EXTRA: Buhari appoints dead men into boards
It may be an extreme case of posthumous honour or monumental gaffe but while the jury is still out on that, Francis Okpozo, a dead senator, is the chairman of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC).
The late Donald Ugbaja, a retired deputy inspector-general of police, was also appointed member of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC).
Yes, you definitely read that right.
Ugbaja died in November 2017 while Okpozo died in December 2016 at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Edo state.
At the time of Okpozo’s death, Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, had released a condolence message on behalf of President Buhari — so he should be aware, no?
In the message, Adesina had said: “As a stalwart of the APC in the South-South, President Buhari believes that the party greatly benefited from the octogenarian’s charismatic leadership and wealth of experience as a politician.”
Princess Akporaro, a consultant psychologist at FRCN Radio Nigeria Abuja, who claims to be a niece of the late Okpozo, doesn’t know what to make of the appointment.
In an Instagram post, she wrote: “President Buhari appoints my late uncle Senator Francis Okpozo as Chairman, Nigeria Press Council Over one year after his death! Jesu! Onana Icinema!”
Or could there be another ‘Sen Francis Okpozo’ like we have two Innocent Chukwumas?
READ UPDATED STORY HERE
obviously, the list or part of the list was compiled earlier than December 2016.
An attempt not to marginalise the dead, kudos to Mr President, some of the dead voted for him and will do so in 2019.
That’s called inclusive politics of the living and the dead.