Residents of Borno South under the auspices of Southern Borno Solidarity Group have drawn the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to the lopsided political appointments in the state.
A letter the group wrote to Buhari – signed by Inuwa Bwala, Hamza Nganjiwa, and Hassan Gunda – faulted the appointment of public office holders mainly from North and Central Borno where the Kanuris are the majority.
The “one sided” nature of the appointments at “federal and state levels” has tended to “completely sideline the non-Kanuri speakers of Southern Borno,” but “we hope that something will be done to correct it and give us a sense of belonging,” the letter urged.
The group complained that all past ministers, except one, came from either Borno North or Borno Central at the exclusion of Borno South, and even the present administration comprises mainly Kanuris.
It said Governor Kashim Shettima from Borno Central is a Kanuri; state Assembly Speaker, Abdulkarim Lawan, from Borno North, is a Kanuri; and the Chief Judge, Kashim Zanna, from Borno Central is also a Kanuri.
“With this, all the three arms of government are headed by people from the same zone and from the same ethnic stock.”
The group reiterated to Buhari that his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, from Borno Central; National Security Adviser, Mohammed Monguno, from Borno North; and ministerial nominee, Mustapha Shehuri, from Borno Central; are all Kanuris.
Although Buhari and Shettima reserve the right to make such appointments without recourse to the feelings and aspirations of any one, the group argued, the complaint is that the political equation in Borno State is heavily tilted in favour of one side.
The petitioners said Southern Borno has nothing against any of the appointees but the demand for justice, fair play, and inclusiveness has to be met, since democracy entails giving every side a chance.
“We appeal that you take a second look at the political configuration in Borno State and choose from the avalanche of our highly qualified, incorruptible, pragmatic and versatile leaders from the non-Kanuri speaking areas of Southern Borno namely, Babur/Bura and other minority ethnic entity and appoint them.”
They argued that whereas power rotates among major components of every state, it is concentrated in the hands of Kanuris in Borno, to the extent that no one from Southern Borno or Assembly speaker, except once in acting capacity.
Besides, it stressed, Southern Borno has never produced the chief judge, “even with the avalanche of qualified justices,” except also in acting capacity which enabled a Kanuri to get the post.
“We wish to restate our position that the people of Southern Borno are grossly short-changed in the political configuration in the state and it takes the heart of just and fair hearted people like … Buhari to correct.
“Our people have contributed immensely to the victory of the APC (All Progressives Congress) and many of our sons and daughters have been consistent in supporting your aspirations for a long time.
“We will appreciate if you can give us the chance to be part of this government.”
