The illogic in Jonathan’s zero-hour appointments

the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), National Content Development and Monitory Board (NCDMB), National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), governing boards of universities etc. For a government that has few weeks to leave power, it is curious to know why the Jonathan administration is making appointments into boards, parastatals […]

the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), National Content Development and Monitory Board (NCDMB), National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), governing boards of universities etc. For a government that has few weeks to leave power, it is curious to know why the Jonathan administration is making appointments into boards, parastatals and commissions even when these appointments are not necessary or building on the incoming Buhari administration. I some cases some appointments were made prematurely to create a certain mischief.
Whatever may be the merits (if any) of these appointments the Jonathan government has a burden of credibility to convince Nigerians that these appointments are necessary at this point when a new government and administration is about to be sworn into office. Are these appointments meant to confuse or mislead the incoming government towards investigating certain activities?
Some of the appointments into the federal government boards or commissions are absolutely unnecessary because their chairmen of chief executives are due to complete their tenure either in May or June, 2015. For example the outgoing chairman of the National Hajj Commission is having his tenure shortened to force him out of office, three weeks to the end of his tenure. Many tongues are set wagging at the National Hajj Commission over the feverish haste to stampede its chairman out of office in order to replace him with an anointed successor. His tenure precisely ends on 4th June, 2015, why are they determined to deny the new Government the opportunity to appoint its own chairman?
It is apparent that these hasty political appointments have nothing to do with public interest, but to serve selfish interest and impose appointments on the incoming Government. Why should Government which is interested in smooth transition embark upon these needless last minute appointments? It’s clear that those hasty appointments of its cronies were done in bad faith and deliberately to spite the new government.
These needless appointments may turn out to be an embarrassment to the beneficiaries because the incoming government is not bound to retain them in office. If you want to reward anybody politically, this is the most awkward time to do so. And even more annoying is the fact that people are being forced out of office when their tenure is due to expire.
What on earth could make an outgoing government engage in these unsustainable and needless appointments? What benefits do they bring to Jonathan Government politically? Can we achieve smooth and happy transition when an outgoing government is all out to throw fly in the ointment of the incoming government when these appointments are not legally binding on Buhari? Should a government reduce appointment to pettiness?
By these ridiculously hasty and unnecessary appointments, is the administration not sending a wrong signal that it is enjoying the bitter taste or to leave its cronies behind, hence its desire to leave its own things up for the incoming government?  The outgoing government is leaving behind its cronies to confront with its ideals or to serve as spies or better still to make the new government confront a fail accompli. The executive arm is craftily misleading the National Assembly to endorse its illegalities. The National Assembly should be careful not to fall into trap that is potentially embarrassing.
Any government that recognizes the ephemeral nature of power should not engage in these kinds of shenanigans. It is unfortunate that the Jonathan government which should try to leave the scene honourably has reduced itself to this pettiness. If you manipulate the public service regulations in order to stampede someone out of office, what is the guarantee that the incoming Buhari administration would be bound to retain the new appointees? Leaving power in dignity is better than these desperate and absolutely unnecessary new appointments being made by the Jonathan Government. The incoming administration, The National Assembly should resist any attempt to be used to commit illegality by supporting these appointments. The lawmakers should throw out any proposal to archive such agenda.
 Abdulrahaman wrote from Kano
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