Posted by By Kazeem Ugbodaga on
Former presidential candidate, Chief Olu Falae, human rights groups and the Action Congress (AC) have said the removal of Babagana Kingibe as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was in order.
Former presidential candidate, Chief Olu Falae, human rights groups and the Action Congress (AC) have said the removal of Babagana Kingibe as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was in order.
Kingibe was sacked, yesterday, by the Federal Government and replaced with Alhaji Yayale Ahmed. According to Falae, since Kingibe was a political appointee, the person who appointed him has the right to remove him from the office, saying that 'his boss must have reasons for asking him to go.
'When I was appointed SSG, I didn't think I will last for one year because you may have cause to disagree with your boss. His removal is strange because it happened at a time the president was sick,' says Falae.
Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) chairman, Oluwatosin Akeredolu, said; 'Kingibe's appointment was a political one and therefore, he is at the mercy of his employer. I don't see anything wrong with it.'
Publicity Secretary, Action Congress (AC), Lagos State, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, said Kingibe 'has never been a loyal, committed and honest person all his life.
'Kingibe betrayed the late Chief Abiola as his running mate and went to serve Abacha. You know where this colossal and monumental betrayal led Nigeria to.
'He can sell his mother for money. Kingibe must have done the same thing to Yar'Adua. He is not fit to hold any public office again in Nigeria after the June 12 Saga, but this is Nigeria where criminals are rewarded with high positions of authority. I am shedding no tears for him,' says Igbokwe.
According to constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, Kingibe's removal 'is a major event, particularly at a time the president is sick.'
He said his removal would have some negative effect on the polity because the work of government would be disrupted, no matter how brief it would be. Barrister Chris Akin, a Supreme Court Solicitor, said Kingibe's removal was in order, saying that the president knew the capability of his ministers before appointing them.
'People have been waiting for a cabinet reshuffle for long. His removal is a healthy development. I am happy,' he stated.
According to Barrister Allens Agbaka, Kingibe's appointment, in the first place, was not on merit, saying that one must belong to the caucus before being appointed. 'I don't see anything wrong with his removal. It is just a drama they are acting out,' he stated.