By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Editor,The Nation
Copyright thenationonlineng
A coalition of civil society organizations has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to review the recent appointment of Hon. Ayo Omidiran from Osun State as the Chairman-designate of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
In a jointly signed letter addressed to the President, the groups argued that the appointment violates the spirit of the Federal Character principle enshrined in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Federal Character Commission Act, Cap F7, LFN 2004.
They noted that the southwest geopolitical zone is divided into three sub-pairings for purposes of federal appointments namely Oyo/Osun, Lagos/Ogun, and Ekiti/Ondo to ensure fairness and balance.
The petitioners pointed out that Prof. Tunji Olaopa from Oyo State, within the Oyo/Osun pairing, was already appointed in October 2023 as Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission.
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They argued that appointing another chairman of a constitutional body from the same Oyo/Osun bloc leaves Lagos/Ogun and Ekiti/Ondo without any chairmanship representation at the federal executive body level.
“This imbalance, if not corrected, may foster feelings of exclusion and marginalization within the South-West zone and weaken public confidence in the equity and fairness that Your Excellency’s Renewed Hope Agenda has consistently championed,” the letter read in part.
The signatories, which include Debo Adeniran (Committee for the Defense of Human Rights), Nelson Ekujumi (Centre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative), Tola Oresanwo (Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership), and other civic leaders, appealed to the President to review the nomination of Hon. Omidiran in order to restore balance and ensure compliance with constitutional provisions.
They emphasized that a prompt correction would “further demonstrate Your Excellency’s unwavering commitment to justice, equity, and national unity.”
The Senate is yet to confirm Omidiran’s appointment, leaving the decision in the balance as the petitioners press for what they call a constitutional redress.
