Constitutional lawyer Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s new ministerial nominees, stating they violate the federal character principle.
Ozekhome noted the appointments came too late, considering many ministers performed poorly. He also questioned the impact of the ministry restructuring, calling it “cosmetic window dressing.”
In an interview with newsmen, Ozekhome accused President Tinubu of perpetuating former President Muhammadu Buhari’s legacy of non-compliance with laws promoting national unity and social justice.
Specifically, Ozekhome pointed out that Ogun State, one of Nigeria’s smallest states, has four ministers, while other states may not even have one minister. This, he argued, contradicts Sections 14 (1) and 14 (3) and Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution.
Ozekhome emphasized the appointments breach constitutional provisions and Section 7 (1) of the Third Schedule, Part One, highlighting the need for adherence to federal character principles.
