*Says he will not accept appoint in Tinubu’s government
*States why President must name cabinet members within 72 hours
Former Presidential flagbearer in the March general elections under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to go beyond campaign rhetoric and put in place, processes and plans for rebuilding the nation.
Reacting to Mr President’s Democracy Day broadcast on Monday, Kachikwu cautioned that having endured so much under the previous government, further calls for patience will not be taken seriously.
“For too long, Nigerians have endured. We have kept faith when promises made by successive governments didn’t materialise. We have been asked to be patient until we no longer know what it means to be patient.
“Today, our President has once again asked us to be patient as cost of living rises astronomically occasioned by the removal of petroleum subsidy. On a day when we should celebrate the essence of democracy, we don’t have much to celebrate”, he said.
For not announcing his cabinet since inauguration, Kachikwu expressed worries that Tinubu was toeing the part of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who he said, crawled throughout his eight years in office.
“It is with a renewed sense of hope and optimism that many Nigerians received the Democracy Day broadcast from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Our nation is pregnant with hope and we hope this won’t be another stillbirth.
“We all yearn for the hope promised us by M.K.O Abiola three decades ago. His message resonated with most Nigerians and as such, Nigerians from all walks of life trooped out to vote for him in an election adjudged to be free and fair. Desperate men didn’t allow him to take the oath of office but in our hearts and minds, he remains the President we know.”
Kachikwu also charged Tinubu to appoint competent team devoid of legal and political burdens within the next 72 hours, failure of which he would be perceived to be “as confused as his predecessor.”
Meanwhile, he has frowned at the appointment of George Akume as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), alleging that he lacked the ability to man the office. He hoped that it was not a signal of what to come in the list of appointees.
On the fight against corruption, Kachikwu said the former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele must not stand alone in the court of justice.
“If the President turns a blind eye to the monumental corruption at the NNPCL where subsidy fraud in the trillions of naira is said to have taken place, then, he will give credence to the rumours that some of that money was used to fund his elections.
“He would also be seen to support the notion that the law discriminates against people of Ibo extraction. All those in the previous administration who abused their offices must be brought to book”, he said.
Noting that he will not accept political office in Tinubu-led government to enable him remain a voice to the voiceless Nigerians, Kachikwu urged those who lost in the last election to extend hands of fellowship to the new administration.
“We must begin to redefine the word ‘opposition’ in the context of our democracy. As we oppose, we must also propose. As we disagree, we must also agree. Service to fatherland is our calling.
