By Jaafar Jaafar
Politically speaking, the list is okay. Merit nko? Mba! Well, I always want to see a flavor of politics added to a political cocktail. That makes it sweeter.
Of course I notice some imbalances, yet there is counterbalancing in the list. I also notice reward for hardwork and dedication to a political cause, just as I smell the putrid odor of nepotism.
I hate talking about religion in a political discourse. Sadly, religion and politics in Nigeria are like rim and tyre — they go together. But the best way to get a better understanding of the discourse is to talk about the stark reality. If religion is not relevant to Nigerian politics, perhaps the name "Vice President Yomi Osinbajo" wouldn't have been on the national spotlight.
I go with President Buhari for counterbalancing the imbalance of the nomination of Muslim from Niger State with a Christian nominee from Plateau State. Both states have the same politico-religious blood group. Despite a good number of Muslim population in Plateau State, the governor, deputy governor, speaker, SSG — and now minister —are all Christians. In Niger too, despite a good number of Christians, the governor, deputy governor, speaker, SSG — and now minister — are all Muslims. A semblance of balance.
Personally, I am happy with the nominations of Rotimi Amaechi, Babatunde Fashola and Kayode Fayemi, Chris Ngige, etc. Bukola Saraki too would have made the list if he had not become senator, just as Timipre Sylva would — had he not clinched Bayelsa governorship ticket last week. With Saraki as ministerial nominee, Nigerians may perhaps not know that at the CCT, an effeminate figure sits on the bench.
Oh yes there is nepotism. Jigawa State nominee, Engineer Sulaiman Hussaini Adamu (Danburam), is the president's nephew, and a half brother to INEC chairperson, Amina Zakari. President Buhari's elder sister is the mother of Engineer Adamu and the current emir of Kazaure, Najib Hussaini Adamu.
In Jigawa, Farouk Adamu Aliyu is better suited, politically, owing to his contributions to the success of the party. At a time when he had the control of the party in the state, this man deliberately refused to aspire to become a governor of Jigawa State. His reason? He wanted enough time and concentration on the Buhari 2015 project.
And from my state, Kano, I am also happy with the nomination of Abdulrahman B. Dambazau, a thoroughbred soldier and academic who cut his political teeth in the Buhari school of thoughts in 2010. I love seeing loyalty rewarded.
For the sake of gender balance, it is important for President Buhari to add at least three more women in the subsequent list. For political stability, Amina Azzubair should come from her state of origin, Gombe State not Kaduna State.
Also, the youths are obviously not represented in the list. At least two young men under the age of 40, should appear in the next list. The contributions of youths to the election of Buhari were tremendous.
But why do I love the Buhari list? Forming a cabinet without those who suffered for the party may affect party's electoral fortunes in future. I still want Buhari to consolidate his achievements beyond 2019 because our problems cannot be solved in four years.
But I still can't see any justification for waiting for nearly half a year without holding a single Federal Executive Council meeting. if after waiting for four months (if you add his two months as president-elect, you'll arrive at half a year!), the Ngiges of this world are the saints President Buhari sent to the Senate, then the nation is a colony of Old Harries.
Most of the people who appeared on the list could be selected a day after wining election. What's the big deal? When Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of the British Labour Party on September 12, he formed his shadow cabinet, about 30 of them, the following day.
Human beings, we say in Hausa, are not like pots — whose quality is certified by knocking. Studying human character may be difficult in four months, but certainly not studying their past records. There is nothing radiant about some of the nominees' track records apart from their contributions to the success of their party
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