By CHARLES IWUOHA

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has described the Presidential Census Committee set up by President Bola Tinubu as “one goof, too many,” insisting that posterity will not be kind to the present APC administration, in view of the many wrong steps it has continued to take.

Eze, in his wildest imagination, could not fathom the rationale behind some of the bizzare, undemocratic and unruly actions of a man who claims to be among patriotic democrats who fought the military junta to enthrone democracy in Nigeria.

The Chieftain, member of the APC Legacy Media Team, in a statement issued on Saturday, expressed utmost dismay over the Census Committee announced by President Tinubu, with only one section of the country dominating membership of the Committee for the highly sensitive national assignment.

That apart, the APC Chieftain tagged Tinubu, a nepotist, accusing him of using tribal sentiments as a last resort to gain political traction and visibility ahead the 2027 presidential election.

“He knows how he won the 2023 presidential election. It is sad and unacceptable that the President from day one of his inauguration on May 29, 2023, made his re-election bid in 2027, a centre-piece of his administration’s policy, thereby relegating genuine democratic governance to the backdrop,” Eze stated.

“Now, to avoid being humiliated out of office in 2027, Mr. President is doing everything humanly, politically and tribally possible to remain in power until 8 years.

“Of course, the best way to actualize his ambition is to garner the support of his kinsmen by fixing them in virtually all sensitive and revenue generating establishments in a multi-tribal nation like Nigeria, not minding whose ox is gored.

“As if nothing is wrong with Tinubu’s act of nepotism and tribal politics, he recently inaugurated the Census Committee populated mostly by the people of South West with no representation from North-East, South-South and of course South-East, that doesn’t even exist in his political and administrative calculation, the APC chieftain said.

For the avoidance of doubt and to put the records straight, members of the high-level committee on national population and housing census inaugurated by President Tinubu are as follows: 1. Bagudu – North West; 2. Kwarra – North Central; 3. Idris – North West; 4. Edun – South West; 5. Adedeji – South West; 6. Odusote – South West; 7. Okunola – South West; 8. Oyinade -South West.

According to report, the eight-member committee includes the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji; Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote; the Principal Private Secretary to the President, Hakeem Muri Okunola; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations (Office of the Chief of Staff), Mrs Nathan-Marsh.

“It is sad and unfortunate that a President of a plural and diversified nation like Nigeria, in setting up such a sensitive Committee did not consider the federal character before his appointments.

“To President Tinubu, nobody from North-East, South-South and South-East is found worthy to be a member of such sensitive committee? I wonder how the dealings of such crafted and lopsided committee can do justice to this great nation, Eze queried.

The former spokesperson of the defunct nPDP noted that census is crucial for national development, accurate planning, and effective decision-making in healthcare, education, security, and economic planning.

Nigeria’s last census, Eze observed, was in 2006, nearly two decades ago, and it recorded a population of 140,431,790, with 71,345,488 males and 69,086,302 females.

Therefore, Eze drew the attention of the President that his planned census is for Nigeria and not for South-West region.

Similarly, the APC Chieftain wondered why President Tinubu can’t handover power to Vice President Kashim Shetimma whenever he travels outside the shores of Nigeria, warning that the office of the VP is an exalted position that shouldn’t be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.

“As much as I am not a supporter of Vice President Kashim Shettima, I must state as a concerned Nigerian that I am not happy with the way and manner such a highly profiled politician is being treated by this administration and turning such a highly respected politician to an agent of government solely for attending wedding and burial ceremonies. This is sad, unfortunate and unacceptable

“He may not have the courage to voice out his frustration but the fact remains that for the two years that he has serviced as the Vice President of this country and number of times that President Tinubu have traveled outside this country, Mr. President has not found it fit and needful to hand over power to the Vice President.

“This act is not only condemnable but against the spirit and letters of the Constitution of this country,” Eze stated.

Speaking further on the lopsidedness of President Tinubu’s appointments, Eze stated that the President is treating all other sections of this country as if they are conquered nation.

A cursory look at the following appointments from one section of this country, according to Eze, simply exposes that “this Tinubu administration is totally off the mark of why most of us took the risk of the formation of APC”.