The Labour Party has said there was nothing inspiring about
the list submitted by President Ahmed Tinubu, to the Senate for confirmation as
ministers/ members of the Federal Executive Council.
National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Obiora Ifoh,
explained that names on the list confirmed fears that the Tinubu-led All
Progressives Congress administration, was ill-prepared for the task of
governance.
In a statement he signed in Abuja, on Sunday, the LP
Spokesman also declared his party’s intention to seek legal counsel on the
legality or otherwise of the President’s decision to submit the ministerial
list in piecemeal.
He decalred that the list as forwarded to the Senate and
unveiled on Thursday, “completely shattered” the expectations of Nigerians.
Ifoh said, “Nigerians expected more quality, character,
dynamic, and resulted-oriented Nigerians to be on that list, but what we saw is
a recycling of some failed and clueless politicians who have contributed to
bringing Nigeria to its parlous condition.
“Some of these nominees played prominent anti-democratic
roles in the previous administration, particularly since 2015, which saw the
APC government fail in all its promises to Nigerians.
“We also saw ‘Prependal’ politics in full swing where mainly
the cronies and lackeys of the APC national leader were selected for a reward
for servitude and blind discipleship.
“This list does not in any way reflect the enormous
reservoir of talents, potentials, and resources Nigeria is known for.
“It still baffles us
as to why this government ignored the youthful and technocratic potentials that
abound but rather chose to appoint spent forces that have failed Nigeria in the
past.”
Ifoh further said, “A glance at the list exposes the absence
of technocrats who usually form the nucleus or core policy implementers in any
given government and unfortunately in their place are fawning politicians who
may not be of any help in the needed efforts in salvaging and repositioning the
country for effective delivery, given the socio-economic condition of the
people, given the challenges we have with the economy as well as in all other
facets of life including security, health, education, and poverty reduction
amongst others.
“Assembling transactional and traditional politicians to man
the government at this critical point would not give the expected result.
“The political class has failed Nigerians in the past and as
the saying goes, we desire square pegs in square holes but that is far from
what we are being served.
“We earnestly hoped that there would have been more young
people who would be part of the government. At this point in our history, we
need people with a track record, young people with energy who can transverse
the country, think out of the box, and think all through the night without
sleeping, to be able to provide solutions to numerous challenges confronting
the nation.”
Why we will seek legal counsel
Speaking about the party’s desire to seek legal counsel,
Ifoh said, “We are worried that the ministerial list is being presented
piecemeal.
“The constitution of Nigeria clearly states that at least a
minister must be appointed from each of the 36 states of the Federation and the
Federal Capital Territory.
“The Electoral Act as amended also stipulates that a list
containing the ministerial nominees must be sent to the Senate within 60 days
from the day of commencement of a government for screening and confirmation.
But what we witnessed was a hurriedly prepared list that excluded nominations
from about 10 states in clear violation of the laws of the land.
“Sixty days is quite a lengthy period for any serious
government to form its executive team. This development appears even more
ridiculous because we know that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has struggled to be
president for over two decades and therefore should have been able by now to
identify and have a solid team selected across the country that is qualified to
hold ministerial positions. But this has not happened.
“Had it not for the Electoral Act which compels a government
to submit a ministerial list within 60 days, given what we are seeing, one
wonders how long it would have taken the APC leadership to form the government.
“This is because it took the immediate past APC
administration over six months to appoint its ministers in 2015. Nigeria cannot
afford to be managed by a visionless and clueless leadership that does not
understand the importance of haste in salvaging a crises-ridden nation like
ours.
“Labour Party will therefore in the days ahead seek proper
legal counsel on the legality or otherwise of a piecemeal submission of the
ministerial list as against the submission of the ‘Full’ list as envisaged by
the Electoral Act”.
“About 10 states will not have representatives in the
Federal Executive Council meeting when it is convened. No state in Nigeria
should be made to suffer for the ill-preparedness and incongruous attitude of
this government.”
Add Comment