Ghost Appointments and the Federal Character Principle
Well, it all started like a joke. I have a WhatsApp group that discusses politics and economy and in the group we have some very powerful people. Donald Duke used to be in it. But he suddenly ran away. I guess the cost of data these days for ex– governors is prohibitive. We have Senator Omisore, Senator Ewa Henshaw and one Aregbesola – hoping it’s the real one sha. Because the day I yabbed him small on this page, he sent a chat thanking me, so na him. Gabriel Ogbechie of Rain Oil is in the group but does not say anything, don’t know why though. But today is not for him. My Lord Chike Ogeah is a powerful contributor and then the former Chairman of Shomolu Local Government, my Lord Bagostowe, is a keen participant. Another silent listener in the group is my mummy, Senator Florence Ita Giwa. Aghhhhhh it is not about the group o, but the ghost appointments. Well, like I had said, it started like a small joke when someone posted a quote from the massively bold and wide-eyed FFK-who is not in the group – DSS please take note. He had as usual issued a scary statement on the appointment of one dead person on the just released list of appointees to various boards and parastatals. It started just like that and by the end of the day it had snowballed into a major crisis with seven other dead people making an appearance on the list. A lot of hue and cry and Nigerians, as usual, who were already annoyed by the lingering fuel scarcity, did not spare our President and his minders. Well for me, I have looked at the list very carefully and after due consultation with my people both dead and living have come to the conclusion that there is marginalisation of the Akwa Ibom people in this country. So even in death, we still will not have one representation? This is totally unfair, I have sent a petition to my fallen compatriots seeking an explanation as to their docility even in the nether world. Why for Femi Adeshina’s sake were we not represented on this list? Out of eight, none is from our geographical zone. This thing must stop forthwith, our own dead too must also be represented on any list that comes out going forward. Abeg, make I no cry.