Prove you are President of all – NUJ tells Buhari

The leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) day challenged President Mohammadu Buhari to live up to his inauguration promises by giving due consideration to the multi-racial and religious composition of Nigeria in filling his cabinet and other political positions.

Speaking during the union’s ‘First Quarterly Briefing’ in Abuja, the National President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Odusile, said the call became necessary in view of the concern expressed in certain quarters over the composition of the federal cabinet by the President.

He urged the President to as a matter of necessity give vent to the federal character principle in the exercise of his constitutional and discretional powers without sacrificing merit.

‘‘It is necessary at this juncture to add that in filling other political positions, Mr. President, in the exercise of his constitutional and discretionary powers, should, without sacrificing merit, give due consideration to the multi-racial and religious composition of Nigeria.

‘‘As a President that belongs to no one, but to all, he should give vent to the federal character principle, as a way of giving a sense of belonging to the component units of Nigeria,’’ he said.

Odusile also urged the president to ensure that the newly appointed ministers rise up to the challenges ahead of them on time to address the numerous issues undermining the economic advancement and national peace of the country.

“Although it took a while for President Buhari to constitute the Federal Executive Council, we hasten to enjoin the president to make the long wait of Nigerians for him to constitute the executive council worth its while by making the ministers hit the ground running by addressing the myriad of problems facing the country especially in the areas of security, job creation and infrastructure development.

While commending the efforts of the present administration to stamp out corruption resulting from leakages in finance establishments through the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Odusile called on the government to monitor the implementation in order to ward off abuse of the process.

“We acknowledge the bold initiative by the federal government and lend our total support to this and other efforts that will minimise if not completely eradicate corruption in our nation. We however call on government to monitor closely the implementation of the TSA to guide against its abuse by unscrupulous elements who may want to profit unnecessarily from the policy at the expense of the country.”

Security
On insecurity, the president also urged government to step up Intelligence procedures adding that religious fanatics who stir up violence be dealt with promptly to forestall irreparable damage to the mind and psyche of adherents and the larger society.
Kogi election
Ahead of the governorship elections scheduled to hold in Kogi State, the NUJ President cautioned politicians against making provocative statements capable of leading to the destruction of lives and properties during and after the elections.

This was even as he charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the polls were credible, free and fair and urged them to stick to the rules if a vibrant multi partisan culture in local and national politics must be sustained.