Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: 15 Things Every Nigerian Should Know

Ayo:

Just to be on safe grounds: what were Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's role as "Coordinating minister of the Economy?" Did that role include policing? As the Minister of the Economy, did she fail to craft clear-minded, actionable economic policies for Nigeria? What was the quality of her Economic ideas? What were here briefs? Did it include supervising expenditure for arms of government that were basically under the supervision of other ministers? I thought that the Federal Executive Council was precisely that, a council, and that the idea of a council is that each member of council had an  equality of vote and function, and that this is precisely the very basis of conciliar authority? Did Okonjo-Iweala have two votes in council, or the carrying vote to override the decisions of the president of the council who is the president himself? In other words, even as "Coordinating Minister for the Economy" did her role overshoot/override the functions of the ministries tied to national Economic performance - Trade & Industry, Labour & Productivity? Okonjo-Iweala was not Minister of Justice, or of defence or of Petroleum - these critical areas of Nigeria's public governance had as much weight as her job.

Let me describe a bit of how the ministerial function worked within the designated spaces of power: the Ministry of  Finance and Economic Development provides the actionable policy frame for the function of government, and supervised the deployment of public finance as agreed in the budget laws, and in the extra-budgetary decisions of government. Under this ministry are the Accountant-General's Office and the office of the Auditor-General, as well as the office of the Governor of the Central Bank. Each of these offices established by the Act of the Legislature functions almost semi-independently by law, and are appointed by the president, to whom they report. The central Bank is the banker of government, and all government revenues are paid to it. The Accountant-General collects all data of revenue and expenditure of government, and pays out money to the departments of government as directed by parliament, while the Auditor-General examines all government's records of expenditure and the ways and means of expenditure, and reports any anomalies, and puts a stop to such anomalies by raising queries. The Office of the Minister coordinates these functions. Now, again, my question, did Okonjo-Iweala prevent these institutions from doing their jobs? When the president asked for money to be raised, 2.1 billion for a  security vote to fund the war on terror, it was not Okonjo-Iweala's place to question the president on his decisions, but it was her statutory function to source the fund, and seek the president's authority to disburse. It was the function of the elected legislature of Nigeria to query the president on expenditure, and demand a report from the Federal Auditor-General on the ways that federal government's funds are spent, and either reprimand the president, or back him. It was not Okonjo-Iweala's role in government to stop payment of money as authorized by the president.

I ask these questions and make these comments, not in defence of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, but to point out how even supposedly educated Nigerians still miss the point about the process of government by "personalizing" that process. Okonjo-Iweala did not have the kind of power ascribed to her. The biggest power in government after the president is the Minister of Justice under whom any economic crime can be investigated and prosecuted. If anyone can tell me the primary flaws in the Economic policies designed by Okonjo-Iweala under the last administration, and if anyone can bring proof, beyond the yet to be proven allegations of the government about corruption in the past administration, and how the Ministry of Finance enabled it, I shall be convinced. But at the moment, all these statements about Okonjo-Iweala are sour-grapes! What is rather clear and historically true is that there was a clearly proven ground of perfomance in the Nigerian economy which seemed to have stabilized under Jonathan. The proof of Okonjo-Iweala's work is clear today if we compare the Nigerian economy under the Jonathan administration with Okojo-Iweala there and with just six months after she left. Compare that economy to what it was before Okonjo-Iweala became Minister of the Economy, and to what it became with her - that's one proof. We can use very empirical data that is actually quite available. Also, please, someone show me a really clear evidence of personal corruption against her; ways in which she may have profited from the alleged corruption of the Jonathan government, and I will personally wage a campaign against her. In other words, I need some evidence that I can use against Okonjo-Iweala, beyond the insinuations and platitudes. I need this government o bring her to court, prosecute her and present evidence publicly that will be admissible before a properly constituted court. Enough of these insinuations and pub-talk! And yes, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala certainly was no island: great leaders do well with great talents around them. So, Charles Soludo may not have any insight newer than that truth, beyond the fact that it is equally subjective, of which was the greater moment. I salute you.

Obi Nwakanma

---

From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Ayo Obe <ayo.m.o.obe@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2016 3:31 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: 15 Things Every Nigerian Should Know

 

Well, Dr. Kassim is right when he says that many thought that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala might become Nigeria's first female President, her reputation was that strong.  But it is precisely the previous strength of that reputation that causes such disappointment now, because while she remained in the Jonathan administration as 'Coordinating Minister for the Economy' no less, many people thought that whatever else might be going on, there was a steady hand at the tiller and put their trust in her that things were being done properly and that there was real coordination.

It is after she left that we have seen that the petroleum sector was not under her control or coordination, it was under Diezani Allison-Madueke's, and possibly the President's - both of whom were steeped in the mindset that any income from there belonged not to Nigeria, but to Niger Deltans, and then to only a small favoured group amongst them.  So Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was only coordinating what was left.

Whatever the real story behind her departure from the Obasanjo cabinet, people believed that if things were not being done right under Jonathan, she would not hesitate to depart.  From this distance one can speculate that it was when she realised how little power would be left to her that she tried to parachute out into the World Bank, and when that failed, she basically just surrendered to events and circumstances.  Or maybe Charles Soludo was right when he said that her success was as the leader of a good team, not solely her own qualities and capacities, because it's worth noting that her national achievements of which Dr. Kassim is so proud were achieved as leader of the Obasanjo 'Dream Team'.

 

On Fri, Jun 17, 2016 at 2:48 PM, 'Ayotunde Bewaji' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:

There are times egbon Dr. Kassim does this bobbing and weaving - esprit des corps. Could any Chairman of American Treasury have allowed what happened under Okonjo to happen without facing the music? Objective my foot. Sorry egbon, l don't buy that.

On Friday, 17 June 2016, 4:52, africanherald via OkonkwoNetworks <okonkwonetworks@googlegroups.com> wrote:

An objective write-up.

Nwachukwu

-----Original Message-----
From: olakassimmd via OkonkwoNetworks <okonkwonetworks@googlegroups.com>
To: usaafricadialogue <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Cc: okonkwonetworks <okonkwonetworks@googlegroups.com>; NigerianWorldForum <NigerianWorldForum@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thu, Jun 16, 2016 2:45 pm
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: 15 Things Every Nigerian Should Know

 

 

Dear All:

 

As a long term die hard fan of Dr Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,

I wish her and her family well on this her 62nd Birthday anniversary.

Her husband Dr Ikemba Iweala, a neurosurgeon was my classmate at UI Medical

School (Class of !975).

 

I sincerely believe that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala is a rare gift to

Nigeria and that she has on aggregate served Nigerians well

to the best of her abilities in all the positions

she occupied during the Obasanjo and Jonathan led civilian

 administrations in Nigeria.

 

It is not easy being a saint in a room full of rogues.

It is also difficult to wine, dine and dance with swines in rat infected gutters

without getting some dirt squirted on one's clothing.

 

I am also aware that serving Nigerians comes at risk not only to one's physical safety 

but also one's reputation. Mrs Okonjo-Iweala's mother was once kidnapped over

 her daughter's role in advocating for a policy position during the GEJ

administration.

 

During her first tern as Minister of Finance, she started the idea

of publishing monthly allocations from the federal government

to all state governments and LGAs.

She implored Nigerian citizens to ask their state governors and

LGA Chairmen about what they were doing with their monthly allocations

from Abuja,

 

I have been on Mrs Okonjo-Iweala's side on most issues inclusive of

most of her economic

prescriptions for Nigeria and on her incessant warnings as Minister of Finance that

Nigeria needed to save for the rainy day when other Nigerian leaders

especially the state governors, were clamoring that the savings from

the excess crude fund be distributed to them to the last cent.

 

I was also one of those Nigerians who supported the decision to remove the

oil subsidy when she served as the Finance Minister so that the funds spent

on the  subsidy could be saved and spent on infrastructure projects.

 

A few years ago I spent some time promoting the idea that she could become

the first female President of Nigeria. I still believe she would make a great

President of Nigeria if she decided to throw her hat in the ring and contest.

 

However, as "No human being is perfect", Mrs Ngozi Oknojo-Iweala is also not a perfect

human being.

 

In all the years that she served Nigeria, I have only had one issue

on which I criticised and questioned her decision and her judgement.

 

I still find it difficult accepting Mrs Okonjo-Iweala's role in the Dasukigate Affair,

despite the fact that I sincerely believe that she most probably did not touch a kobo of

the $48 million USD, carted out of the CBN vaults in 11 suit cases

by Mr Dasuki, then National Security Adviser and his Deputy.

 

Seeing Mrs Okonjo-Iweala's signature on  that official document in which she minuted

(wrote) the following words in her handwriting:

 

"accountability to the President"

 

followed by her signature felt like a dagger through my heart. I personally felt betrayed!

 

I found it difficult accepting all the explanations and rationalizations provided by the pundits

about how she had no choice but to sign the document, since President Jonathan had already

given a verbal approval for what the world now knows was a massive heist and

ploy to defraud Nigerian citizens.

 

I have asked myself about what I would have done if I were in Mrs Okonjo-Iweala's position and I had the

opportunity as the last man standing in the way of the looters led by Dasuki who were

bent on stealing $ 48 million USD from the proceeds that were meant to purchase ammunition for

the Nigerian Armed Forces so the soldiers could more effectively prosecute the war against

the Boko Haram.

 

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala had the following options:

 

a) she could have insisted that the disbursement of the funds and the manner in which

it would be carried out be openly discussed and vetted at the Federal

Executive Council.

 

b) she could have refused to sign the memo and direct that President Jonathan sign off on

the disbursement.

 

c) she could have resigned her position as Minister of Finance and Co-Ordinator of the Economy

without necessarily providing any reasons for doing so.

 

The above steps are what I would have taken if I were to have been in Mrs Okonjo-Iweala's position!

 

Even though I doubt if Mrs Okonjo-Iweala could have stopped the heist that

we now know as Dasukigate if she had resigned her positions from the GEJ cabinet over this issue,

I would still have preferred that she kept her reputation clean by refusing to lend her official signature

to this crime against the peoples of Nigeria.

 

As I wrote above, no human being is perfect. It is human to err!

 

Notwithstanding, the above I still believe that  Mrs Okonjo-Iweala has left an indelible mark in the annals

of Nigerian public service and that she is a great ambassador for Nigeria and  an international icon.

As a citizen if Nigeria, I am proud of her achievements both in Nigeria and on the world stage.

 

I pray that the best is yet to come for her!

 

Bye,

 

Ola

 

 

 

 

---- Original Message ----
From: Olusola Daniel <olusoladaniel316@gmail.com>
To: USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thu, Jun 16, 2016 9:18 am
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: 15 Things Every Nigerian Should Know

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: 15 Things Every Nigerian Should Know

 

Top of Form

1.                  The immediate past Finance Minister of Nigeria, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is 62 years today.

Below are 15 Things you should know about her.
 
----
"When I became finance minister, they called me Okonjo-Wahala – or 'Trouble Woman.' It means 'I give you hell.' But I don't care what names they call me. I'm a fighter; I'm very focused on what I'm doing, and relentless in what I want to achieve, almost to a fault. If you get in my way, you get kicked".- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

1. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was was born on 13 June 1954, and married to Ikemba Iweala a Neuro-Surgeon.

2. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala graduated from prestigious Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts.

3. She earned her PhD in regional economic development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1981 and received an International Fellowship from the American Association of University women (AAUW) that supported her doctoral studies.

4. Okonjo-Iweala has had a two stints with the World Bank Group, first as the vice-president and corporate secretary of the World Bank Group before her first tenure as Minister of Finance in Nigeria and as Managing Director in 2007.

5. She was reappointed as Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy by President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011-2015.

6. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala led the team that negotiated an $18 billion debt write-off from the Paris Club in 2005.

7. Okonjo-Iweala also introduced the practice of publishing the monthly financial allocation to each state from the federal government in the newspapers. She played a major part in nigeria obtaining its first ever sovereign credit rating (of BB minus) from Fitch and Standard & Poor's.

8. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the daughter of a king, but that is not her CV. The Harvard-educated economist has risen to become one of the most respected economists in the world, she is an inspiration and a pride of Africa.

9. She is now a Senior Advisor at Lazard, a Global financial advisory and asset management firm.

10. She is a board member at African Risk Capacity, a Specialized Agency of the African Union (AU) to help Member States improve their capacities to better plan, prepare and respond to extreme weather events and natural disasters, therefore protecting the food security of their vulnerable populations. 

11. She is the Board Chair at Gavi, an international organisation - a global Vaccine Alliance, bringing together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world's poorest countries

12. In 2007, Okonjo-Iweala was considered as a possible replacement for former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz.

13. Subsequently, in 2012, she became one of three candidates in the race to replace World Bank President Robert Zoellick at the end of his term of office in June 2012.

14. On 16 April 2012 it was announced that she had been unsuccessful in her bid for the World Bank presidency, having lost to the US nominee, Jim Yong Kim. This outcome had been widely anticipated. However, this was the first contested election for World Bank president after the demise in 2010 of the Gentlemen's agreement that the US would appoint the World Bank president and Europe would appoint the managing director of the International Monetary Fund.

15. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is blessed with four children.

 

https://www.nigerianbulletin.com/threads/ngozi-okonjo-iweala-15-things-every-nigerian-should-know.214412/

 

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