2nd Term Appointments Will Reflect National Spread – Buhari

2nd Term Appointments Will Reflect National Spread – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja promised to ensure that all appointments in the second term of his administration are predicated on merit and national spread.

Buhari made this commitment while receiving the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) led by its President, Revd. Samson Ayokunle, who had visited him in the State House to congratulate him on his re-election.

The CAN president had enjoined the president to ensure fairness and even distribution of appointments across the country as against appointments dictated by ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Ayokunle also told the President that qualified men and women who could add value to the country and move it forward were available in all parts of the country.

He noted that it was only by fair appointments that the president could give every part of the country a sense of belonging.

He said: “We solicit for inclusiveness and fairness as you constitute your cabinet and appoint worthy Nigerians to the headship and membership of critical agencies, boards and parastatals.

“Your Excellency, there is no ethnic or religious group in Nigeria where you cannot find highly qualified men and women that you can engage to add value to your administration and help in moving the nation forward. This is the true and objective way in which you can give all in the country, a sense of belonging.”

Responding, President Buhari, who pledged to foster peaceful co-existence among Nigerians irrespective of their religious beliefs, promised to ensure that appointments into political offices are based on merit and national spread to give every part of the country a sense of belonging.

“We will continue to strive for peaceful co-existence among all Nigerians irrespective of their religious beliefs. In the area of allocation of political offices, our focus will be on merit and national spread such that every part of Nigeria will have a sense of belonging,” the president said.

Also responding to CAN’s demand for the release of Leah Sharibu, who had been in the captivity of Boko Haram since February 19, 2018 over her refusal to renounce her Christian faith, and the remaining Chibokgirls, Buhari promised to intensify efforts to fight terrorism and rescue those in captivity.

Ayokunle noted that every passing day spent by Leah in captivity inflicts pains on her parents and others who are also parents across the world, lamenting that Leah’s life was being wasted in captivity for no known sin but her decision to stick to her faith.

He appealed to the president to deploy powers within his reach to rescue Leah from captivity so that she and others in captivity can freely enjoy their lives.