The Southern Mandate, a forum of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) members, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to either consider its former national chairman, Chief Tony Momoh or Eng. Buba Galadima as the next Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The forum, which has its membership in the 17 southern States, made the call in a statement issued and signed Sunday in Abuja by its national coordinator, Comrade Ikonomwan Francis.
The association said such decision from President Buhari would correct the wrong noted in the appointment he had made so far.
While asking Mr President to drop the embattled SGF to face prosecution from the anti-graft agency without delay, they said his replacement with either Momoh or Galadima would serve a thank-you message to those who delivered 12 million votes to him in 2011 on the platform of the defunct CPC.
Part of the statement read, “We wish to reiterate our earlier position that the key appointments Mr. President has made so far are occupied by strangers who do not share the same vision and mission of President Buhari for a better Nigeria. For instance, the suspend SGF Babachir Lawal, came from the blues to occupy the all important office of the SGF.
“Prince Momoh and Engr. Galadima are men of implacable character who are co-vision bearer with President Buhari. These men made a very strong foundation for him.
“We are aware that Engr. Galadima turned down three major juicy appointments from former President Olusegun Obasanjo. We also have it on record that former President Goodluck Jonathan offered him FCT ministerial appointment and a cash offer of N2billion to abandon Buhari’s project but blatantly refused the juicy offer.
“On the other hand, Prince Momoh is Buhari personified – who has sworn in many public fora that the day he will take bribe, thunder will strike him dead. It is mind blowing that these men are not in Buhari’s cabinet today.”