Southern and Middle Belt leaders have frowned at the appointment of Aliyu Jauro as the new director general of the Nigerian Environmental Standards and Regulatory Agency (NESREA), describing it as another case of lopsidedness and sectional appointment typical of President Muhammadu Buhari, even as they called for its reversal.
The leaders in a statement signed on Thursday by Yinka Odumakin for the Southwest, Chihozie Ogbu for the Southeast, Bassey Henshaw for the South-south and Isuwa Dogo for the Middle Belt, said, “While not questioning the prerogative of President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Nigerians of his choice into top government positions, we express our shock and surprise that, this new case, has taken same sectional and lopsided nature.
“We put on record that Prof Jauro, a graduate of 1997, is replacing Dr. Lawrence Anukam, a thorough professional with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Anukam was not afforded the opportunity of second term usually extended to high performing Heads of Parastatals and Agencies. Even more surprising, the Acting Director General, Mrs Miranda Amachree, being the most senior was also sidelined.
“It is sad, that this appointment, the first after the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) declared President Buhari the winner of the Presidential elections has taken same old pattern of exclusion and discrimination against some Nigerians as if they are second class citizens in their own country,” the statement said.
The leaders pointed out that this appointment is clearly at variance with the recent promise of President Buhari to run an inclusive government. “Is that how he wants to start inclusivity at the beginning of second term while sectionalism and narrowness reign till May 29 or the promise is a deception?”They asked.
“We demand the immediate reversal of the appointment of Prof Jauro and request the consideration of either the substantive DG, Dr. Anukam or the most senior Director, Mrs Amachree,” the statement added.
