Disquiet as Buhari upsets political balancing in states with his ministerial nominations

The people of Kogi central senatorial zone on Thursday issued a “save our soul” plea to President Muhammadu Buhari over the “lopsidedness” of his appointments. The governor, Idris Wada, is from Kogi east while the deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, is from the west, but Buhari has picked his nominee from the east, leaving Kogi central with nothing of significance.

“While it is within your constitutional powers to choose and nominate any candidate of your choice from any part of a state, it is pertinent for the sake of equity, fairness, and the fragile power equation in Kogi state, to reconsider your nomination from Kogi state,” a man identified as R. Abdulmaleeq wrote in an open letter to the president.

But they are not alone. In at least seven states, Buhari picked his ministerial nominees from the same senatorial districts of the current governors, thereby upsetting local balancing game. Could it be that Buhari does not care or he is trying to chart a new course where balancing is secondary?

Here are some of the states where there is internal grumbling.

Osun: Two proud Ijesha sons

In Osun, the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is from Ilesha in the Ijesha division of the state. The ministerial nominee, Isaac Adewole, a professor, is also from Ijesha. The two of them are not just from the same senatorial district, they are Ijesha sons.

Kogi: Igala all the way

The current governor, Idris Wada, is an Igala from Kogi east senatorial district, while the ministerial nominee, James Ocholi, is also an Igala. Ocholi contested the governorship ticket of the APC for next month’s governorship election but lost it to Abubakar Audu, another Igala. Ocholi was the governorship candidate of CPC in 2011.

Delta: Anioma in control

In Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor, is from Delta north and that is where the ministerial nominee and current group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ibe Kachikwu, hails from. The Igbo in Delta are not complaining, though.

Sokoto: The Turn of Tambuwal

Not just that Aminu Tambuwal, the governor of Sokoto state, and Aisha Abubakar are from Sokoto south, they are also from Tambuwal local government. The governor is from Tambuwal town while the ministerial nominee is from Dogondaji. Tongues are wagging already, with a protest already lodged with the national assembly by the “people” of Sokoto state.

Kwara: The Igbomina Dispensation

In Kwara state, ministerial nominee and spokesman of APC, Lai Mohammed, is from Kwara south. That is the zone where Abdulfatah Ahmed, the governor, comes from. The two are Igbomina sons. But with Kwara central producing the senate president in Bukola Saraki, only Kwara north can complain a bit but they have the deputy governor.

Rivers: The Ikwerre Connection

In Rivers state, despite the fact that Nyesom Wike, the state governor, and Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate former governor of the state and ministerial nominee, don’t see eye to eye, the two of them are from same senatorial district: Rivers south-east. They are both Ikwerre sons.

Bayelsa: The Western Axis

Though the two of them might be from different parties, the current governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson, and the ministerial nominee, Heineken Lokpobiri, are from the same Bayelsa west senatorial district.