One thing is certain, however, it is nigh impossible to please everyone. This scenario is worse when it comes to building a team of aides usually referred to as the kitchen cabinet as opposed to the one defined by the constitution and which has set out parameters. The president is being accused by these cynics of being lopsided in his security appointments. The allegation is that there is an inclination on his part to favour the northern states over the southern states. Let us even assume for a moment that the assertion is true. If it is, then, it is our view that it may be in keeping with the definition of what a kitchen cabinet is. But having said this, we find it curious that the cynics who complain do so selectively. None of them have noticed or have conveniently elected not to notice that this same president has handed over the economy, lock, stock and barrel to the south. The Minister of Finance, Central Bank governor, Minister of Budget and Planning, Minister of Trade, Industries and Investments, Minister of Communications, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Minister of Solid Minerals, Executive Chairman of FIRS, DG of Pencom, DG of NIMASA, DG Debt Management Office and many more are all southerners. Add this to the fact that the Vice President who is a southerner is by law the head of the economy. But the important thing to this newspaper is that many of these people are competent. Some of them are actually unquestionably competent. The economy has a strategic role to play in the security of any given society. The Soviet Empire collapsed not because it was defeated militarily but, essentially, because its economy buckled when it mattered most. So see how pivotal the economy is? Clearly what any section of the country failed to get in terms of security postings, it more than recouped in terms of command positions in the economic configuration. But was the President really engaged in that thought process? In taking those executive decisions, was he really thinking in the context of geographical background of the appointees? There is no apparent evidence to think so. Otherwise, he would have cleared all former President Jonathan’s men as soon as he assumed office. Matter-of-fact many of his party men are not happy that he did not. In our view, competence, reliability, the capacity to effectively and efficiently manage scarce resources especially at these parlous times are much more important than where appointees come from. To be sure, balancing is important and federal character is even a part of our statutes. But clearly those principles have not been breached here. And even if there has been a breach, it is in the appointments in the commanding heights of the economy that there should be a conversation. It is disappointing to observe that those insinuating inappropriate decision-making process on the part of President Buhari may not have taken time to think through their analyses. It is even more unfortunate that 56 years down the line as a nation, certain individuals are still talking in terms that suggest that a part of the country is greater than the whole and that political appointments must necessarily reflect tribal sensitivities. Acquiescing to tribal proclivities may, in the short run, assuage misplaced trepidations. But it hardly builds a strong polity. However, we think that it is such retrogressive propensities that are stoking the embers of violence in the Niger Delta after this same government has successively degraded the menacing Boko haram terrorist gang. Of course, we agree with the argument that in national development, all hands must be on deck. But this collective national aspiration, we dare say, must be approached with every sense of responsibility. It is time Nigeria moves from a mere geographical expression into a nation.]]>