President Bola Tinubu’s slow pace in naming a new minister from Plateau State has drawn criticism from Prof. Patrick Dakum, a former Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in the state.
Prof. Dakum, speaking to the press in Abuja on Friday, lamented the Federal Government’s delay in filling the vacancy created by Senator Simon Lalong’s resignation from the Federal Executive Council, a position that has remained unfilled for over six months.
Dakum, a renowned virologist and CEO of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, decried the situation as a constitutional breach and a betrayal of Plateau State’s trust, calling on the President to rectify the situation by appointing a minister from the state without further delay.
“Democracy entails carrying everyone along, following due process, observing the rule of law, and dispensing justice to all without delay. There is no genuine reason for Plateau to be without a minister for this long which denies its participation in decisions making for good governance in the country. There are capable and eligible hands in the state that can handle any ministry, so why delay the appointment,” Dakum said.
Prof. Dakum weighed in on the protracted crisis in the state House of Assembly, emphasizing that the rule of law is paramount in a democracy, and court orders must be respected and enforced, regardless of how unpalatable they may be, to ensure the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
He said, “There is absolutely no reason why the members-elect the Court of Appeal declared winners should not be in the House working. It doesn’t make sense. I don’t understand why and how because it is the same judiciary that said the governor is PDP, and the House is APC, so, what’s the rocket science in that? The court has already taken its decision and there is nothing anyone can do about it, but to obey the court’s decisions. It is democracy to obey court order whether in our favour or not.”
Dakum, a former Commissioner of Health and Information, forcefully argued that the refusal to swear in the seven members-elect is a brazen attack on democratic principles, denying their constituents representation and undermining the government’s very fabric.
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He added that everyone should be carried along and no Constituency should be left behind in the interest of democracy, good governance, progress, and justice in the state.
President Tinubu initially entrusted Simon Lalong with the labour and employment portfolio, a ministerial role Lalong subsequently relinquished to pursue his senatorial ambitions.
In a calculated move, Lalong resigned as Minister in December 2023, clearing the way for his ascension to the Senate, where he now represents Plateau South, a seat he claimed after a court of appeal upheld his election victory.
The President’s delay in appointing a new minister from Plateau State has raised eyebrows, as the constitution mandates representation from all states in the federal executive council, a seat that has remained vacant since December 2023.