Yesterday, it was reported that former deputy governor of Plateau state, Pauline Tallen, and Usman Bugaje of Katsina state turned down the president’s appointment. While Bugaje’s reasons are unknown for now, Tallen was not pleased with the facts that she – along with Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong – was not properly consulted before the decision was made, and her nomination was unfair to the other zones in the state.
The president was faulted for concentrating on one zone in the selection of his two ambassadorial nominees from Plateau, causing both Tallen and Dalong to raise the issue of “balancing appointments” in their arguments.
After praising Tallen for her “political maturity,” Lalong, who happens to be from the same local government and tribe as the former deputy governor, went on to suggest that the president “consider fairness and appoint people from [those] areas that do not have representation”. Things that the president should ordinarily consider in making crucial political decisions. Not just for the potential nominees, but for the people they represent.
Tallen’s rejection of her appointment might largely centre around intra-politics in Plateau State and other states, but it gives prominence to a glaring and degenerating hole in what is arguably Buhari’s penchant for favouritism – the fact that his beneficiaries themselves are now wary/skeptical of his judgement. Politically, at least.
Besides Tallen and Bugaje’s cases, most governors, particularly of the APC alignment are equally displeased with the outcome of the president’s ambassadorial selection. A previous closed-door meeting with the president vaguely reveals that in addition to the issue of representation, as demonstrated by the Tallen case, there are other reasons why they have currently been advised to put their complaints into writing for the president to look into.
Without exactly overlooking the fact that the issues which these governors have raised also accentuate the unabashed exclusive form of governance actively practiced in Nigeria (“we had said the next appointment should go to the other zones…” – Simon Dalong), we must recognise that when we get to the point where the ‘chosen’ ones refuse the honour, it reflects a different level of distrust for the president’s leadership and vision for the country.
It also reflects an evident disregard for the greater sociopolitical good of Nigeria on the part of the president, myopia even, in terms of taking deliberate and obvious measures to unify the country through inclusivity.
A decision that might seem as simple as specially appointing someone to any office, without going through the proper motions may be enjoyable for certain individuals and parties in the beginning, but if they continue to be received, it can only make room for a toxic society in the end.
