The Monopolizing Of Federal/State And traditional Appointments By Nigeria's Political Class

                                                        

   Dear Stella.

Though you operate a 'gossip' website, I have noticed over time that considerable attention has been given to political, governmental and societal matters that concern the average Nigerian. Which is why I want to plead with you as a well meaning Nigerian to use your world renowned media and cyber prowess to make known an issue that has bothered me for a while now.

The issue of monopolizing of federal, state and even in some cases traditional appointments by our nations political class. Some Nigerians might feel that this issue does not affect them or like some people say ' change the price of garri in the market'. I believe this is an issue of utmost importance that every ambitious Nigerian should consider as we all wish to better our lives and one day you could be opportune to be shortlisted to serve the nation only for the spot duly and rightly deserved by you to be given to a well known politician and in Nigeria today, already exhausted minds of elderly politician, former government appointees etc who feel they still need to be relevant in the society or feel they are not done 'contributing' their quota to the nation. what they could not do in their youthful and vibrant days.

Strategic positions where new ideas and minds should come into play are being rotated amongst a fraction of our populace, imagine a former Governor going to serve in the Senate and still holding appointments even after leaving the Senate as if the country was made for only a few to prosper in. These people are meant to know that Nigeria is for Nigerians and not a few of them.

Some countries employ their average citizens to be legal system as members of a jury whereas in our beloved Nigeria, when a committee to improve the policy or 'investigate' another committee is set up it can only include former ministers, and other former public office holders. Who would continue to collect and sit upon opportunities that should be available to all Nigerians. 

Giving the average Nigerian a chance in such appointment also means well as it would help with the redistribution of wealth. Imagine a former Governor who serves for two terms and goes to the Senate to serve another two terms after which is appointed as a Executive Director for a Federal agency. Instead of he/she to retire after serving as a governor and allow three other of his fellow Nigerians of which two could serve as single term Senators and the other as the Executive Director of the concerned agency to implement new and fresh ideas that would benefit the nation and even the greedy politicians children.

One area I really do not agree with the government and I believe in this modern democratic Nigeria I have the right to say is the appointment of Ambassadors / Head of Missions. It has gotten to the very degrading level where politicians and even wives of politicians and former leaders are being 'compensated' with such a critical and delicate role while the career civil servants who after years of toiling for this great nation would be delayed and denied their birth right and are retired due to mandatory years in service or coming of age.

Political Ambassadors in my opinion cannot put in the same work ethic as a career Ambassador who has probably for the last twenty years of his life, sleeping, eating and breathing the job. It is a pity when politicians see these foreign missions as means to embezzle money disregarding the welfare of Nigerians in these foreign land. Imagine a Local Government Chairman or House of Reps member who just finished his/her tenure and could not adequately represent somewhere as small as a local government being sent out by the Federal Government to represent the nation. I think that is absurd, idiotic and stupid thing to do. No wonder Nigerian embassies abroad are in shambles and are barely running.

I do not know the criteria for selecting Ambassadors and other political appointments but I believe as humans with common sense we should not be sending a banker on a diplomatic mission or appointing an accountant as the Minister of Defence. When one Nigerian can collect retirement benefits of being a Governor, Senator and Ambassador when two other Nigerians can be appointed and in turn help their families and reach more lives.

I call on anybody who has means of communicating with any one who can make my feelings known to any one in any office who can do something about it because this country is for all Nigerians and if the masses are happy every one and every thing in our country would prosper.
But of course in a country where politics is the full time occupation of some people. In developed nations whom we should be emulating, legislators and some other positions are part time jobs and even in some cases voluntary. Imagine a Nigeria, where any one can schedule and get an appointment and be part of the House sitting, contributing and giving ideas on how to better their local government, state and nation at large.

A Nigeria where politics is not do or  die because apart from politics everyone has their source of income, no killings during electoral periods, no rigging, this would automatically mean that anyone going to work in these sensitive offices is actually going to work and serve his fatherland.

BUT WHAT DO THE MASSES KNOW RIGHT???!!!! THAT IS MY TWO CENTS..

Average Nigerian.