mounting on him to appoint half-baked people of questionable public service track records.
Suffice it to highlight some of the breaches of this former public servant in question. The said MD ran the federal government revenue agency like a personal estate.
Without approval from the ICRC, FMT and the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which the president and commander-in-chief presides over, the former MD allegedly created a new terminal without concession. It was a new terminal with direct port calls.
The said former MD’s time as managing director of the agency was said to have witnessed the most of abuse of public service procedures.
Since the engagement of the JV companies, the agency had remained competitive with complete elimination of outrage of the shipping community over the inadequate channel depths of the past. However, upon realizing that contracts were nearing expiration, rather than engage in fresh negotiations with the companies that have provided world class services and made the ports stay competitive, the rules were changed.
Throughout the entire duration as the MD of the agency, official recklessness was the order.
The new administration of President Bola Tinubu must be given the space to breathe, supported to succeed but not pressured to appoint people of questionable character, who will only be a burden rather than asset to the new government.
