Buhari setting agenda for Nigeria’s division — Osuntokun

Political strategist and former political adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Akin Osuntokun, has faulted the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), style of governance, stating that he has broken all the records in Nigeria in a negative way since he assumed office in 2015.

According to him, no political leader in Nigeria’s history has divided Nigeria along ethnic lines as much as Buhari has done in the last six years, claiming that he is not a good example of who a Nigerian should be.

Osuntokun stated this during an interview with Arise Tv on Saturday monitored by our correspondent.

He faulted Buhari’s appointment style as being lopsided, saying under no other President had  the heads of the three arms of government come from the same political constituency.

“That is a bad example. He is not my own good example. He has done more than any other political leader in Nigeria to the course of division. Divisiveness! Look at his appointments. Look at what he does to the country. I am sure you have heard that Nigeria is even more divided (now) than during the civil war. It stems directly from the style of his leadership.

“I was telling some people a few days ago that he (Buhari) has even appropriated the chairman of APC to the North-East (Yobe). This is the first time in Nigeria where you are going to have the heads of the three organs of government coming from the same political constituency. The President, who is the head of the country; Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who is the Chairman of the National Assembly; and, the head of judiciary, Justice Mohammed Tanko, who is the Chief Justice. It has never happened like that in the history of this country.

“Buhari has broken all the records in Nigeria in a negative way. Even the INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission’s) Chairman, for instance, he (Buhari) is the first person to appoint the chairman of INEC from his constituency. It has never happened. Go back to 1960. Those appointed into the position of INEC chairman have never come from the party of the president, and that is how it should be. We are talking about the letter and spirits of the law and Federal Character; take a look at what he has done. I am even surprised you are asking me that. It is not just about the person and personality of the President; it is also about his policies, styles, what he says, everything about him. Anything about Buhari gets me worked up.”

(Courtesy Sunday PUNCH)