Presidency Tackles Governor Fayose Over ‘Lopsided Appointments’, Says His Comment Aimed At Triggering Ethno-Religious Crisis | #News

The Presidency has responded to Ekiti Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose’s recent criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments, saying his outburst was divisive and threatens the unity of the country.

Fayose had in a statement signed by his Special assistant on Public Communication, Lere Olayinka, on Monday, described the actions of the president as the “Nothernisation of Nigeria”, noting that the appointments made by Mr. Buhari so far negated the principle of federal character and had taken the unity of Nigeria for granted.

But Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, rebuked Fayose, pointing out that he had been preoccupied with the revival of the economy, securing the nation and ridding it of corruption, therefore, he would not be distracted by unwarranted criticism.

“Nigerians are smarter than Fayose thinks. The Governor’s outbursts are intended to be a trigger for a clash between communities in areas where deliberate attempts had in the past also been made by the PDP to stoke ethnic and religious fault-lines”, he said.

“Our appeal to Nigerians is that they should ignore these tantrums. President Buhari is a healer not a divider”.

Shehu said Nigerians should see the recent appointments as one wave among the many that will come, noting that the next waves would come with thousands of new jobs.

“The President is conscious of the federal character and the requirements of balance in the constitution. He will be guided by the constitution in making his appointments”, Mr. Shehu said.

“Let me say at this stage that mere appeal to ethnic and regional arithmetic will not give back to the PDP what they lost. They seem to be making a dangerous calculation with their recent outbursts.

“The mere appeal to sectional and religious will not give the party its lost relevance or electability”.