President Muhammadu Buhari’s delay in appointing ministers into his cabinet has been faulted by renowned constitutional lawyer and scholar, Professor Ben Nwabueze.
Professor Nwabueze, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and chairman, Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), described Buhari’s delay in appointing ministers over 80 days after taking office as a reflection of his military personality.
Nwabueze, in an article titled, “Constitutionality of President Buhari Ruling Nigeria For More Than Two And Half Months Without a Council Of Ministers: The Concerns of the Igbo Leaders Of Thought,” argued that the country’s constitution does not allow the President to govern the country for more than two months without ministers.
According to the professor of law, contrary to the way Buhari is currently presiding over the affairs of the country, the president was expected to consult with “various executive bodies” before presidential actions.
“It is not likely that anyone other than a retired army general and former head of a military government would ever think of ruling the country for more than two and half months without ministers, knowing full well that the governmental system established for the country by the constitution does not permit him to do that.”
Nwabueze further stated that: “The President ruling for more than two and half months without ministers is really incredible, but, incredible as it is, we Nigerians, as a people, ought to have foreseen it from our experience of the dictatorial way former President Obasanjo who, like President Buhari, is a retired army general and former head of the military government, rode roughshod over the constitutional limitations on his powers.”
By Olisemeka Obeche
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