I will continue to be fair, unbias in appointment – Buhari

Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari said he will continue to ensure equitable and fair distribution of appointments among the 36 states of the federation without being bias.

Buhari, since assumption in office in 2015, has come under criticism from different sections of the country for allegedly favouring the northern region of the country in appointments of officials to his cabinet.

But the Presidency had consistently said that Buhari has maintained balance in his administration without favouring one part of the country over the other.

Recently president Buhari appointed Yusuf Magaji Bichi, a northerner as the new Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to replace Mathew Seyeifa who hails from South-south region of Nigeria.

The latest of the criticism came after Nigeria’s former finance minister Kemi Adeosun, from the southwest region of the country resigned and got replaced by Zainab Ahmed, a northerner.

But President Buhari, who received a delegation of Akwa Ibom leaders and elders at the presidential villa on Monday, said he will continue to be fair to all states of the country.

“I have taken note of your appreciation of appointments into the Federal Service from your state. I assure you that I shall continue to be fair and equitable in federal appointments to all states of the country,” Buhari said.

He also promised more infrastructure projects in Akwa Ibom State and the southern part of the country and noted that provision has been made for the realisation of Ekot-Ekpene Aba axis in the 2019 budget.

“To complete the Cross River – Akwa Ibom- Abia State axis of the road, I have directed the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to provide in the 2019 budget the realisation of Ekot-Ekpene Aba axis,” Buhari said.

The delegation of Akwa-Ibom leaders and elders was led by the former governor of the state Senator Godswill Akpabio.