Govt Appointments Skewed, Lacking Merit – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria is staring the division in the face as many leaders are more concerned about their selfish interests than the survival and health of the nation.

This is just as he lamented that government appointments are crooked and skewed based on nepotism and mediocrity and disregard for merit and competence

He said that politicians and political parties are trampling on many of the things that were put in place to give all groups in the country a sense of belonging.

Obasanjo said this during his speech titled ‘The Quest For Unity In Nigeria And The Role Of Unity Schools’, at the 50th anniversary of Federal Government College, Kaduna, on Saturday.

He said: “First, I am concerned that the current state of our country’s economy has widened the gap of inequality and left many people in despair. Inflation is rising; poverty and deprivation have returned to many households. The past decade has reversed many of the economic gains made in the first decade of the century. There is a general feeling of hopelessness across the country with seemingly uncontrollable uncertainty.

“In addition to the economic hardship, there is also political calamity. Never have we been so politically divided along religious, ethnic and other fault lines and deliberate. Government appointments are skewed and skewed based on nepotism and mediocrity and disregard for merit and competence. Elections are here and may exacerbate the problem.

“Political parties and politicians have now been encouraged to get rid of some of the things that were put in place to give all groups a sense of belonging. Exclusion is considered normal. Division is staring us in the face and many of our leaders are more concerned about their selfish interests than the survival and health of our nation.

“Let me reiterate that the concerns expressed about the nature of the options before us in the presidential election, for example, are real and not to be trifled with.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us and no part of the country should be left in any doubt about their place in this union on any basis; ethnic, religious, language, region, culture or social status.”

Obasanjo said the beauty of democracy is that before Nigerians cannot be imposed on them.

“If we choose to do nothing, we will only blame ourselves. If we choose to do the right thing, we will put this country back on track; one that gives all our people a sense of belonging and a sense of unity of purpose and a stake in the Nigeria project; a project that will give us all peace, security, stability, shared prosperity, hope and progress and a place within the community of nations,” he said.

As of the filing of this report, efforts to reach the presidency have been unsuccessful as the President’s Senior Special Assistant for Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has not responded to any calls or messages sent to him.