The many reversed appointments of Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made several appointments since he assumed office in May last year.

But the frequency with which many of the appointments have been reversed after making them public, is raising concerns among the citizenry.

Many are worried that it should not be so as the processes for appointing people into various offices are well spelt out and any nominee whose processes have not been concluded should not have made public.

A former minister under the President Umaru Yar’Adua administration who chose to not to be named gave Weekend Trust an insight into how appointments that require the imprimatur of the president are made.

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He said the process of appointment involves first,  thorough search for the suitable person based on qualification, track record and geopolitical/religious balancing.

After this, he said, the person’s name would be forwarded to the intelligence agencies which on their part conduct a thorough search on the person to make sure he has no criminal record or involvement on any matter with security implications.

After receiving security clearance, he is sometimes required to meet either with the president or his chief of staff or any person delegated by the president before the name is made public. 

The former minister added that these days, the process involves going through the person’s social media posts to find out his views about issues concerning the government. 

This was corroborated by another presidency source who said when there’s a need to fill a particular position, a whole lot come into play. 

He said, “After names of qualified persons are submitted to the intelligence community for vetting, they may be contacted for screening and if the person sails through the hurdle, he or she is presented to the President for assent after which the name is released to the public.”

Weekend Trust learnt that normally when the name is announced, it means that every process has been observed and the person is considered appointed unless an unusual thing concerning the person’s health or inability to assume the office occurs.

But what Nigerians have witnessed under the Tinubu administration is that even after such names and offices are made public, it is not yet Eureka and may be premature to celebrate as the appointment can be withdrawn or cancelled outrightly. 

It has happened so many times in the current administration that people are cautious about congratulating  or celebrating those announced for particular offices after statements are issued from the presidency. 

Our correspondents learnt that even media houses have now become reluctant to carry such stories until the person assumes office. 

Those close to people who have experienced such reversals lament that they were made to go through a lot of trauma. 

One recalled how her close friend was announced for a particular position and those close to the person set up a committee of friends to organize a reception only for the appointment to be cancelled after so much money was collected. 

“People contributed money to organise a reception, we started addressing the person by the new office, gifts and cards were coming, people have placed themselves to act in various roles for the nominees only for the appointment to be cancelled. 

“I tell you, on the day it was cancelled, it was as if we were bereaved and it took the grace of God for us to calm the person down,” she stated.

Recent cases 

The most embarrassing of such reversal was the case of Maryam Shetty, a ministerial nominee from Kano. Shetty’s name was submitted to the Senate among those to be screened as minister and it became public knowledge from there.

 She, like others, had prepared for the screening and was reported to be all ready on the D-day at the National Assembly premises waiting to be ushered in only to be told that her name had been withdrawn.

Stella Okotete 

After the screening of ministerial nominees and as their confirmation were being awaited, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio made a shocking revelation.

He said the Senate withheld the ministerial confirmation of three nominees because it was “still awaiting security clearance

Stella Oketete, the executive director of business development, Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank was among the three whose confirmation were withheld.

Nasir Elrufai  

One of the three names whose confirmations were withheld was the former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Elrufai.

Elrufai was earlier reluctant to accept ministerial position as he said he had served in the same position 20 years before that. 

But he accepted and submitted himself for screening.

He was only waiting for confirmation and deployment but his confirmation never came. 

Danladi Abubakar 

The third ministerial nominee to suffer same fate was Senator Danladi Abubakar from Taraba State. 

There were reports that his nomination was withdrawn because he was barred from holding public office for 10 years by the Supreme Court but he had refuted that while answering questions from senators during his screening by the Senate.

But even after defending himself during the screening, his confirmation was kept at bay.

Imam Ibrahim Kashim

There’s also the case of Imam Ibrahim Kashim who was appointed chairman of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

Immediately his appointment was made public, it drew lots of criticisms because at 24, he was said to be too young and inexperienced for the office. 

The government bowed to pressure and cancelled the appointment less than a week after the announcement was made.

Confusion at CCTV over Umar, Kogo

Following same patterns there’s currently  confusion at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as two persons,  Danladi Umar, and the newly appointed chairman, Mainasara Kogo, are claiming leadership of the tribunal. 

Umar has been heading the Tribunal but was removed through a resolution of the National Assembly. 

President Tinubu on July 13, appointed Kogo as the new chairman of the CCT but the process for the removal of Umar was faulted and became a subject of litigation following which he still claims to be the chairman.

Danfulani and SMDF 

Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani was initially announced as the executive secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF).

It was said to be based on the assumption that the tenure of Fatima Shinkafi as the executive secretary had expired. 

Shinkafi insisted her tenure had not expired and the government has reversed itself on that.

Chairman and members of SEDC 

Just this month, Hon. Emeka Atuma, who was announced as chairman of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) board was replaced with Dr Emeka Nworgu. 

All the three executive directors initially nominated were also replaced while two additional executive directors were named. 

The President also removed one of the board members, Donatus Eyinnah Nwankpa and replaced the executive director for finance on the first list Anthony Ugbo with Stanley Ohajuruka.

Chairman and members of NWDC

The list of members of the inaugural Governing Board of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) was also modified after initial appointment.

In the first list of nominees sent to the Senate late in September, Ambassador Haruna Ginsau was nominated as chairman of the NWDC board with Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura and Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman as members.

They were replaced with Alh Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi as new chairman and Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq and Yahaya Aminu Abdulhadi, as members. 

Media team 

Another one that caused a stir in the media and communications team of the President.

Former spokesperson to the president, Ajuri Ngelale resigned his position in September  and in November Daniel Bwala was appointed.

Bwala presumed he was appointed to replace Ngelale and assumed duties with the conviction but immediately he made it known to the public, the presidency made some amendments.

Consequently, Mr Sunday Dare, who was Special Adviser on Public Communication and National Orientation was redecorated  Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications while Mr Daniel Bwala announced initially as Special Adviser, Media and Public  Communication was changed to  special Adviser Policy Communication.  

The Presidency said,” These appointments, along with the existing role of Special Adviser, Information and Strategy , underscore that there is no single individual spokesperson for the Presidency,” and that Bayo Onanuga retained his position as Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

2 MDs for UNRBDA 

The appointment of two persons as managing directors/chief executives of the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, UNRBDA has added another case to the list of government’s untidiness regarding the issue of appointments.

It has been reported that after President Tinubu appointed Aliyu Tajudeen as the managing director and CEO of the UNRBDA, another person, Dangajere Jaja name was also listed for the same position.

The development is said to be as a result of a power tussle between two powerful persons who are backed each of the two for the position.

The matter is compounded by the fact the two have been issued appointment letters for the same position.

Ministries and agencies

During the last cabinet reshuffle, Ministries and agencies were also restructured.

The Ministry of Nigeria Delta Development now became the Ministry of Regional Development to oversee the activities of all the Regional Development Commissions. 

The Ministry of Sports Development was wound down and its functions transferred to the National Sports Commission.

The Federal Ministry of Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture were merged to become Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.

Reaction 

Attempts by our correspondents to get the reaction of the presidency over why the changes and counter changes have been occuring have not been successful as the media team did not respond to our inquiries.

Medical implications on people 

Speaking about the mental health implication of the cancelled appointments by the Tinubu administration, Anamayi Dorcas, Psychiatrist at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, outlined the mental health impact such an action can cause on an individual. 

She said in an interview with our correspondent that “Having hope for anything at all not just appointment can affect a person’s mental health, especially for someone who has not been in that position or taking a higher role, it comes with a lot of excitement and nervousness which generally puts the person in a state of mind

“Where you end up reversing it, it ends up affecting a lot of things about the person which includes self esteem. Where the person starts to wonder and doubt their capacity”

Speaking about the measures that can be taken by affected individuals and government to avoid mental breakdown, Dr Dorcas advised that it is best to “keep an open mind from beginning, that things may change and make sure it has been confirmed, before you get comfortable because the disappointment that comes with not getting what you thought you were prepared for can weigh one down. 

“The government should also be sure of who or what position to avoid changes that can cause someone their health.”

She also advised affected persons to seek professional help, “seek for therapy”, which according to her, it will help ease the pain of disappointment,” she added. 

No legal grounds to sue for withdrawal of appointment – Lawyers 

Responding, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) said there can be no legal implication where there is a reason given for the withdrawal of an appointment. 

“Where the cancellation or withdrawal is ascribed to a wrongdoing which questions the reputation of the person concerned, the person may sue for damage to reputation (defamation). 

Similarly, E.M.D. Umukoro Esq said there is no legal basis to sue after being dropped from an earlier appointment because such are at the pleasure of the appointer. 

“Except where the appointment has certain procedure that doesn’t give room for change but in this case the president or governors have a lot of latitude,” he said. 

He added that establishing a case may also require, in extreme circumstances, the prospective appointee could also show that not being appointed had some consequences on his or her person.

Reports by John Chuks Azu, Baba Martins & Dana Daniel Zaki