‘President’s cabinet delay violates Nigeria’s Constitution,’ Lawyer says

monjola sotubo

August 25, 2015 3:02 PM

Abuja-based lawyer, Kayode Ajulo also accused Buhari of conducting his administration in a “one-man-show manner”.

An Abuja-based lawyer, Kayode Ajulo has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to appoint ministers is a violation of Nigeria’s constitution.

Ajulo also accused Buhari of conducting his administration in a “one-man-show manner”.

The lawyer made the comments while speaking to journalists at the ongoing 2015 Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) conference.

Ajulo said:

“The fact that three months after his inauguration and five months after his election as President, Buhari is yet to appoint ministers to oversee the affairs in the various ministries is, in itself, a mockery of the Constitution.”

“Without any resort to sentiments, discerning persons across the nation have continued to wonder why the president is going about his administration of the nation in such a counter-productive and archaic, one-man-show manner.”

“Nigeria is a nation founded on law and the president’s approach to governance is fast becoming a travesty. What makes it even more ludicrous is the fact that the Constitution which the President has treated with such flagrant disregard is the very same document that creates, upholds and protects his office.”

“The drafters of the Constitution envisaged the enormous responsibility of the office and the burden of governance and so made provision for the appointment of ministers to ease the burden and to ensure effective administration. This present resort to a solo voyage by Mr. President, under the guise of shopping for competent hands is an unacceptable aberration that should be resisted by well-meaning Nigerians.”

“Uncritical praise-singers of the President may want to argue that the Constitution never specified the dates on which ministerial appointments should have been concluded.”

“The truth is that a four-year mandate is what Nigerians have given President Buhari, and the questions being asked are: ‘At what point and time will the president come to terms with the reality of his emergence as president, and commence the serious business of governance and administration of the nation?’”

"Does the president even realise that an attempt to bear the burden of governance and administration of the nation may be detrimental to his health, given the fact that he cannot be described as young and agile?”

Buhari has been severely criticized for his delay in appointing ministers which is expected to continue till September 2015.

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