Bala Mohammed: Southern governors correct on lopsided political appointments

Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi state, has expressed support for the southern governors’ resolution that there is a need to review federal government appointments to reflect federal character.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, the governor said there is no fairness in the allocation of appointments across the geopolitical zones.

“If you are not fair and equitable in your administration, in your management, if there is nepotism where only one section is given positions in government, then there will be problems,” he said.

“There is an iota of truth in what the southern governors said on some sections being highly favoured at the detriment of others.

“What we know in this country as a federalist is that there should always be a balance in terms of appointment of federal offices, even in the local governments.

“If you don’t practise fairness at the top, then you cannot get it at the lower table and people will begin to think of self-actualisation, self-determination and so on and it will reflect negatively. Unless we ensure fairness and equity in the leadership of the country we cannot grow the economy.”

Mohammed said there is more corruption in the country and that some people are treated “as gods” and believe they cannot be touched.

He said Nigeria’s economy will not grow unless there is equity and fairness in leadership.

“I think the federal government has lost any idea to grow the economy. What they are best known for is the blame game. They are not even fighting the corruption they claimed to be fighting,” Mohammed said.

“There’s more corruption; perceptions are built that there are sacred cows; there are the gods in this country who cannot be touched.”