President of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, Prince Kehinde Taiga, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give all Nigerians a sense of belonging by running an all-inclusive government.
While congratulating Tinubu on his inauguration as the 16th president of Nigeria, Prince Taiga urged him not to exclude any ethnicity, religion or group in running the affairs of the nation, but to be a father of all as well as select competent and qualified persons to work with him.
He said, “I want to congratulate Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his inauguration. I want to also urge him that he should understand that he is now the president of Nigeria not the president of a political party, hence federal character should be followed when giving appointments and the appointments should be based on competence not friendship or godfatherism or favoritism to any persons.”
Prince Taiga also sued for the president to lead a youth-friendly government. According to him, “Nigerian youths should also be included in his cabinet. There are competent youths who can match the office of ministers and special advisers to the president. It should not be a government of the elders alone. Nigerian youths should be wholistically included in his government.”
He identified Urhobo nation as one of the largest ethnic groups in the country and called on the president to give people from the area their rightful positions in his cabinet.
He said: “I also urge him that Urhobo ethnicity which is the 5th largest ethnic group in Nigeria should be recognized in full. Because in the previous administration, Urhobo appointments was not enough. In his government, Urhobo should be included in full.”
Reacting to the removal of fuel subsidy, Prince Taiga noted that the move by the president was a step in the right direction, but said there was need for government to cushion its attendant effects on Nigerians. According to him, “So what we are clamoring for is that there should be a way of salvaging these things that Nigerians will pass through this period.”
He sued for all parties aggrieved by the president’s decision, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, to sheathe their swords and put the overall interest of the nation above personal and group interest. In his words, “NLC should understand the rationale behind the removal of the fuel subsidy and they shouldn’t protest against the removal of fuel subsidy but they should protest that the government should provide a solution to salvage the pains that Nigerians will pass through within this short period of removing the subsidy.”
He called on Nigerians to be patient with the new administration in its quest to resolve the petrol crisis once and for all, but however called on President Tinubu not to allow corrupt elements to take advantage of the process.
He noted: “The fuel subsidy money should not be diverted to individual pockets, should not be shared among the cabals,” he said.
While wishing President Tinubu a successful tenure, he enjoined Nigerians to synergize in helping him take the country to greater heights. He said, “I wish him well in his office and I call on all and sundry to join hands with him to make sure Mr President delivers democracy and development to Nigeria.”
