Leave Sentiment Out Of Buhari’s Appointment, Says Braithwaite

A human rights lawyer and elder statesman, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite has urged Nigerians to avoid raising sentiments about the appointments so far made by President Muhammadu Buhari but rather focus on the scene behind the motivation.

Braithwaite’s reaction is coming on the backdrop of the diverse reactions that have trailed the appointments so far made by Mr. President since May 29, in which he has been accused of sectional sentiment, particularly in favour of his northern zone to the neglect of the south, especially the eastern section.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Braithwaite said, “Let us leave the shape of Mr President’s latest appointment aside for the time being, to see is the motivation for the appointment.”

According to him, “The latest appointments were made on the anniversary of Buhari’s betrayal in a coup that overthrew his regime in 1985 by his own peers. This is more important than this sectional sentiment.”
The elder statesman said Nigerians must encourage Mr. President to deal with corruption in the country, which is more vital and necessary for now.

On why he called on Nigerians to look beyond the sentiment behind the appointments, Braithwaite said, “I happened to be the chairman of Buhari’s Committee for Declaration for Presidency in 2007 and the sole reason we supported him at that time was the no nonsense stance his regime took against corruption between 1983 and August 1985 when he was overthrown. It is imperative of us now to back him in the ongoing fight against graft. Otherwise corruption will kill Nigeria if we fail to kill it now.”