Presidency responds to appointments backlash.

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to Nigerians for calm and has assured he will not marginalize any section of the country in subsequent appointments, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said on Saturday.

Mr. Shehu said the appointments made so far were a “tip of an iceberg”, as more were coming.
“Our brothers and sisters and fellow countrymen should bear with the new administration as it takes its measured steps towards an effective take off”, he said in a statement.

The plea for understanding came amid the widespread backlash the administration suffered for its recent appointments, which have been deemed to be lopsided. Since taking office on May 29, the president has appointed 25 key officials with most of them from Nigeria’s northern region where he hails from, in flagrant breach of federal character.

More worrisome is the fact that Mr. Buhari has not appointed anyone from the South-East.
But his spokesman explained that the appointments made so far are those of security establishments and personal aides of the president.

“These appointments are just beginning. The ones down so far, apart from the security services, are mostly of people acting as unofficial advisers or staff of the President. They are mostly men and women who have been doing things for the president and the positions are being formalized.
“Statistically, the appointments don’t amount to five percent of what is to come.

“There will come ministers, heads of government departments, federal boards and ambassadors.
“At the end of the exercise, no part of the country will be left feeling left out”, said Mr. Shehu.