PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to appoint a cabinet based on merit and avoid lop-sidedness.
The advice was given at the weekend by Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, Bishop of the Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), while delivering his presidential address/bishop’s charge at the third session of the second synod in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Bishop Ordu, who spoke on the theme, “Recapturing the spirit of excellence and integrity in service:
The Daniel’s example”, urged the President to respect the principle of federal character in constituting his cabinet. “We urge the President to avoid lop-sidedness in his appointments and respect the principle of federal character. Ethnic, regional or religious biases must be avoided. Merit, competence and even-spread of positions should be considered first and foremost.
“Every Nigerian and groups are constitutionally at liberty to vote for any person or political party of their choice, even if that person or party ends up losing at the polls.
“That preference by an individual, ethnic groups or geo-political zones should not make them suffer marginalisation in the distribution of political offices and other dividends of democracy to the various sections of the country”, he said.
The cleric noted that Nigeria belongs to all, adding that people of the South-East and South-South, did not commit any crime against the country by their voting pattern in this year’s general elections. “They must not be made to stand by and helplessly watch other parts of the country scramble for key positions just because they voted differently. Once again, we say Nigeria belongs to all of us and so key offices must be equitably distributed”, he added.
Bishop 0rdu described the leadership crisis at the National Assembly as embarrassing and deplorable. According to him, the lawmakers were “shamefully soaked in the battle for who occupies what office in the National Assembly”, instead of focusing on the legislative and oversight functions.
The Anglican Bishop accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership for the crisis because of their desperation. He said the lawmakers “appear visibly to undermine the independence of the second arm of government by insisting that certain key offices be occupied by some already anointed members of both Houses.
“This, in our opinion, is totally wrong and will not make for the healthy growth of our young democratic process”, he said
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