Re: Epicentre of misrule

SIR: Abraham Ogbodo’s “Epicentre of misrule” in his column of Sunday, October 25, 2015 above refers.

What is the brouhaha about the appointment of Prof. Yakubu as INEC chairman all about? Nigeria has had 12 electoral chiefs from 1960 to date (the new INEC Chair inclusive). Of the whole lot, only the last two (Profs. Jega and Yakubu) are from the North. All the previous 10 are from the South. Of the 10 from the South, seven (7) are from the South South region. These are: Eyo Ita Esua (1960-1966), Michael Ani (1976-1979), Victor Ovie-Whiskey (1983), Okon Uya (1993-1994), Summer Dagogo-Jack (1994-1998), Ephraim Akpata (1998-1999), Abel Guobadia (2000-2005) and Maurice Iwu (2005-2010). Thus it can be concluded that the South (more so, South South) has had more than a fair share in the appointments of electoral chiefs in Nigeria.

Is the problem really that a President from the North ought not to appoint somebody from the same region as Chief electoral umpire? Is the integrity of the person not more important? No. President Olusegun Obasanjo from the South, appointed Abel Guobadia and Maurice Iwu both from the South South as Electoral Chiefs. So, what is different with the present appointment?

On Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Lecky’s appointment as national commissioner representing the South South zone, is Mr. Ogbodo saying Edo State is no longer part of South South? By the way, a new Head of Service was appointed of recent, in person of Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, from Cross River State. For people like Ogbodo, since the new HOS is not from Otueke, she is not representing the South South. No be so?

The same way some people shouted themselves hoarse on the appointment of DG of SSS from Daura by President Muhammadu Buhari. Have we forgotten so soon that President Obasanjo appointed his kinsman, Col. (rtd.) Kayode Are from Abeokuta as DG, SSS during his tenure? Or that President Jonathan appointed a fellow South South brother, Mr. Ekpeyong as DG, SSS during his tenure?

President Jonathan appointed his Chief of Staff from Edo and Ondo states but President Buhari must appoint a Southerner, otherwise he is a tribalist? When are we going to imbibe the natural law that says do unto others as you wish to be done by?

I want to advise Mr. Ogbodo to open his mind and allow objectivity and truth in. At his age (don’t know him but from his years of presence in the print media and look, he must be an old man), he should try to be objective and present facts as they are.

• Abimbola Abiona,
Lagos.