President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said his has always made sure his appointments were strictly based on merit and not on ethnic or regional balance.
Buhari, who spoke during an interview with Arise TV, equally said he cannot, in his appointment, favour those who have spent shorter years in service over those who have served for longer years.
He said, “People who have been there for 18 years or even for 10 years, they trained in Zaria or in Abeokuta, they come through the ranks.
“And because they served under all the circumstances, the crises and everything and they gradually rise to that status and you think you just pick somebody just to balance up? These positions have to be earned.”
Buhari’s claim came amid his recent appointment of Faruk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff, ignoring many of his seniors who have more years in service and are now to be forced into retirement.
Recall that since coming to power, Buhari has consistently been accused of appointing more northerners in strategic positions.
Many of his critics maintain that he had been disregarding a provision of the Nigerian Constitution that states that major appointments and other privileges should be shared in a manner that would reflect Federal Character.