Presidential Appointment: Accusation Of Nepotism Is Old Story — Garba Shehu

*Says South-West Safest Part Of Nigeria
*Says Buhari Has Bought 26 New Aircrafts In Fight Against
Insecurity

Presidential spokesperson, Mr Garba Shehu has said today that
the issue of favoritism and nepotism when appointing government
officials is an old story, saying that Nigerians will always accuse
every government that comes to power of nepotism.

Garba Shehu was reacting to a question on true federalism during
a live interview on Channels TV political Programme, Sunday
Politics, where he noted that previous administrations were equally
accused by Nigerians of nepotism noting that it is not new.

Quoting President Buhari’s statement in 2019, Channels Seun
Okinbaloye quoted Buhari as saying, “True Federalism is the way to
go.’

According to Seun, Many Nigerians have accused President Buhari
of neglect when he makes appointments and the issue of the national
spread of national character is always raised and many have also
said that that is part of what has been fueling agitation in the
country, how difficult is it for the president to make an
appointment from other parts he has been neglecting?

Reacting, however, the presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu
said, “Let me tell you, this is an old story, wasn’t Obasanjo
accused of it, didn’t they accused late Umaru Yardua and Jonathan?
look Nigerians will accuse every government that comes to power of
nepotism. in fact so long as they were not appointed themselves as
individuals, they will be crying ethnicity and religion.”

“President Buhari is conscious of his responsibility to the
constitution and the entire nation. when the numbers are published
fully critics will be embarrassed to know that their states are the
biggest beneficiaries of the appointment that the president has
made so far,” he said.

“True federalism is on the way, constitution amendment is going
on and the national assembly is keeping leadership on the matter,
we will get there,” Garba Shehu said.

Fielding questions in a monitored programme on Channels
Television, ‘Sunday Politics’ today, the presidential spokesman
Garba Shehu said: “The military chiefs have been doing a lot of
talking in the national assembly, but I will cite an example, we
about receiving a dozen of Super Tucano aircraft which are most
suitable for fighting the kind of insurgency we are faced with.

Beyond that we also have bought about a dozen, some have been
delivered attacking helicopters from Russia and some are still in
the line of delivery.

“When President Buhari came, this country didn’t have more than
five aircraft, he brought 26, brand new aircraft, and about a dozen
are on the way”.

Asked why the president was accused of nepotism, he added
saying: “… this is an old story, was former president Obasanjo not
accused of it, they accused president Yaradua and Jonathan. It is
every government that comes that is accused of nepotism. The
president is conscious of his responsibility to the constitution
and to the entire nation. When they are published in full, some of
the critics will be embarrassed that their states are the biggest
beneficiaries of the appointment the president has made.

“On true federalism, we are on the way as the constitutional
review is going on as the national assembly is meeting leadership
on the matter” he stated.

Shehu also said Nigeria is now safer than it was in 2015 when
his principal, Muhammadu Buhari took over power, noting that “Boko
Haram is now on the fringes of Lake Chad”.

Responding to a question, the presidential aide said, “As far as
Boko Haram terrorism is concerned, Nigeria is a safer place today
than it was when we took over power.

“New challenges have come up, farmers-herders clashes, killings
in the central sections of the country, much of these have been
subdued. The problem of sabotage of oil installations in the
South-South has been managed up to this point.

“Challenges of banditry, kidnappings have arisen in so many
parts of the country including the South-West. Today, South-West is
perhaps the safest part of this country.

“The challenges are epicentred around parts of Kebbi, Sokoto,
Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna States. Much of it (insecurity) has
been rid of in Kaduna. Katsina is a lot safer today than it was two
years. Zamfara is dealing with problems –kinetic and
non-kinetic.

“The point is that the problems as they arise are being
confronted head-on by the competent administration of a military
that is loyal, a police (force) that is loyal, intelligence
agencies that are efficient.”

*Says South-West Safest Part Of Nigeria
*Says Buhari Has Bought 26 New Aircrafts In Fight Against
Insecurity

Presidential spokesperson, Mr Garba Shehu has said today that
the issue of favoritism and nepotism when appointing government
officials is an old story, saying that Nigerians will always accuse
every government that comes to power of nepotism.

Garba Shehu was reacting to a question on true federalism during
a live interview on Channels TV political Programme, Sunday
Politics, where he noted that previous administrations were equally
accused by Nigerians of nepotism noting that it is not new.

Quoting President Buhari’s statement in 2019, Channels Seun
Okinbaloye quoted Buhari as saying, “True Federalism is the way to
go.’

According to Seun, Many Nigerians have accused President Buhari
of neglect when he makes appointments and the issue of the national
spread of national character is always raised and many have also
said that that is part of what has been fueling agitation in the
country, how difficult is it for the president to make an
appointment from other parts he has been neglecting?

Reacting, however, the presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu
said, “Let me tell you, this is an old story, wasn’t Obasanjo
accused of it, didn’t they accused late Umaru Yardua and Jonathan?
look Nigerians will accuse every government that comes to power of
nepotism. in fact so long as they were not appointed themselves as
individuals, they will be crying ethnicity and religion.”

“President Buhari is conscious of his responsibility to the
constitution and the entire nation. when the numbers are published
fully critics will be embarrassed to know that their states are the
biggest beneficiaries of the appointment that the president has
made so far,” he said.

“True federalism is on the way, constitution amendment is going
on and the national assembly is keeping leadership on the matter,
we will get there,” Garba Shehu said.

Fielding questions in a monitored programme on Channels
Television, ‘Sunday Politics’ today, the presidential spokesman
Garba Shehu said: “The military chiefs have been doing a lot of
talking in the national assembly, but I will cite an example, we
about receiving a dozen of Super Tucano aircraft which are most
suitable for fighting the kind of insurgency we are faced with.

Beyond that we also have bought about a dozen, some have been
delivered attacking helicopters from Russia and some are still in
the line of delivery.

“When President Buhari came, this country didn’t have more than
five aircraft, he brought 26, brand new aircraft, and about a dozen
are on the way”.

Asked why the president was accused of nepotism, he added
saying: “… this is an old story, was former president Obasanjo not
accused of it, they accused president Yaradua and Jonathan. It is
every government that comes that is accused of nepotism. The
president is conscious of his responsibility to the constitution
and to the entire nation. When they are published in full, some of
the critics will be embarrassed that their states are the biggest
beneficiaries of the appointment the president has made.

“On true federalism, we are on the way as the constitutional
review is going on as the national assembly is meeting leadership
on the matter” he stated.

Shehu also said Nigeria is now safer than it was in 2015 when
his principal, Muhammadu Buhari took over power, noting that “Boko
Haram is now on the fringes of Lake Chad”.

Responding to a question, the presidential aide said, “As far as
Boko Haram terrorism is concerned, Nigeria is a safer place today
than it was when we took over power.

“New challenges have come up, farmers-herders clashes, killings
in the central sections of the country, much of these have been
subdued. The problem of sabotage of oil installations in the
South-South has been managed up to this point.

“Challenges of banditry, kidnappings have arisen in so many
parts of the country including the South-West. Today, South-West is
perhaps the safest part of this country.

“The challenges are epicentred around parts of Kebbi, Sokoto,
Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna States. Much of it (insecurity) has
been rid of in Kaduna. Katsina is a lot safer today than it was two
years. Zamfara is dealing with problems –kinetic and
non-kinetic.

“The point is that the problems as they arise are being
confronted head-on by the competent administration of a military
that is loyal, a police (force) that is loyal, intelligence
agencies that are efficient.”