The National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed in this interview in Lagos said by the time President Muhammadu Buhari makes his full appointments, all sections of the country would have been taken care of.
During the week, the President made some top appointments that have been generating negative comments from the people of the South West and South East, alleging that the President did not abide by the policy of federal character.
What’s your reaction to this?
That is not true. Nigerians must be patient with the government regarding appointments. President Buhari will make about 2,000 appointments and by the time he completes necessary appointment, I assure you that no part of this country will complain again. People should not expect the government to balance the appointments from day one. I believe there are still more appointments to be made by the president. He has appointed less than 50 people so far and as I’ve said earlier, those that have just been appointed are people known to the president as competent and corrupt-free. They are the people that are familiar with President Buhari. They are people he could vouch for their integrity; they could be described as tested and trusted individuals. The president has to start somewhere, and as I’ve said, this is a government that has its focus and wanted to redeem electoral promises and take Nigeria to the desired level of development.
I think at this juncture in this country, we need re-orientation, we need to think more about citizenship and not indigeneship. The government has much work to do because of the level of the rot it met on ground. I believe this should be the focus of the people and rally round the government to make life better for all Nigerians irrespective of one’s state or tribe. We should not lay much emphasis on things like religion, section, tribe and the likes. These are what were promoted in the past that drew the nation backward for long. So, on the appointment, I assure Nigerians that by the time President Buhari completes the appointments of those that will work with him, Nigerians will understand and appreciate him.
But, it was reported that some leaders of your party, the APC were unhappy about the recent appointments?
Not at all. There was nothing like that.
Former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and his ex-Lagos counterpart, Babatunde Fashola were touted to be Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chief of Staff respectively, but were not to be.
Could this be as a result of alleged corruption in some quarters against them?
I think it will be very unfair to say both former governors were not made Secretary to the Government of the Federation or Chief of Staff as a result of allegations that cannot be substantiated. To me, that is a mere beer parlour gossip.
The President has been accused in some quarters of being selective, partisan and witch-hunting with his probe action. What’s your view about this?
The basic truth is that only those who have something to hide. Those who have skeletons in their cupboard are complaining about the government’s probe action. If one does not have something to hide, why complaining? It’s obvious there are corrupt people everywhere and in all sectors. It is natural to see or observed that more Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members are being called upon to answer questions about what they have done because their party was in power for 16 consecutive years and Nigerians are witnessed to what they did to their country. Buhari’s administration inherited an empty treasury, the immediate past government owed salaries at federal and state levels. It was dexterity of the current administration that averted what could have been a serious industrial crisis. It’s obvious the last government mismanaged the nation’s economy. It was Buhari’s government that bailed out some states that have financial crises. Where are the billions made on behalf of the country in the last six years? The chunk of these money ended in private pockets and accounts here at home and overseas countries. That was the reason for the probe. So, those who are shouting selective or witch-hunting are not being truthful. The rot that took place under PDP’s administration was unbelievable. By the time the probe action starts, people will understand better. However, I don’t see anything selective or witch-hunting in the current war against corruption. Muslims and Christians have been quizzed. APC members have been quizzed. PDP members have been quizzed. Contractors have been invited for questioning. On the contrary, it was the corrupt people that are fighting back with their loot. They have lots of money to thrown around. They wanted to frustrate President Buhari’s war on corruption.
They sponsored series of opinion on pages of newspapers and used some columnists, but I assure Nigerians that the president is not perturbed. He is ready to wage the war and win. He is not going to be distracted.
President Muhammadu Buhari will clock 100 days in office soon. How would you rate the performance of his administration so far?
It is too early to judge this government. But, one can say this is a government that is focused, determined and connecting with the aspirations of the electorate. This is one government that is set to redeem electoral promises. The government has embarked on tackling insecurity, corruption in the economy and to bring looters of the commonwealth to book. President Buhari’s administration has succeeded in doing the tangible and intangible. The government has given Nigerians right to dream and hope. This is a government that frowned at corruption and led by a man who lives by example. On the tangible side, Buhari’s government, within 100 days in office, has rallied regional, continental and global support to wage war against Boko Haram. He has appointed new Service Chiefs that took the fight to the insurgents. The decision of President Buhari to move the Service Chiefs to the theatre of war has helped the country tremendously. It boosted the morale of the Nigerian Army. In a nutshell, Buhari’s government has brought back honour and glory to Nigeria. The government spent less than 100 days in office and has lots of positive achievements to point at. Nigerians should rally round the government to achieve more.
