President Bola Tinubu has been encouraged to let the federal character concept govern his nominations to the country’s public service and institutions by Pelumi Olajengbesi, an Abuja-based human rights attorney.
Olajengbesi used a statement on Friday to underline that because Nigeria is a multiethnic and multireligious nation, all government appointments ought to adequately reflect the country’s variety in terms of religion, ethnicity, language, and geography.
He warned that clannish nominations are harmful to Nigeria’s fledgling democracy and added that the President shouldn’t make the same mistakes as his immediate predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Keen watchers of the new administration cannot dispute President Bola Tinubu’s trend in terms of appointments, according to Olajengbesi. Although the President pledged to lead a government of national unity throughout his campaigns, the overwhelming presence of Yoruba men and women in the President’s appointments is concerning and harmful to Nigeria’s shaky unity.
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The ‘It’s Our Turn’ mindset that is developing is harmful. President Tinubu should not make the same error as his forerunner, who put his kin in important government positions. The federal character principle, which cannot be separated from true federalism, should serve as the future President’s compass.
Furthermore, Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution makes it plain that federalism is necessary to advance national unity, cultivate national loyalty, and provide every Nigerian citizen a sense of belonging to the country.
Additionally, it is crystal evident from Section 14 (3 and 4) of the 1999 Constitution that the composition of the Government of the Federation must be done in a way that reflects Nigeria’s federal nature and the need to advance national unity.
“Nigeria’s route to peace, unity, and sustained development carefully hinges on the requirement that all ethnic nationalities, religious communities, and geographical components feel included in the new government. Anything beyond this is harmful to our precarious democracy.
“Though tribes and tongue may differ/In brotherhood we stand, the third and fourth lines of the first stanza of Nigeria’s previous national anthem so beautifully reflect it. The new Nigeria should adopt this mindset. Nigerians are blessed.
