Col. Dangiwa warns Buhari of ‘lopsided’ appointments

Col Umar Dangiwa (rtd) who was Kaduna State administrator during the military era has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of lopsided appointments, saying chaos has overtaken appointments into government offices based on a visible lopsided approach of the government in favour of certain sections thereby pushing the country into crisis.

“All those who wish you and the country well must mince no words in warning you that Nigeria has become dangerously polarised and risk sliding into crisis on account of your administration’s lopsided appointments, which continues to give undue preference to some sections of the country over others,” he said in a letter yesterday addressed to the president.

He referred to the pending matter of appointment of Chief Judge of the Court Appeal in which Justice Monica Dongban Mensem, a northern Christian, is serving out her second threemonth term as acting Chief Judge without firm prospects of confirmation as substantive head as a disturbing situation.

“She appears eminently qualified for appointment as the substantive Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal as she is also said to be highly recommended by the National Judicial Council. If she is not and is bypassed in favor of the next in line who happens to be another northern Muslim, that would be truly odd,” he warned.

He further urged the president to pause and reflect on the consequences of failure, be just and fair in managing the country affairs, saying, “Mr. President is either unwilling or incapable of acting on your pledge to belong to everyone and to no one. I hope you would see your way into pausing and reflecting on the very grave consequences of such failure not just to your legacy but to the future of our great country.”

Col. Dangiwa served as a military governor of old Kaduna State between 1985 and 1988 under the regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.