President Buhari is on right track – Hon. Musa
There has been an outcry over the recent appointment of key aides by President Muhammadu Buhari, as these appointments are said to be lopsided, what is your take on this?
First and foremost, President Muhammadu Buhari has the right to appoint people he believes are competent, trustworthy and qualified to work with him without considering their ethnic or religious background. More importantly I think is too early for Nigerians to react now, as there are more appointments to be made in the coming weeks and this would surely accommodate all sections of the country. What should be paramount to Nigerians now is how the present government would address the issue of good governance and how the President would fight insurgency, corruption and stabilize the economy of the nation.
Some prominent politicians from the south east are crying of marginalization in the present government, do you think they have a point?
It’s quite unfortunate reading in the media, the outburst from some prominent Nigerians, particularly from the South East over the appointments. It beats my imagination how former ministers and some Senators would be drumming the song of marginalization and ethnicity when they quite alright knew key presidential appointments within the office of the President are strictly the prerogatives of Mr. President. They should be patient as I believe Mr President knows what he is doing. I can also assure them that Buhari would not under whatever guise victimize any section of the country bearing in mind that account for when he said he was for nobody but for everybody during his inaugural speech.
What do you have to say about the appointment of Col Hameed Ali as the new customs boss, is it in line with best practices?
It’s like we forget to quick in this country. However let me remind Nigerians that this was not the first time somebody outside the Customs was chosen to head the outfit. The President has the right to appoint anybody so long as that person has integrity and he or she is competent to head the organization; there was a time in this country the former PDP Chairman Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed a Veterinary doctor, as well as Major General Sam Ango rtd were at one time heads of Customs. All these individuals were appointed outside the Customs; as such the appointment of one time Military Administrator of Kaduna State Col Hammed Ali as Comptroller General of Customs by President Muhammadu Buhari was in order. Mind you the president is here to clean the Aegean stable and he can send anybody he feels is capable of doing the task assigned to him to anywhere.
Now let’s come to legislative matters, there have been calls for this National Assembly to reduce their remunerations what is the position, are members ready to accept pay cut?
Yes we are surely ready, it’s a sacrifice we all have to make, already the President and his Vice have set the ball rolling, they have set examples, and the Senate is also looking into that. So it’s a general consensus that in the spirit of change we all have to make sacrifices as such we are ever willing to accept pay cut and any adjustments on our salaries and allowances.
What is your take on the reported increase in number of committees in the House by the Speaker is it justifiable?
Well the speaker must have his reasons for increasing the number of committees in the House be that as it may, I strongly believe it is going to be an attempt to ensure effective oversights functions of the House, and if am not wrong, this may be the outcome of the legislative agenda for the 8th House of Representatives, where all members are expected to work very hard and effectively so as to churn out pro poor laws for the country and perform effective legislative oversight functions.
President Buhari is 100 days in office, how will you describe his approach to governance?
I will wholeheartedly salute his courage and determination to move this country forward, you can see from what he has achieved since his inauguration, as he said it is slowly but steadily so we should all be patient with him. The President must also be commended for the reforms currently going on in the oil sector. Within 100 days the three refineries in the country, namely Port-Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri would soon resume full capacity production. Besides his desire to create jobs and employment for the teeming youths of the country has led to his directive that 10,000 Nigerians should be recruited into the Nigeria police force Again, I will like to commend his efforts in the area of security; his approach has portrayed him as a leader who wants to end insurgency in the country as well as his fight against corruption. All these efforts were recorded without ministers, so how will it look like when Ministers are appointed, surely Nigeria will be on track. Looking at the foreign scene, the president has revived Nigeria in the eyes of the international comity, Nigeria is in the good books of all nations now and I assure you by this time next year Nigeria would strongly be on ground as a great nation.
What advice do you have for Nigerians?
Nigerians should desist from making pronouncements that was capable of heating the polity. For instance take a look at the statements credited to Senator Abaribe to the effect that the All Progressive Congress APC has chosen as a style, to run a government that encourages alienation of a sizeable portion of its people, as well as one that promotes exclusivity. That statement was uncalled for; anyway he is from the opposition so am not surprised a bit. But it’s wrong coming from a ranking senator of the federal republic of Nigeria.
Do you think APC is following its manifesto as a people’s party?
Yes of course, we are and we are following it objectively, mind you every political party has its style, and the APC has vowed to adopt its unique style of running an all inclusive national government, which will in the long run reflect the true character and national outlook of the Nigerian people. The APC as a people’s party believes in inclusiveness, not minding the voting pattern of any section of the country or where its support base was derived. Similarly, for any responsible party, there should not be any political barrier or alienation of any constituent part, because after elections the President is the President and father of all Nigerians irrespective of political leaning. And as I earlier on said the few appointments so far made by Mr. President should not be seen as an attempt to marginalize any section of the country.
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