FORMER Military Governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (Rtd), has lambasted President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua over the appointment of a new Controller-General of Customs, alleging that the president had ignored the principles of federal character.

He said in Kaduna on Monday, that for not disclosing the reasons or the considerations that guided the selection and appointment of Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, as the new Controller-General of Customs, over and above his superiors and other peers, the president had erred.

Umar described the development as a semblance of nepotism and a presidential inability to treat the whole country as one, adding that the action was a gross violation of the federal character principles.

“President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s increasing disdain for due process and the tendency towards arbitrariness portend to have posed a grave danger both to the unity and security of the country,” he said.

“Having chosen not to disclose the reasons or the considerations that guided the selection and appointment last week of Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, as the new Comptroller-General of Customs over and above his superiors and other peers, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had given the impression that he was unconcerned with the increasing apprehensions and anxieties the public feels about the way he is using the powers of his office.”

“Without a question, the public is right and entitled to expect that the president exercises those powers transparently and always for the promotion of the larger interests of the entire country.”

The appointment, he added, was a clear manifestation of nepotism tendencies which signaled the steady emergence of a disturbing pattern of nepotism, cronyism and chronic dinability to treat the whole country as a single constituency.

“All too often, as in this instance, a high profile office falls vacant and the president rushes to locate an indigene of Katsina (or in some cases, Kano State), to fill it. Few can pretend not to notice or take issues with the choice of Katsina-born Alhaji Abdullahi Inde, an Assistant Comptroller-General, a lower level position in the hierarchy of that institution, as Comptroller-General after recent appointments of Katsina State indigenes as chief executive officers of string of parastatals, including the Petroleum Trust Fund, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, the National Inland Waterways Authority and, for that matter, Federal Road Maintenance Agency.”

He said that in the opinion of the Nigerian public, no matter the qualifications of the appointees, the fact that President Yar’Adua ignored agreed principles of the federal character and national unity in carrying out the appointments, the intention rendered any of such qualities untenable.

“This should be a matter of deep regret considering that at least, one part of his recent appointees, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of the Central Bank, has proved to be uncommonly well informed, competent and an effective regulator; a big credit indeed to his profession.“

My people, this is found in today's Tribune. What is your take on this?

This is worse than tribalism.

Na today? But we should realize that the country has six geo-political zones- 3 in the North and South regions respectively. The Northern region has a somewhat homogeneous composition whereas there is profound heterogeneity in the South. So any appointee be it from the North East, North West or North Central is viewed as Hausa Fulani in most cases. Nevertheless, Oga Umaru should watch it. The grumblings are becoming too loud to ignore

pcicero:

Na today? But we should realize that the country has six geo-political zones- 3 in the North and South regions respectively. The Northern region has a somewhat homogeneous composition whereas there is profound heterogeneity in the South. So any appointee be it from the North East, North West or North Central is viewed as Hausa Fulani in most cases. Nevertheless, Oga Umaru should watch it. The grumblings are becoming too loud to ignore

@pcicero,

Your statement above, though true in other situations, is not the issue under discourse.

macfarland:

“All too often, as in this instance, a high profile office falls vacant and the president rushes to locate an indigene of Katsina (or in some cases, Kano State), to fill it. Few can pretend not to notice or take issues with the choice of Katsina-born Alhaji Abdullahi Inde, an Assistant Comptroller-General, a lower level position in the hierarchy of that institution, as Comptroller-General after recent appointments of Katsina State indigenes as chief executive officers of string of parastatals, including the Petroleum Trust Fund, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, the National Inland Waterways Authority and, for that matter, Federal Road Maintenance Agency.”

Tribalistic,  .?  No he doesn't care about his tribe or anyones if anything its the emir of sokoto who he cares about.

Tribalism isn't Nigerias problem but thats what common folks think- THE BIG LIE TO COVER UP CORRUPT LEADERS FROM EVERY TRIBE

I won't say tribalistic, but it is not nigerian, he needs to keep a federal figure. play it well at all sides. He needs lessons from OBJ.

Umar criticises appointment of Customs boss
By Segun Olatunji, Kaduna
Published: Tuesday, 18 Aug 2009

The former military governor of Kaduna State and civil rights activist, Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd), on Monday accused President Umaru Yar‘Adua of alleged violation of principles of federal character in the appointments to national offices.
Col. Abubakar Umar condemned the recent appointment of Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko as the new Controller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service.

The former military governor, who is also the Chairman of the Movement for Unity and Progress, said in a two-page statement made available to journalists in Kaduna, that the President‘s appointment of people from his home state and Kano into federal positions without regard for due process, constituted a great danger to the unity and security of Nigeria.

The statement reads, ”Having chosen not to disclose the reasons or the considerations that guided the selection and the appointment last week of Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko as the new Controller-General of customs over and above his superiors and other peers, President Umaru Yar‘Adua had given the impression that he was unconcerned with the increasing apprehensions and anxieties the public feels about the way he is using the powers of his office.

“Without a question, the public is right and is entitled to expect that the President exercises those powers transparently and always for the promotion of the larger interests of the entire country.

”Sadly, what is apparent is the steady emergence of a disturbing pattern of nepotism, cronyism and chronic disability to treat the whole country as (his) single constituency.

“All too often, as in this instance, a high profile office falls vacant and the President rushes to locate an indigene of Katsina (or in some cases, Kano State) to fill it.”



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200908182435614

They work on the principle of best northerner for the job not who is next in line bloody northerners

Ask OBJ who appointed him.

what do you mean by been tribalistic , he is doing the right thing , when OBJ was there he was  playing the fool in the name of federal character , federal character my foot, MR YARADUA pls go on dont stop there  adjus the constitution and replace all the governors of the whole country with an indigene of katsina state, even all the LG chairmen in the country shd be replaced with katsina mallam !!!!!! YEYE PRESIDENT  
 
   Mr poster if u be  YARADUA will u not put all ur siblings and indigen in the sweet & mouth watering post in d country , leave the man he is preparing 4 his retirement!!!!,
 pray 4 me to get there i wil make u minister 4 money printing in the MINT, sooooooooory , ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I think the former kaduna state gover was just disappointed because his prefrence was not choosen.

hornestly,all Nigerian leaders have trates of nepotism but umar's case is to obvious.

Am not convinced yet.

President Umaru Musa Yar ‘Adua has approved the appointment of Dikko Abdullahi as the new Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service. Abdullahi succeeds the incumbent Bernard Nwadialo who is due to retire on Sunday, August 16, 2009 - having attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years. Until his appointment, Abdullahi was the Assistant Comptroller-General (Headquarters) - a position he has held since
1998. He enlisted in the Superintendent Cadre of the Nigeria Customs Service in 1988 and has served in many commands and received numerous awards/commendations during this period. He is also a recipient of the National Honour of the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).  
Abdullahi possesses a Bachelors Degree in Economics and a Masters Degree in Finance.  He is also a member of Certified National Accountants, having passed the qualifying exams of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.
In a related development, the President has also approved the re-constitution of the Board of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) and the appointment of a new executive management team for the Bank.
The newly re-constituted Board is composed of the following individuals under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Governor, Financial Sector Surveillance Directorate, Central Bank of Nigeria : Ungwaga R. Orya (Managing Director), Olufemi Agbaje (Executive Director, Operations), Bashir M. Wali (Executive Director, Management Services), Rotimi Adewunmi (Non-Executive Director) Mohammad Babangida (Non-Executive Director) Other members of the board are the representative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, representative of the Federal Ministry of Commerce.
Ungwaga Orya graduated from the University of Ibadan with an M.Sc in Banking and Finance. He also has a Diploma in Accounting from Benue Polytechnic and is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London and Nigeria (ACIBN). His experience in banking spans over 25 years in investment, commercial, retail and mortgage banking, corporate finance and treasury management having worked in several
financial institutions, including the International Merchant Bank (1984 – 1990), Credit Bank of Nigeria (1990-1991) and Pace Mortgage Finance Ltd (1992 – 1993). He was also Managing Director, Lobi Bank (1995) and is presently Executive Director, Afribank Capital Markets Limited (2006 to date). Mr. Orya is from Benue State .
Olufemi Agbaje holds a B.A. (Hons) degree in History and Political Science from the University of Ife . He is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ACA) and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered and Certified
Accountants, UK (FCCA). He is an accomplished banker with over 25 years cognate experience in Auditing, Merchant Banking and Discount House operations. He is presently Chief Financial Officer, Notore Chemical Industries Ltd.
Bashir Wali graduated from Ahmadu Bello University , Zaria , with an LL.B Degree and University of Essex , England , where he obtained LL.M. He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM) and Honorary Senior Member, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (HCIB). He has worked in both the public and private sectors, including as presently Group Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Afribank
Nigeria Plc.
Rotimi Adewunmi holds an MBA (with specialization in Finance and Management) from Middlesex University Business School , UK and B.Sc. (Hons) Economics (International Trade & Development) from the London School of Economics, UK. He has over 20 years experience in finance and management and is presently a Director at Enterprise Integrators Ltd, as well as Director at PeopleSERVE Microfinance Bank Ltd.
Mohammad I. Babangida is a graduate of European University , Switzerland , from where he obtained a BA (Hons) degree in Business Administration and an MA degree in Public Relations and Business Communication and has attended the Harvard Business School, USA. Babangida has over 13 years business experience in banking, oil & gas, trade and real estate and is on the Boards of Unity Bank Plc and Firstcity Bank Plc. All the appointments take effect immediately.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4463:fg-appoints-new-comptroller-general-of-customs&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

@poster This report also says he was assistant to the former guy so ur idea of him being picked over and above others may not be true but based on the federal character principles he goofed.

maybe

na today?

Leave the idiot,make he continue selecting is stupid fellow aboki.i dont even know the criteria that he is using for this because this people no dey go school na.abi no be cow dem dey rear again.

nil

I will rather say he is more into nepotism than tribalism

ur man mr prsidnt is full fledge tribalistic muppet

how many parastatal and govt agency will be headed by norhners,. o sumi ooooo.

Undecided.

eedu247:

how many parastatal and govt agency will be headed by norhners,. o sumi ooooo.

i am not sure, if that is a good enuf reason to label him.

He's totally clueless on how to run a country - so he results to that which he's comfortable with.

No.

JamesG:

He's totally clueless on how to run a country - so he results to that which he's comfortable with.

Very true, using people that he trust, and i dont think it is about being tribalistic

when would nigeirians awaken to to reality. . . the point is we're always lying on sick beds et al.

that guy called umoru or whatever, is only an acting president. . . hence he is still or he is under higher authorities for crying outa lad.

Its high time we've got the take the batton and hold the bull by its HORN before there is be any progress if at all in NIGIERIA.

Of course he is. Thats why his regime is inactive. All the key positions were given to his Northern peeps.

Yarasick is a weak president extraordinaire.

,mama-gee:

Yarasick is a weak president extraordinaire.

Hence his journey to SAUDI arabia for further treatment

It is a daft question to ask about Umaru Yar’adua. It is only a fool who does not discern that Nigeria amounts to nepotism, cronyism, tribalism, colonial contraption, jungle and failure.

The same attributes that led the coup of January 15, 1966 that overthrew the government of Balewa are being displayed by the government of Yar’adua. He learnt from his father who was the minister for Lagos capital territory under Balewa government.

i am not suprised.


what where you goys expecting from a sickler.don't you know he is a walking zombie.all his brain cells are dead n gone.
so my fellow NL keep expecting more from YARASTUPID.

Why is it that it is only when Northerners are appointed that we raise high brow, Security (Defense , Police, Army, ) are all headed by South South and Industry Education, Information are South East, South West have there own share too. I tire o, What do we really want in this country Good Governance or appointments

Mr Yar agoduam(this is an unauthorized use of trademark oh) is so dumb,theres nothing to compare him with.