Front Pix
For A Mess Of Porridge …Powerful Nnaji Quits, Crest-Fallen
President Jonathan And Barth Nnaji
For a country, where public office holders hardly
contemplate quitting office, no matter how unsavoury the indicators to do so
may appear, the resignation of former Power Minister, Prof Barth Nnaji should
naturally evoke public discourse. And has. But how kindly or harshly posterity
will judge him and his works remains as uncertain as power supply in Nigeria,
the man met.
From Nnaji’s perspective, his resignation last Tuesday was
to save the noble reforms he pioneered in the sector, especially the
controversial privatisation process of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
The impression was that given his commitment to the high ideals, geared towards
addressing in a lasting manner, the fluctuating fortunes of Nigeria’s epileptic
power sector, the last he would ever do would be to allow his personal
interests to truncate the plausible ends Nigerians expect.
Unfortunately, the same he sought to avoid was what he did.
Aware of the Code of Ethics of the privatisation process which precludes staff
of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and members of the National Council
of Privatisation (NCP) from buying shares in companies being privatised tempted
by the sweet aroma of extra mess of porridge for the future, Nnaji had gone
ahead to bid for Enugu Distribution Company.
That, and the participation of two companies also linked to
Nnaji in the power privatisation process had resulted in the cancellation of
the technical bid evaluation process by the NCP, earlier conducted for Afam and
Enugu Disco, a forthnight ago. That meant, had Nnaji’s links with the affected
companies not leaked and the bids eventually went their predictable way, as
surely as they were headed, Nnaji would have benefitted in immeasurable ways
and at the same time remain minister to superintend the nation’s power sector as moderater,
participant and judge all weaved together.
So, did Nnaji quit to avoid the imminent disgrace of being
relieved of his portfolio by the Presidency? Yes. Essentially, Presidency
sources had sufficient information of Nnaji’s double shoots and had perfected a
sacking plan before last Tuesday’s resignation.
But Nigerians must give Nnaji some credit, not merely for
his discretion to quit when the loud ovation stood the risk of waning but his
pedigree, his drive and his resilience in effecting positive changes in a
sector that had defied all known revival.
Nnaji, 51, was born in Enugu State and holds a Doctorate in
Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
state University in the United States of America. Prior to his appointment, he
was a major private sector player in the power dormain, as founder of Geometric
Power Limited (GPL), a pioneering Independent power producer that built the 22
MW Emergency Power Plant in Abuja and is rounding-off an integrated power plant
in Aba, Abia State.
Initially, driven by a sense of national service and
non-partisanship in the running of the power sector, Nnaji, from his earlier
appointment as the President’s Special Adviser on Power and later Minister,
resigned his position from GPL board and
transferred his shares to blind trust.
So, how fabulous is the expected windfall from the
privatisation process to push one as upright as Nnaji, to ignore the often
conflicting rules of governance, rules several others disobeyed and left or
still retain their positions-super-rich, still political relevant and indeed
untouchable? What indeed could force Nnaji to break the bizarre rules: ‘ Look,
but don’t touch, Touch but don’t eat; Eat but don’t swallow?
Of course, not many in Nigeria ever kept or keep such rules.
Not even one of Nnaji’s kind tried and opted to resign to keep honour and
self-pride intact. Nnaji has, but more because of his rich pedigree than the
minor error in judgement, is the perfectionist being judged harshly?.
Ordinarily, can anyone in government throw the first stone of condemnation and
still remain intact after a probe based on same mundane rules?
Here’s a man, appointed in 2010 by the president to head the
taskforce to reform the power sector, a sector even former President Olusegun
Obasanjo confessed to failing to address on account of lack of funds and oil
companies’ conspiracy. Obasanjo should have said clearly, he couldn’t because
of the dreaded powerful forces behind the generator business, which yearly
frustrated positive actions in the public power sector.
Under Nanji’s watch, a blueprint designed to end the chronic
power shortages in the country revealed that the Federal Government needs to
fork out $10billion annually for the next one decade for the power sector
restoration. This is in a country where, thanks to the generator mafia,
individuals spend $13billion a year to fuel generator sets, according to
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) estimates reported by ThisDay Newspaper last
week.
But under his brief watch, Nnaji’s Power Ministry which met
2,800MW of power delivered to the national grid, slaved to make sure that
available capacity hit 5,400mw this year and as at June already 4,400 mw, which
explains the relative difference in
electricity supply in recent times, as against the near perpetual black-out.
With that improvement, the Federal Government succeeded in
effecting an electricity tariffs review, to make the sector more attractive to
private investors and also supervised the establishment of the Bulk Trading
Company of Nigeria among other market structures necessary for the reform of
the power sector (ThisDay Wednesday, August 29, 2012)
With that conducive atmosphere created for private
investors, Nnaji was naturally tempted to look beyond his years in government,
himself a major private sector player, with very impressive records, prior to
his appointment. With such high credentials and perhaps his burning desire to
see to the success of the privatisation process, Nnaji might have felt the urge
to participate in the bid for the acquisition of the Enugu Distribution Company
Limited, but in apparent violation of existing rules of privatisation, ‘Look
but don’t touch, Touch but don’t eat, Eat but don’t swallow.
To Nnaji’s credit, even if dismissed as after-thought, the
former Minister being a member of NCP before the consideration of the report of
the evaluation had informed the council that O&M Solutions of Pakistan, a
member of one of the consortia bidding for Afam had worked as a contractor for Geometric Power Limited,
Nnaji’s company. According to media report, the consortium, in which O&M
Solution has a stake is Skipper Nigeria Limited, which also submitted technical
and financial bids for Afam on July 17, 2012, the deadline set by the Bureau of
Public Enterprises (BPE) for submission of bids for the Gencos.
Nnaji, it was also reported, also notified the NCP that
Geometric Power has a minority stake in Eastern Electric Nigeria Limited, which
had also submitted technical and financial bids for Enugu Distribution Company
Limited on July 31,2012.
The former Minister did not end there. He went further to
inform the council that owing to his position, he had notified his boss, Mr
President of the company’s bid for Enugu Disco, explaining further that
although he had interest in Geometric Power, he had since resigned from its
board and transferred his shares to a blind trust.
For these interests of the minister and against the rules of
engagement, the council decided to cancel the technical evaluation that had
been conducted for Afam and disbanded the evaluation team. That is how Nnaji
lost on both fronts- his treasured office and security of his private interests
in life, out of public office.
But Nnaji deserves our sympathy, even commendation for his
honour to expose his personal interest willingly, in belief that the high
technical qualities his conglomerate parades would be of immense benefits to
the country beyond the reforms, only, it was against the rules of engagement.
Expectations were that he should have weighed all options; remain a referee or
resign and become a participant and not live in both worlds.
Unfortunately, what has ended a brilliant public carrier has
been a norm in governance, where, National Assembly members influenced choice
of contractors, some remotely theirs, to execute constituency projects upon
which they fed fat. It is the same game
that regularly saw big contracts going
the way of friendly contractors with huge benefits to the awarding authorities,
while, the nation suffered the pains of shuddy project delivery, even outright
abandonment. Many of these were public knowledge but no president before
Jonathan summoned the required political will and courage to act, apparently
because of the caliber of influential citizens behind the scams.
That is why methink Nnaji deserve our respect for finding it
necessary to quit and let the privatisation process flow to its desired
plausible ends and not be tainted by questions
on his personal desires and appetites, often driven by fears of the unknown.
Now out of office, Nnaji should renew his bids and let his competence,
capabilities of his conglomerate and his technical antecedent speak for
themselves. And let the new council judge.
My Agony is that many of those now sitting in judegment over
Nnaji will fail, if placed on similar morality test, based on the rules of look
but don’t touch, Touch but don’t eat, Eat but don’t swallow, while in office.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
Front Pix
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.