When will Buhari appoint a new SGF, APC group queries

A group of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of Southern Mandate of Nigeria (SMN) has expressed disappointment in President Muhammadu Buhari’s delay in appointing a substantive Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The APC group also decried delay in reshuffling the current federal cabinet, saying such is the “the major reason the entire instruments of governance is collapsing on daily basis.”

In a statement signed Monday in Abuja, SMN National Coordinator Comrade Ikonomwan Francis, while expressing disappointment added that even if changes are made now, “little or no corrections can be made because the collateral damage in the system is enormous.”

According to the statement, it is a known fact that bureaucracy of the civil service is a great impediment to development, “so we can’t afford to leave the important office of the SGF in the hands of civil servants. The office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) has remained vacant for so long, therefore this is not acceptable to majority of Nigerians.

“We have noticed with dismay that it seems that Mr. President has forgotten about the replacement of the suspended SGF and the dissolution of the federal cabinet.  We view this as the major reason the entire instruments of governance is collapsing on daily basis. We are afraid, that even if this changes are effected now, little or no corrections can be made because the collateral damage in the system is enormous.

“The absence of a substantive SGF coupled with the inactive and lack of political will of the cabinet Ministers has led to the growing agitations in different parts of the country especially that of the  IPOB.

“The way out of this growing agitations requires political solution, rather than military. But because most of the cabinet members lack the Political will as their action and inaction is even aggravating the situation, hence Mr President needs to act fast by dissolving the cabinet immediately. The secessionist agitations exposes the weakness of the cabinet  to the fact that they are not in touch with the people.

“We have observed that most of the Federal ministers do not go home, hence they cant advice the President appropriately on the challenges of hardship being faced by the people.”

While corroborating the position of the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun, who recently admitted that there was hunger in the land, the group urged President Buhari to muscle courage and give the party a saving face out of the current challenges.

“We hereby reiterate our earlier demand that the position of SGF should  be filled with a core Member of the defunct CPC member to join hands with Mr. President to remedy Nigeria out of the present social, political and economic quagmire.”

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