Coalition To Tinubu, Abbas: Shun Persons With Questionable Character For Appointments

A non-governmental organisation, Coalition for Good Governance and Government’s Responsiveness, has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, to shun individuals with blemish and tainted character for appointments into the cabinet or any sensitive positions in the National Assembly.

The body, in a statement in Lagos and made available to the press yesterday, specifically referred to the former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje and erstwhile Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa, whom, it said, were not suitable to be appointed into positions of trust and responsibility in the new administration.

According to the statement signed by Adebowale Rasheed Abiodun, both Ganduje and Doguwa were persons of questionable character based on their implications in “sordid and unpatriotic deeds” that have cast a slur on their respective personalities and therefore unsuitable for any major appointments.

In the case of Ganduje, the coalition asserted in the statement that he has “questionable issues” to answer over the viral video which showed him collecting dollars and stuffing them in his babariga in his office and a major issue pending for adjudication.

“We know that he is innocent until proven guilty but we have also read that the tape was not doctored, adding that it is very possible that he will be prosecuted in Kano soon or be invited by the EFCC.

“Your Excellency will agree with us that this is not the time for a person with such questionable character begging for answer to be appointed into your cabinet”, the coalition stated.

Similarly, the body expressed reservations about the possibility of Hon. Alhassan Doguwa being appointed as chairman of the Security and Intelligence Committee of the House of Representatives.

It hinged its reservations on what it alleged as Doguwa’s character deficit, stating further that it is “imminent that the former Chief Whip will be re-arraingned for manslaughter or murder.”

In this regard, the coalition emphasized that it would be disastrous to appoint Doguwa into any sensitive positions, least being the position of the chairman of the House Security and National Intelligence Committee.

“Whilst it is lawful for the Honourable Speaker to appoint Doguwa to any committee in the House, it is not expedient to appoint him as the chairman of the Security and National Intelligence Committee of the Federal House of Representatives. Such step will certainly send a wrong signal to the nation”.

The coalition while applauding both President Bola Tinubu and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, for their vision and leadership so far, cautioned that appointing persons of questionable character into major positions in government would amount to business as usual with consequence in national appeal.

“We state with conviction that both Ganduje and Doguwa are most probably about to be re-arraingned for their alleged corruption and murder respectively.

“We reiterate that while a man is innocent until proven guilty, it would send a wrong signal, for instance, if you appoint Doguwa to exercise oversight functions over those who are already investigating him for his actions during the last election. So we urge both the president and speaker to avoid such appointments that would bring blemish to the administration,” the coalition cautioned.