ASSESSMENTS

In Nigeria, Selecting a New Cabinet Promotes Stability

Oct 8, 2015 | 09:15 GMT

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari listens to a question from the press in Paris on Sept. 16.

(BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images)

Summary

After months of anticipation, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has finally appointed his first Cabinet, fulfilling long-awaited expectations of bringing reform to Nigeria. The president appointed 21 representatives on Oct. 6 to his recently elected administration, which was inaugurated May 29, replacing former President Goodluck Jonathan. What was crucial to observe was whether the new Nigerian president would select ministerial appointments from specific areas of the country — that is, rewarding and patronizing core supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress party at the expense of other regions that perhaps voted for the previous People's Democratic Party government. He didn't. Instead, Buhari complied with Nigeria's Constitution and fully distributed the appointments fairly among all six of Nigeria's geopolitical zones, proving once again that his objective above all else is national stability.

After months of anticipation, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has finally appointed his first Cabinet, fulfilling long-awaited expectations of bringing reform to Nigeria. The president appointed 21 representatives on Oct. 6 to his recently elected administration, which was inaugurated May 29, replacing former President Goodluck Jonathan. What was crucial to observe was whether the new Nigerian president would select ministerial appointments from specific areas of the country, that is, rewarding and patronizing core supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress party at the expense of other regions that perhaps voted for the previous People's Democratic Party government. He didn't. Instead, Buhari complied with Nigeria's Constitution and fully distributed the appointments fairly among all six of Nigeria's geopolitical zones, proving once again that his objective above all else is national stability....

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