In the six years duration of Goodluck Jonathan as President of Nigeria, Obi Nwakanma never served as an Igbo representative in his government, either as a Minister or in any other capacity. Obi Nwakanma did not, as a matter of fact, represent any of the Igbo States in the National Assembly. It is also an indisputable fact that Obi Nwakanma was never a Governor, a Commissioner, a member of the House of Assembly or Chairman of Local Government Council in any of the Southeast Igbo States. Yet, Obi Nwakanma could state categorically thus, "Toyin, not that it mater, but Jonathan did not 'favour' the Igbo in its government - either in his appointments or in his government's allocations for zonal projects. This is part of the myth that has been circulated to amplify this national onslaught against the Igbo in Nigeria, and a fraudulent argument often raised to explain so-called Igbo 'support' and 'defence' of Goodluck Jonathan. The Igbo did not support Jonathan because of any favours or any sense of influence they exerted from any association with him."
If Obi Nwakanma had served in any capacity under Jonathan's Presidency, I would have likened his assertion above to a fowl that ate and cleaned its beaks on the ground so as to deny ever eating. But Igbos that served Nigeria during Jonathan's era had contrary opinions to Obi's imaginary stuff and wished for state of history. Nigeria's Minister of Aviation under President Jonathan used to be Stella Adaeze Oduah, alias if men can steal women can also steal too. Immediately after assuming office, she pretended to see cracks in every airport building in Nigeria and she decided to plaster and repaint them all. She awarded the contracts to her proxy companies at the cost of billions of naira. Of the re-plastered and repainted airports, Enugu airport seemed to be special to her and the Southeast Governors who decided to stage a jamboree to commemorate the patching of the old airport in the presence of President Jonathan.
In his welcome address to President Jonathan on 19 May 2013, the Chairman of Southeast Governors' Forum, Peter Obi said, "You have handled such challenges with great equanimity and statesmanship. You have carried us all along and shown abiding interest in, and support for, our zone. FOR THAT MR. PRESIDENT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE IMMENSELY GRATEFUL. We have previously expressed our appreciation for the eminently qualified sons and daughters of this zone who you have honoured with various national appointments. Please, be rest assured that we will always avail you of our very best and qualitative candidates, who are not only proud and honoured to serve, but are also committed to bringing added value to every task you may assign them." (www.punchng.com/news/my-strongest-support-from-seast-jonathan/)."
The following day, 20 May 2013, the former Federal Permanent Secretary, former Governor of Anambra State and former Presidential Adviser to Obasanjo on political affairs, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, was interviewed in the Nigerian Vanguard online by Levinus Nwabughiogu. He was questioned on if the Igbo would contest against Jonathan in the 2015 Presidential election. "Where does the Igbo nation stand in 2015," Ezeife was asked? Ezeife answered, "I see Jonathan as an Eastern person holding the office of the President and put their principally by the South-east." (www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/they-have-made-nigeria-ungovernable-for-jonathan-ezeife/).
By June 5, 2013, the then Governor of Abia state, Theodore Orji, was reported by the Nigerian Vanguard on-line to have expressed it more crudely thus, "Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has said the Igbo would never waiver in their support for President Goodluck Jonathan, noting that they were poised to deliver the South-East to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. According to him, SUPPORTING PRESIDENT JONATHAN REMAINS THE ONLY WAY THE BREAD OF THE IGBOS WILL BE BUTTERED. THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT JONATHAN IS NOT ONLY FAVOURABLE TO THE IGBOS BUT ALSO GENEROUS IN FUNDING PROJECTS.."(www.vanguardngr.com/2013/06/2015-igbo-will-deliver-s-east-to-pdp-orji/).
Due to the directive issued to all Igbos by Ohaneze Ndigbo not to contest the Presidential election against Jonathan, the Presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chekwas Okorie (an Igbo) condemned the directive of Ohaneze Ndigbo as a betrayal of the Igbos. (www.africansuntimes.com/2014/10/ohaneze-betrayal-ndigbo-chekwas-okorie/).
APGA, Ojukwu's political party that controlled the government of Anambra State adopted Jonathan as its Presidential candidate in 2015. Igbo support for Jonathan as evident in the pronouncements of Peter Obi, Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Theodore Orji, was due to the fact that he was buttering bread for the Igbo, contrary to what, the ethnic baiter and primordial sentimentalist, Obi stated . Jonathan self was quoted in online Nigerian punch of September 4, 2014 as saying Igbos are better off in my government. www.punchng.com/news/igbos-are-better-off-in-my-govt-jonathan/.
Normally, it would not matter if all the officials in Nigeria come from a single tribe or village provided that they produce goods and services expected from their offices to Nigerians. The officials are not employed, appointed, elected, or selected to produce and serve their respectful tribe alone. Moreover, the official salaries and fringe benefits are not paid and received on behalf of the tribe but to individuals. Therefore, I consider it insulting to be drawn into a discussion of from which tribe the President or any official in Nigeria comes from. I am only concerned about the competence and effectiveness of the President in managing the resources of our country and making life better for all Nigerians. Looking back at Jonathan's Igbo Minister of Aviation, Stella Adaeze Oduah, she exceeded her ministerial power of approval by purchasing armoured cars for herself. The then Acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) who authorised the purchase of the armoured cars, Mr. Joyce Nkemakolom was Igbo; the Minister of Finance who granted the waiver for the purchase of the armoured vehicles, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was Igbo; the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement who issued the certificate of no objection, Emeka Eze, was Igbo; the Chairman of Senate Committee on Aviation, Hope Uzodinma, was Igbo; the Chairman of House Committee on Aviation, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, was Igbo. The car dealer who sold the armoured cars, Cosmas Maduka was Igbo. Beside this armoured cars purchase scandal, Stella Adaeze Oduah was involved in fuel subsidy fraud whereby her company collected N 1.9 billion naira in 2011 without supplying a drop of petrol. She was subsequently removed and replaced by Osita Chidoka. However, when Gbenga Ashiru was removed as foreign minister because Obasanjo who recommended him for the post criticized Jonathan, he was replaced by Viola Onwuleri. The list compiled by Obi Nwakanma is not correct, but as I have already pointed out the tribal origins of officials are not essential as long as they produce goods and services for Nigerians. From how things are in Nigeria today, six years Jonathan's government was ruined, mostly, by those who claimed to have dominated the country's economy during his reign and even till date. That is a cold fact Obi Nwakanma and not interpretation of facts as professional pettifogers would want us to believe.
S. Kadiri
 | www.punchng.com punchng.com - Nigeria News - Top Nigerian newspapers - Breaking news - Top news headlines from Nigeria and Africa. | |
 | www.africansuntimes.com I cherish being Ndigbo's messenger. The recent statement credited to the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo-Agariwey in most Nigerian newspapers ... | |
Skickat: den 28 juni 2017 03:04
Till: usaafricadialogue
Ämne: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: What is the roe of scholars?
"Who are the current Igbo leaders? Ohaneze whose cry of marginalization in appointments leads people to remind them of how Ndigbo were favoured in GEJ's govt and how the whole country is suffering from one form of marginalization or another? Is it the people demanding Igbo Presidency as if the Presidency is anybody's right?"
- Toyin Adepoju
Toyin, not that it mater, but Jonathan did not "favour" the Igbo in his government - either in his appointments or in his government's allocations for zonal projects. This is part of the myth that has been circulated to amplify this national onslaught against the Igbo in Nigeria, and a fraudulent argument often raised to explain so-called Igbo "support" and "defence" of Goodluck Jonathan. The Igbo did not support Jonathan because of any favours, or any sense of influence they exerted from any association with him. They supported him because they believed that he was a better alternative for them than Muhamed Buhari, and they have been proven right. But it is true that relative to other administrations, the Igbo had better visibility under the administration of Jonathan, who treated them relatively better than any previou administraton since 1983. This very fact drove folks crazy and created a terrible myth! Now, let me give you a breakdown of Jonathan's administration from 2011. Of the 31 ministers in his government from 2011- 2015, 6 were from the South East. In July 2011, after the start of his second term, Jonathan appointed a new cabinet. Members included:[6]
| Ministry | Minister | State |
|---|---|---|
| Agric and Natural Resources (State) | Bukar Tijani | Borno |
| Attorney General, Justice | Mohammed Bello Adoke | Kogi |
| Aviation | Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi | Anambra |
| Defence | Bello H. Mohammed | Kebbi |
| Defence (State) | Erelu Olusola Obada | Osun |
| Education | Ruqayyatu Rufai | Jigawa |
| FCT (State) | Olajumoke Akinjide | Oyo |
| Federal Capital Territory | Bala Mohammed | Bauchi |
| Finance | Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala | Abia |
| Finance (State) | Yerima Lawal Ngama | Yobe |
| Foreign Affairs | Olugbenga Ashiru | Ogun |
| Foreign Affairs (State) | Viola Onwuliri | Imo |
| Health | Onyebuchi Chukwu | Ebonyi |
| Information | Labaran Maku | Nasarawa |
| Communication Technology | Mrs. Omobola Johnson | Ondo |
| Interior | Comrade Abba Moro | Benue |
| Labour | Emeka Wogu | Abia |
| Mines and Steel Development | Mohammed Musa Sada | Katsina |
| National Planning | Shamsudeen Usman | Kano |
| Niger Delta Affairs | Godsday Orubebe | Delta |
| Niger Delta Affairs (State) | Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi | Niger |
| Petroleum | Diezani Alison-Madueke | Bayelsa |
| Police Affairs | Caleb Olubolade | Ekiti |
| Power | Chinedu Nebo took over from Bart Nnaji | Enugu |
| Science and Technology | Ita Okon Bassey Ewa | Akwa Ibom |
| Sports | Yusuf Sulaiman | Sokoto |
| Trade and Investment | Olusegun O. Aganga | Lagos |
| Trade and Investment (State) | Samuel Ioraer Ortom | Benue |
| Transport | Idris A.Umar | Gombe |
| Women Affairs | Zainab Maina | Adamawa |
| Works | Mike Onolememen | Edo |
| Works (State) | Bashir Yugudu | Zamfara |
| Youth Development | Bolaji Abdullahi | Kwara |
Of those six only Onyebuchi Chukwu ran one of the big ministries. Viola Onwuliri was a junior minister in the Foreign Ministry under Gbenga Ashiru. Which means, she could never raise a ministerial memo without the support of Ashiru. Now, here is the breakdown of the allocation to the ministries starting with 2011: Defence (N380. 47 billion), Education (N365.88 billion). Police (N296.56 Billion) and Health (N203.3 Billion). The pattern is largely consistent through the terms from 2011-2015. As a matter the consistent bump of expenditure was in National Security/Defence.
Of President Jonathan's Presidential Advisory staff, there were only two Igbo: Joy Emordi and Sullivan Nwakpo. Here is breakdown of the Presidential office:
- Mr. Pius Anyim - Secretary to the Federal Government
- Mike Oghidome - Chief of Staff to the President (replaced later by Jones Arogbofa)
- Eng. Mohammed Kachalla Abubakar – Deputy Chief of Staff to the President
- Col. (rtd.) Sambo Dasuki - National Security Adviser (he replaced General Owoeye Azazi in 2012)
– Hassan Tukur – Principal Secretary to the President,
– Dr. Tunji Olagunju – Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD,
– Mr. Oronto Douglas – Special Adviser to the President on Research and Strategy
– Hon. Kingsley Kuku – Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs.
- Prof. Abubakar Sambo – Special Adviser to the President on Energy,
– Mrs. Sarah Akuben Pane – Special Adviser to the President on Social Development
– Mrs. Sarah Jibril – Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values
– Senator Joy Emordi – Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters
-Pius Olakunle Osunyikanmi – Special Adviser to the President on International Relations.
– Prof. Dan Adebiyi – Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties
– Dr. Reuben Abati – Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity
– Mrs. Asma'u Abdulkadir – Special Adviser to the President on Gender Issues
– Nze Sullivan Akachukwu Nwakpo – Special Adviser to the President on Technical Matters
– Yakubu Abdullahi – Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters (Office of the Vice President)
– Barr. Bashir Sufyan – Special Adviser to the President on Legal Matters (Office of the Vice President)
– Senator Isaiah Ballat – Special Adviser to the President for Special Duties (Office of the Vice President).
The most powerful figures on the President's staff included Pius Anyim, Mike Oghodiome (later ), Hassan Tukur, Dan Adebiyi, Oronto Douglas, Sambo Dasuki, Rueben Abati. In what ways therefore did Jonathan favor the Igbo more than any other part of Nigeria in terms of his appointments? It is still a wonder to me. But take aside the issue of appointment, and breakdown government expenditures zone by zone under the Jonathan administration, and it would be very clear who had been favored by Jonathan, who was actually busy appeasing his foes rather than helping his friends. All the talk about Igbo "influence" in Jonathan's office had much more to do with the fact that for the first time, Jonathan appointed an Igbo, Chief of Army, and it drove many people around the bend. Just as Anyim's job of Chief Secretary of state, the first time for an Igbo, and the designation of Okonjo-Iweala, who by the way replaced Nenadi Usman in that same role, as Minister of Finance and "Coordinating Minister of the Economy," gave many people the goose bumps. It is basically the situation that once these people see more than two Igbo in a place, they'd usually say, "Igbo are too many here" - because they see double. I am still waiting for someone to show me, in actual ways, that Jonathan favored the Igbo more than any part of Nigeria in his appointments. The tables above suggest different truth. And you're absolutely right, although there are strategic implications in it all given the state of Nigerian politics, these appointments do not matter as much as direct programs that favor ordinary people.
Obi Nwakanma
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2017 8:00 PM
To: usaafricadialogue
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: What is the roe of scholars?
Toyin,
These are rhetorical questions.
Kanu never made any real efforts to activate even the preliminary process of achieving the sovereignty of Biafra. He rather prefers to rouse the rabble with lies and half-truths.
It may interest you to know for instance, that Kanu did not found IPOB as he claimed, he is not even the spokesman of the group, he was made the Director of Radio Biafra. As I write, the real founders of IPOB have taken back their organization, leaving Kanu with his original position of Director of Radio Biafra.
Kanu has potentials and can emerge as an Igbo leader in the nearest future if he can put his present manners in check.
CAO.
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