Nepotism and cronyism: Northern youths tackle Umar for criticizing Yar'Adua over new customs boss

A group, Northern Youths Progressive Union, has slammed a former governor of Kaduna State, Col Dangiwa Umar,  for allegedly pouring  invectives on President  Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, over the appointment of a new Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi Inde.

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/aug/25/226.html

The former Kaduna State governor, according to the group,  had flayed Yar'Adua, in a widely circulated press statement on Tuesday, August 18,2009, alleging that the appointment of Dikko breached the principle of federal character and that it was a reflection of nepotism and cronyism.

But in a statement signed by its President-General, Aminu H. Adam, and Secretary-General, Ahmed Balarabe, a copy of which was made available to THISDAY, the group described  the position of the former governor  as "very repulsive and utterly unfair on the President, for a variety of reasons."

According to the group, "We are surprised that while everyone in this country is aware of Dikko Abdullahi Inde’s antecedents; that Dikko Abdullahi Inde is the first Comptroller General of the Customs Service that is coming to the office with a track record of performance, almost unrivalled in the history of the service, Dangiwa decides to rubbish this moment of pride for extraneous and personal reasons."

The group stated further: "As a group of young northern progressives, we believe in the tradition of the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello,  who propounded the theory that when facts are sacred, conscience would be free. Typical of a Goebellian tradition of turning facts on their head, Dangiwa Umar turned a blind eye to the facts and the euphoria that greeted the appointment of Dikko.

"For a long time we have noticed however, how the former governor chained his conscience to the apron strings of favoritism and nepotism. This he did by criticising any government that does not appoint his friends and family to positions with high monetary returns."

The northern youths therefore asked: "Where was Dangiwa Umar when Obasanjo sidelined more qualified northern candidates to dust up Kupolokun from retirement and appoint him the Group Managing Director of the NNPC?," adding "The point is that it is well known to everyone that when Umar was in the good books of the Obasanjo government, he did nothing against the injustices perpetrated by the government."

According to the youths, " But as soon as his toes hurt from stepping, he jumped on the bandwagon of strong critics of the government," stressing " Yes, he was happy with Obasanjo for deposing his cousin and arch rival Major Mustafa Jokolo as the Emir of Gwandu. At the time Obasanjo was an angel."