The critical clergyman Anthony Olubunmi Okogie in his interview granted to the Saturday new men has stated that there is no difference between the government of Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.
Cardinal Okogie
Okogie has said that events of the last four months in Nigeria have shown that Buhari belongs to somebody.
The cardinal said: ”When I was listening to the broadcast of the incumbent president during his swearing–in, I beat my chest, can this man say, those things were written by him? I ask myself is this the Buhari I knew 2011, that wrote this? Even though it was written for him, can he not sit down and read and re-read again, and ask himself, if he can follow all those things written down. Looking at the statement he made ‘I belong to everybody but nobody’. Look at the list of ministers, he belongs to nobody, I laughed. It means he belonged to APC.
”And with the list, they are now trying to pay back those who were their bag carriers, that is what am seeing, that is not Nigeria which we fought for, it’s painful. So, what is coming ahead if care is not taken and this crop of people if they don’t work hand in hand, we are going to have a bad future, because the youths now, they are just waiting, they are now saying that the elderly ones in this country, can’t be trusted, they are looking for their time and when that time comes, they will not carry arms, they will do it in such a way that you will not even know that they are the one.
”The people who have served in different capacities should have given room for the younger ones to go in and serve. OBJ used to say I sit down dey look (laugh), I don’t know what he has to say to all this, but I know he has a part in it. I said it loud and clear, how come this one say I brought my list, am hearing this from the common people. I know when they come down they say all sort of things, how many list do you want, how many different people brought their list? And yet you said, you belong to nobody, how can you not be confused, when you said you’re waiting for an angel, to come and rule the nation, I laughed. Out of the abundant of the heart, the mouth speaketh. If I were in his shoes, (Buhari) I tell you, this is his last time. He tried it thrice and now that the good Lord brought him back, can’t he use this opportunity to do something better?
”One thing am seeing again from what is going on, there is acrimony, during the campaign they were just attacking one another, that happened then. People who said they have gone to secondary school, not to talk of university are behaving this way, is it how to keep the nation together? Where is the patriotism in that list? How can you tell me that these people are going to work?”, Okogie asked.
On October 1 a list of 21 names was submitted to the Senate president Bukola Saraki for screening and confirmation of ministers for Buhari’s cabinet.
The list comprises the names of former governors of Abia, Ogbonaya Onu, Anambra, Dr. Chris Ngige, Ekiti, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Lagos, Babatunde Fashola, and Rivers Rotimi Amaechi, as well as Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau (rtd.), the former chief of army staff and 14 other distinguished Nigerians.
The screening and confirmation of Buhari’s ministers will continue on October 20, Tuesday.
