The National Chairman of the United Progressives Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to address the lopsided appointment if sworn in for a second term on May 29.
He urged the Presidency to ensure that the federal character as enshrined in the Nigeria constitution was strictly adhered to, asserting that it would guarantee balanced appointments among the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.
The UPP National Chairman, who made the call, in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST on Friday, faulted the manner at which President Buhari appointed the current serving ministers in his cabinet, which according to him, raised a lot of tensions in the country.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has his job already cut out for him. What he has to do that he didn’t do before is to have balanced appointments. Not only for ministerial but for departments and agencies. The federal character as enshrined in our Constitution ought to be addressed to the letter. He didn’t do that before and that tended to bring a lot of bad blood. Nobody can defend him on that; not even his strongest supporters.
“I would want him to address that immediately as this new government is taken place. That would help to douse tension”.
The Abia-born politician also urged the All Progressives Congress-led federal government to complete all abandoned projects left behind by the past administration of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He suggested that Buhari-led presidency should concentrate on completing all abandoned projects, instead of initiating new projects that may jeopardize his developmental plan for the country.
“On infrastructure development, he should go ahead and complete all the abandoned projects left by the last administration. Before he came to office, Nigeria was littered with abandoned projects here and there.
“Even if you give him three terms, it may not be enough to complete the projects abandoned. Instead of initiating new projects, he should just concentrate and complete the abandoned ones. And It is very patriotic of him to use the same contractors that his predecessor used, but only insisting that the right quality of job be done.”
