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Again, Chasing Shadows …That Call For Diezani’s Head
Apparently dazed by the sweet wine of democracy, lavishly served Nigerians by the Jonathan Presidency, many seem to have found so much reason to redefine what rights mean. One such is the new penchant, sorry right of some to decide for Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan who to sack and who to spare.
Surely, one of the real pillars of any democracy is the collection of freedoms of various shades and colours, key among which is free speech, which though free, is also carved in such a manner that the right behind its use, does not infringe on others’ right to have their integrity intact.
That right it seems, is now daily misused to torment other public officers and indeed question their integrity.
Last week, this column had cause to enlist in the debate over the propriety of the summoning of President Jonathan by the House of Representatives, with the caveat that he did so in person. At the forefront of that campaign was the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Zakari Mohammed who was said to have quoted relevant portions of the 1999 Constitution in the most irrelevant way by deliberately choosing favourable opening paragraphs without the exceptions duly spelt out.
And only last week, the same Zakari, swimming in the euphoria of an untouchable, covered by legislative privilege a ‘know-it-all’, and a scavenger of others political heads, started the call for the removal from office, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke over what he considers, her regime of ineptitude, which in his view, led to the distasteful running of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by its leadership.
The only reason deducible from Zakari’s argument is that the NNPC leadership was corrupt in the management of the oil subsidy regime because the Petroleum Minister is inept, unqualified and indeed compromising. This is in spite of the fact that the House’s Ad-hoc Committee which probed the subsidy regime did not expressly find Allison-Madueke culpable in any way.
If expanded, Zakari’s argument seemed to imply that the House’s Ad-hoc Committee chairman, Hon. Farouk Lawan, who probed the subsidy programme, and who is now facing accusations of demanding and accepting a $620,000 bribe from an industry chief, did so, if he did, simply because the House’s speaker or leadership is inept, unqualified and indeed compromising. Would it therefore, be proper to call for the removal of the Speaker of the House?
Curiously, those calls for Diezani’s head, made more headlines after, following recommendations of the presiding Minister, President Goodluck Jonathan sacked and replaced the Group Managing Director and indeed Board of the NNPC. That action, according to Presidency sources, was meant to inject fresh blood into the plans to implement reforms in the sector.
More importantly, the idea of an oil subsidy regime probe would not have been necessary, if President Jonathan, through the Petroleum Resources Minister had chosen to keep mum, as did many others before him, earn a little more from loots of key industry players and begin the search for other juicy avenues of wealth generation. But inundated with discrepancies in reports from the subsidy regime, it was indeed the Presidency that not merely proposed, but indeed announced the removal of fuel subsidy as a means of saving the country, the high level of waste through corruption.
But rather than earn the respect, commendation and indeed the support of notable Nigerians, particularly members of the National Assembly like Zakari, the opposite is what the gullible public is being fed with as truth, on daily basis.
Unfortunately for such arm-chair critics, many others have refused to be deceived by their campaigns of calumny because, as they want Nigerians to believe, if the Presidency was corrupt, intended shielding any corrupt marketing company or was benefiting from the subsidy, why would the same President move to cancel the subsidy programme? Would he not rather be quiet and reap billions from the programme by simply looking the other way?
Importation of refined petroleum products did not start with the Jonathan Presidency, neither did the payment of subsidy on such import. But unlike many before him, Jonathan instead, with the recommendation and support of Diezani Allison-Madueke elected to pursue the subsidy removal agenda to high levels before the ill-conceived nationwide strike called by labour early in the year.
This is why it is puzzling that some Nigerians, could buy the thorn kite flown by Zakari Mohammed to test the political waters. Or is it intended to force another change that would be beneficial to Zakari’s sponsors against the hopes, fears and yearnings of the oil producing South-South region?
Interestingly, penultimate Friday, President Jonathan announced the removal of the National Security Adviser, General Andrew Owoye Azazi (rtd) along with the Defence Minister, Bello Haliru Muhammed in response to similar calls, or so it appears. Expectedly, the Federal Government has since replaced Azazi, who hails from the South-South Zone with Col. Sambo Dasuki of the North while, two others from the same North are now being considered for replacement of Haliru Muhammed.
These changes, favourable as they are to Zakari and his ilk, are not so to others. Now, the agenda seems to be to arm-twist the Presidency into doing-away with Diezani Allison-Madueke. Should that happen, there is no assurance that the replacement will come from the same South-South just as Azazi’s did not source replacement from where the former left.
With all these, one expects that men like Zakari will commend President Jonathan for exercising the discretion to remove Gen Azazi, once mentioned to have been responsible for the president’s earlier leap from Director in OMPADEC to running-mate to former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepriye Alamieyesigha. Many before him, would naturally place such personal relationship far above national interest, but no. As usual, none of that would be mentioned nor heard from those whose only past-time seems to be calling for other’s jobs in the name of fighting corruption, an exercise that should require more introspective by those who sit in judgment over others.
This is why recent calls by a few, for the sack of Diezani Allison-Madueke as Petroleum Resources Minister must be viewed for what it is – misguided, selfish and unpopular and indeed surely, a demonstration of crass insensitivity to the yearnings of the oil producing Niger Delta.
Happily, there are still Nigerians, even from the Northern parts of the country who can still stand tall above the now familiar destructive North-South sentiments and who at all times still choose to voice only the truth and whatever can foster excellence and national integration.
One such is former Petroleum Minister, Dr. Rilwanu Lukeman who has repeatedly described the contributions of Diezani Allison-Madeuke to petroleum sector, as a great asset. Indeed Lukeman, like many other well-meaning Nigerians, including key players in the petroleum industry consider the current Minister of Petroleum Resources as qualified, diligent and very patriotic and thus, most suited for the much needed reforms now gradually unfolding.
This is why many are at loss over what informed Zakari’s views on certain issues: over-dose of democratic wine, the type Obasanjo denied many? Or merely sentiments intended to heat-up the polity; as earlier threatened by top-Northern politicians, to make Nigeria ungovernable, or does Zakari have his own agenda as distinct from both and by extension that of the House of Representatives?
These are challenging times when everyone should join hands with all well-meaning Nigerians and the government to defend the unity, (even in our diversity) of the country and not fan, recklessly, the embers of artificial divides. Democracy, it must be said, does not necessarily mean limitless freedom to voice any and every thing one wishes to voice on others. That right is also limited by the rights of others to defend their integrity and reputation.
More than that, membership of the House is no guarantee to determine what the executive arm should do or how to run the government. We must apply some civility in the way we castigate others for our own personal aggrandizement.
My Agony is that the likes of Zakari are unmindful of the reality that anytime one goes head down to spy on other’s under pants, his, is at once open to similar, if not more elaborate probe. That indeed is what the Reps themselves are battling to come to terms with over Lawan’s unease.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
President Jonathan and Diezani Allison-Madueke
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.