PENCOM: Buhari’s Chief of Staff shortchanges Kogi appointment slot for Kwara, group alledges

A group, North-Central Forum has accused the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari of appointing a PenCom Commissioner nominee from Kwara, his State of origin even though it was Kogi’s turn.

The development, the group noted, speaks ethnocentric, and is in flagrant breach of the Constitution as well as the PenCom Act.

It therefore accused Nigerian Chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari of self centredness and favouratism to his kinsman from Kwara State.

In a statement issued on behalf of the body, signed by Mohammed Ibikunle which was made available to CAPITAL POST in Abuja on Wednesday, says the previous appointments into the leadership and Commissioners representing the various zones is being derailed by the present Chief of staff to favour a kwaran, his extraction.

“I thought Professor Ibrahim Gambari will be upright. He has also joined. He picked the Chairman from Kwara again after their first nominee spent 8 years. Is Kwara the only State in North Central?”

According to Mohammad, the last State that produced the Commissioner was Kogi, and was relieved unceremoniously after spending three years, which negates the previous practice.

Hence, the expectations of many Nigerians is to allow Kogi State to spend out its two terms of Eight years, or had another nominee from Kogi appointed in the same capacity.

The influence of Professor Ibrahim Gambari affected the chances of the people of Kogi State negatively, and should be reversed in the interest of fair play.

“The next State which had a Commissioner appointed in 2013 was Kogi. He was sacked along with Chinelo Anohu-Amazu in 2017, after 3 years and instead of picking from Kogi to complete the tenure, they went back to Kwara again.’

During President Obasanjo’s administration,the then Chief of staff,appointed a kwaran who spent two terms of Eight years and subsequently replaced by Kogi nominee,for just three years.

“The Chief of Staff is from Kwara just as the Chief of Staff who did the first appointment of the Board of PenCom, General Abdullahi Mohammed was from Kwara as well’

“As a senior diplomat and envoy, it is expected of Professor Gambari to shape and reshape the policies and programmes of the present adminstration, in line with the best procedures,rather than the current abnomaly.’

The North -Central body advised the President to see to the urgent review of the appointments to favour a Kogi indigene, instead of going back to Kwara.

This will be in the interest of fair play, justice, equity and collective responsibility.