Chidi Samuel || Isa Misau, the Senator representing Bauchi central and elected on the platform of the ruling APC on Wednesday accused President Muhammadu Buhari of appointing incompetent people into his cabinet.
The senator queried, in particular, the recent appointment of Ahmed Abubakar as the Director General of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, NIA.
According to the senator, the appointment of Mr. Abubakar was improper as he is believed to have failed promotion examinations before his appointment.
Misau said, “Today, the DG NIA that was just appointed, is he qualified to be there? He’s not qualified. This is the person that failed two exams, we know. He failed two exams and just because he is close to people taking decisions, he was appointed.”
The senator accused President Buhari of surrounding himself with incompetent people who “take decisions anyhow.”
“So many incompetent people are holding so many positions. Fifty per cent of the ministers are not performing. Since the president assumed office he has not taken any decision to move this country. Today we are seeing it and everybody is avoiding it, nobody wants to say anything.
“So many appointments in this government are not on merit. Some people have taken over the government as if they are even above the president. They take decisions anyhow. We say we are fighting corruption, Babachir that the vice-president’s committee indicted him. Today, they are pursuing other people, why can’t they take Babachir (Lawal, former SGF) to court and all of us are here keeping quiet. People who have not done anything are always in court. This is the man that squandered money meant for IDPs and he is still visiting villa every day.”
“This Attorney-General is becoming a nuisance, going to court to stop Maina (probe) and we are still here. The IG came here with a lawyer that he is not going to answer any question from the Senate. After that, he went to institute an order restraining Senate from investigating him.
“When we were on holiday, so many people were going behind that they should try and remove the senate president. And it was a minister that was spearheading that thing. What is the reason, they said that the Senate president would leave APC that they should create problems for him (Saraki). What kind of country is this? Everything is about religion, about tribe.”
According to senator Misau, the issue of security would not be properly tackled until the executive makes appointments based on merit.
“It is right time for us, let us know what to do. If it’s about talking here or holding a conference, until we look at how the security system is. Who and who are holding sensitive positions? Are they competent? Were they appointed on merit?”