IN FIRST FULL DAY OF NEW PRESIDE

Nigeria’s controversially elected new president, Umar Musa Yar’Adua began his first full day in the hot seat of Africa’s most powerful presidency with what observers are calling early missteps hours after the colorful but muted ceremony that inaugurated his tenure.

The initial fumbles came in the form of a list of appointments made today. Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe becomes the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Also the Chief of Staff to former President Obasanjo, Maj. Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed was reappointed to his position (he is a former Military Governor and was the National Security Adviser to the regime of Gen. Abdusalami ABUBAKAR between June 8, 1998 to May 29, 1999.) The President also reappointed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Sarki Mukhtar to his position (he was also a former Military Governor and Nigerian Ambassador to Russia.) Another fellow (name unavailable) was appointed to head the FCT.

The appointments are believed to be politically incorrect for all the obvious reasons:

In the first place, all the appointees are men so it doesn’t meet President Yar’Adua’s own benchmark of 30% of positions for women.

Secondly, all the appointees are northern which is extremely odd for a man who wants to be president of the entire country and not just a “northern president.”

Thirdly, all the appointees are Muslim again raising concerns about the president’s stated commitment to sensitivity to the nation’s religious diversity.

Half of the appointees are ex-military so although he is not military himself, he has certainly surrounded himself with them.

75% are political elite who have served as governors and ambassadors before. This is perhaps the starkest inconsistency with his public mantra that he is ending the parasitic rule of political elites.

So far he has been consistent in one thing. He is keeping Obasanjo’s men. 75% of the new appointees served under Obasanjo. In fact the Chief of Staff has been de facto VP to Obasanjo since ATIKU fell out.

TO BE CONTINUED

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