Clark condemns Abba’s reappointment as PTF chair

Chief Edwin Clark, a former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South figure, has denounced Suleiman Abba’s reappointment as Chairman of the Police Trust Fund after he was fired as Inspector General of Police.

According to Clark, Abba’s reappointment appears to be ongoing pay or a commendation for a job well done for the roles he reportedly performed during the general elections in 2015.

A continuation of Abba’s appointment as Chairman of the Police Trust Fund, according to the Pan Niger Delta Forum’s head, appears to some of them as a continuous reward.

In the letter, Clark encouraged President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to reflect on his conduct as his term comes to an end.

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He emphasised that Nigerians cannot quickly forget Abba’s disloyal action, which resulted in his dismissal from the Police Force, when, as IG, he went to the airport to meet Buhari without the knowledge or authorization of his principal, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, the President at the time.

Additionally, he counselled Buhari to release Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in accordance with the court’s verdict on him.

Clark wondered what Buhari would most like to be remembered for: rewarding people with positions, usually the more lucrative ones, for supporting and carrying out wrongdoings, like the reappointment of Abba.

Clark wrote, “Federal character principle is a doctrine which was introduced by the Nigerian government to ensure equitable representation and as well prevent the dominance of persons from a few states, religions or particular ethnic groups in the governance of the country and the sphere of the public sector.

“The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice. 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

“Federal character principle is a doctrine which was introduced by the Nigerian government to ensure equitable representation and as well prevent the dominance of persons from a few states, religions or particular ethnic groups in the governance of the country and the sphere of the public sector.

“It is pertinent to state that the prerogative of ensuring that this aspect of the laws of the land is implemented and or executed lies squarely on the shoulders of the President of the country, presently, Muhammadu Buhari. However, it is quite disturbing that the same man who swore to uphold the laws of the land is flagrantly breaching them. A case in point is the recent re-appointment of Suleiman Abba as Chairman, Board of Trustees, Nigeria Police Trust Fund, on 5th May 2023.

“Suleiman Abba is from Jigawa State, in the North Western geo-political zone; the previous Secretary of the Fund, Mr Abdullahi Bala is from Sokoto State, also from the North Western geo-political zone. The previous Secretary who resigned his post to contest a gubernatorial election is also from Sokoto State, the northern part of the country. One expected that if the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the police fund is from the northern part of the country, the Secretary should come from the South and vice versa because this is one of the ways of keeping Nigeria’s unity.”

However, he reminded Buhari that there is still time for him to make amends in the few days left before he begins appointing people to positions if it can be done fairly across the board, as required by the Federal Character laws, and not as a means of making up for wrongdoing.

“I also advise President Buhari to obey court rulings, including that delivered on Nnamdi Kanu. And as he winds up his tenure, to re-examine his actions.”