Does President Umaru Yar’Adua believe in the principle of federal character in view of his purported appointment of a new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
On the basis of speculation that Malam Sanusi Lamido from Kano State had been pencilled down to succeed Professor Chukwuma Soludo whose first term as CBN governor ends on Friday, the choice of Lamido would put the financial levers of the country on persons from Kano State against the principle of federal character.
Already the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mansur Muhtar and the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, are from Kano State. Moreover the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, is from the neighbouring Katsina State.
“federal character of Nigeria” refers to the distinctive desire of the peoples of Nigeria to promote national unity, foster national loyalty and give every citizen of Nigeria a sense of belonging to the nation as expressed in section 14 (3) and (4) of this constitution;
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Chapter II
Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy
14 (3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few States or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.
(4) The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation.