The recent appointments by President Jonathan are a source of worry and calls for concern, as the motives or rationale behind these appointments appear suspicious and dubious. Many commentators have remarked that hawks have hijacked the Nigerian Presidency, and that the President has become a stooge in their hands. While others, who lack strategic thinking, themselves, refer to him as 'clueless' or 'dumbo'. I wouldn't go as far as to disparage Nigeria's President and the symbol of the country. However, nothing lends credence to these views or positions than the recent appointments made by Mr President, which appear dubious.
The recent appointments by President Jonathan are a source of worry and calls for concern, as the motives or rationale behind these appointments appear suspicious and dubious. Many commentators have remarked that hawks have hijacked the Nigerian Presidency, and that the President has become a stooge in their hands. While others, who lack strategic thinking, themselves, refer to him as 'clueless' or 'dumbo'. I wouldn't go as far as to disparage Nigeria's President and the symbol of the country. However, nothing lends credence to these views or positions than the recent appointments made by Mr President, which appear dubious.
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The appointment of personnel into any office or position should elicit some excitement. Appointments are a call to duty and a call to serve and make a difference. They should not be viewed lightly or seen as funfair or used as some form of patronage, but should be viewed as a serious issue. This is because when one gets the appointments wrong, or makes the wrong choice, it can cause incalculable damage, as well as breed mediocrity and incompetence. Appointments are meant to be inspiring. Unfortunately, one cannot say this about the most recent appointments by Mr President. They have been anything, but encouraging, inspiring or worth celebrating. The appointments have been a cause for worry, apprehension and leave a sour taste.
The first focus of the President's wrong appointments is the appointment of Nigeria's current Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr M.D Abubakar. Rumour has it that this man was recommended for dismissal or retirement by a judicial panel of enquiry headed by Rtd Justice Nikki Tobi. The panel, we are told, indicted him for complicity in a hate crime or the religious riots in Jos, Plateau State, in 2001. Unless the report is inaccurate and, therefore, misleading, this man has no business remaining in the Police force, talk less of being made the Inspector General of Police.
The President owes the nation a good explanation for this appointment. We deserve to know why this appointment, as well as many others, amongst millions of Nigerians living in the country, is the best for the country. There may well be a good explanation. This is very true, especially in a country where rumour flies in people’s faces, that the undiscerning starts to believe them as true.
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But then again, I recall reading in the press that the Plateau State Government was alleged to have queried the appointment of Mr Abubakar. The question therefore, is, is there any truth in the rumour that the Justice Tobi panel indicted the Acting IGP? If so, why was the panel’s recommendation that Mr Abubakar should be dismissed if he fails to resign, not complied with? And why are we just learning about all these things now? And who hid these facts away from the public all this while, and why? However, if his purported indictment is only a rumour, then I throw my hands up in the air and offer my sincere apology to the acting IGP. Besides, I call for those that started the rumour to be dealt with according to the law.
Police Commissioner Zakari Biu, also allegedly indicted by the same Justice Tobi panel, like the acting IGP, also found his way back to the Police echelon. That name resonates back to the Abacha's tyrannical era. Given his atrocities and his notoriety during General Abacha's days, how he managed to remain in the Police Force, and even escaped the detection of President Obasanjo, who was one of his experiments or guinea pigs in the Abacha's torture chamber (or laboratory) beats my imagination. Like the acting IGP, how the system allowed this individual to remain in the Police force despite his atrocities leaves me gobsmacked.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) is heavily indicted for this. For allowing these people (if the rumour is true) to remain in the Police Force, and for lacking the mechanism to detect such miscreants. It is also quite possible that many officers that have been dismissed are still serving in the Police Force, an organisation that is supposed to be the hallmark of discipline and exemplary conducts.
The next person on the radar is the appointment of Mrs Bianca Onoh-Ojukwu, the wife of the late Ikemba, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Her appointment, although political, is understandable, as patronage or payback for the support the President received from Ikemba's party, APGA, during the 2011 General elections. But, come on, to appoint her, a neophyte without prerequisite skills or any known administrative skill or experience, as Nigeria's Ambassador to Spain, is taking appointments in Nigeria too far.
I have nothing personal (as always) against the beautiful lady, who would most likely woo her host country and Nigerians in diaspora with her charms. However, I have concerns about how she is expected to manage and supervise the staff of her mission, some of them career diplomats. This is one possible reason why our embassies and missions abroad do not work or function properly, especially when those in charge do not know their left from right or know their responsibilities and what they are there to do. I also hope that she is, at least, versed and fluent in Spanish, as a basic prerequisite to enable her to interact with her host country.
But the one appointment that gives me the most concern, and seriously calls to question Mr President's motives, is the recent appointment of Rtd Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, as the nations National Security Adviser (NSA). What? Yes, indeed, a retired colonel, as Nigeria's National security adviser! Why him, in a country that has produced countless Generals (including non-combatant or office or desk generals)? Appointing a retired Colonel, with little experience, as the eyes and ears of the nations security apparatus or agencies is belittling that position.
It is bad enough that this man retired as a Colonel nearly 20 years ago, he has little experience about national security issues (at least compared to the numerous Generals that the country has produced). Moreover, his major achievement in his short Military career before his unceremonious and perfunctory retirement, was as ADC to General Babangida. Come on, is that what it takes to become the NSA and the head of the nations security agencies? I am sorry, but where is his experience of Military intelligence and national security work at the highest level? Let us imagine for a moment that 20 years from now, President Jonathan's present ADC would be made the NSA of Nigeria. Can that ever happen?
I understand that since his retirement Mr Dasuki has embarked on further studies, including on Military strategies. Come on, is that also enough? Academic achievement and on the job experience are miles apart and different. I can do it, is different from I have done it or worn the t-shirt, tore it and fixed it. Can he also inspire the confidence of the Service Chiefs, who have attained higher positions, including knowledge, than him, and who he would be supervising? What really does he know about strategies, compared to the current Service chiefs, who have advanced beyond him and attained higher knowledge and skills within the Military and National defence sector? If his appointment is meant to appease, rein in or arrest the Boko haram menace, through his perceived wide connections, but is that all there is to the office of the NSA?
Is Nigeria regressing or progressing with these types of appointments? I have written before about our appointment system in Nigeria, and blamed it as the bane of the country's underdevelopment. Appointing people without the requisite experience or skills, or appointing those that have a history of failures is not good for the country. This is the same as appointing people because of political patronage. This would only spell mediocrity and ineptitude, and brings about more inefficiencies. It is tantamount to putting square pegs in round holes. It would not work.
I do not want to go as far as calling these appointments as 'dumb' appointments, but they appear so to me. I hope and pray that the office holders succeed, so that I can eat my words or take them back. But it is paramount that we get our appointment systems right in the first place. Nothing is as nice as putting the right pegs in the right holes or square pegs in square holes.
I hope I haven't touched any sore nerves with this piece (and hope that there would not be any reprisals or personal vendetta against me, because of the security concerns), as I am simply being my patriotic self (as usual) and focusing on where we are getting it wrong?
Osi Okponobi
A.R.M
[email protected]
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