Date Published: 02/12/10
NIGER DELTA COALITION IN THE DIASPORA
214, Uselu-Lagos Road, P. O. Box 10577, Benin City, Nigeria
Tel/Fax: + 234 52 600165 Email: eraction@infoweb.abs.net
WHAT ACTING PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN SHOULD DO NOW! By Idumange John
The Niger Delta Coalition in the Diaspora (NDCID) felicitates with the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for the triumph of democracy. The Coalition also thanks the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly for taking the bold initiative to have passed the verdict of swearing-in the Acting President with Executive Powers. By this singular act, the executive and legislative organs have saved the nation an imminent constitutional crisis. However, the Coalition wishes to advise the President not to allow individuals, parastatals, private sector organizations and rent-seekers from placing adverts or sending congratulatory messages because majority of such people are sycophants – whose stock in trade is to massage the ego of anyone in power to extract concessions, most of which are unmerited. These are the rent-seekers and conflict entrepreneurs who reap enormous benefits through over-inflated contracts and outright peculation.
The Coalition also expresses its gratitude to the former Presidents and Heads of State for the very useful suggestions that led to the peaceful resolution of the protracted impasse. Worthy of mention are Generals Yakubu Gowon, Mohammadu Buhari Rtd. Former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme, President Shehu Shagari and other statesmen who took on the challenge of brokering peace to ensure the corporate existence and stability of the Nigerian State.
Having painstakingly evaluated the matters arising for the past three months, the Coalition is compelled to suggest to the Ag. President to act fast to restore the confidence the Nigerian people, the following issues are essential for the urgent consideration of the President.
- The immediate dissolution of the Federal Executive Council. This is because Nigerians are yearning not only for a change but a fundamental change that is a radical departure from the past. The dissolution of the cabinet is underscored by the fact that the present FEC as it is constituted, comprises over-recycled technocrats, expired politicians whose only credential is that they belong to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and people who, though qualified to be Ministers, are not properly placed based on their specialisms because of pre-pendal politics. The result is that such Ministers are not productive. This unedifying situation has vitiated policy packaging and implementation.
- The category of those who have been over-recycled are the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Ufot Ekaeta, Chief Ojo Maduekwe-the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Riwanu Lukman- the Petroleum Minister; and the Minister of Health Professor. Babatunde Osotimehin. The Coalition recommend this category of Ministers for outright sack. In our candid opinion, the Niger Delta Region is the most dynamic in sub-Saharan Africa and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs needed a vibrant person who is experienced enough to understand the nuances of the Region. Chief Ufot Ekaeta is certainly too old to absorb the shocks generated youths in the Region. Godsday Orubebe should be made a substantive Minister while Verily, Chief Ojo Maduekwe has mismanaged the foreign Affairs Ministry and this is worsened by the monumental fraud in the Ministry. He should be replaced with a more vibrant career diplomat with at least 10 years experience. Comrade Okey Ndibe should be considered for the position of Information Minister and he will accept this condition on the firm promiose that the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill will be passed as soon as practicable. Dr. Rilwanu Lukman is certainly the scion of the oil industry but he has been over-recycled for more than three decades. He should be dropped in favour of a younger and more articulate person. Nigerians are fed-up with gerontocratic meritocracy.
- The second category of FEC members to be sacked are the controversial Michael Aoandaaka, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, Dr. Diezani Allison- Madueke because ab initio, her appointment did not reflect the wish of Bayelsa people, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia should be deployed to the Justice Ministry while Professor Dora Akunyili should be taken to head the Ministry of Women Affairs. The Minister of Education – Dr Sam Omiyi Egwu should be dropped for inefficiency and replaced by a more proactive, progressive-minded man like Professor Mon Nwadiani – the current Dean, Faculty of Education. The Minister for Commerce and Industry can be entrusted to Mr. John Odey - who is a more dynamic person that can reposition the Ministry, while Chief Achike Odenwa may serve in the capacity of Minister for Minister of Mines & Steel Development. Ambassador Emmanuel Otiotio can comfortably manage the position of Minister of States in the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Julius Chuka Odom can be Minister of Youth Development. In fact all the architects of deregulation of the downstream sector should be sacked , hard decisions, but its time for the Ag. President to make hard decisions. The position of the Minister of Interior may shift from General Godwin Abbey to another person from the same State. But if the position is given to someone outside Edo State, then General Owoye Azazi is a highly qualified candidate for that position.
- One department of life that has adversely affected the lives of Nigerians is the Petroleum sector. Here, the President should make haste to re-organize the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. This should include the Turn Around Maintenance of the existing Four Refineries, the aggressive pursuit of the power programme. The core oil producing states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom should benefit from key appointments in NNPC, and this should throw up eminently qualified persons like Chief A.J. Turner JP, Captain Walter Feghabo Rtd; Navy Captain Ibim Princewill and many others.
- The Ag. President should elect a Vice–President and such a man should come from the Katsina – home State of the ailing President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. The person to be so elected should be a faithful of Yar’Adua and the ruling PDP should nominate three names out of which the Ag. President should choose one person- a person that would be loyal to his boss, the ruling PDP and himself as the Ag. President. Senator Polycarp Wite should be dropped and a credible man like Professor Wole Soyinka should be brought in as an Adviser extraordinary to the Acting President.
- There is the aphorism that charity begins at home. Against this background, the Ag. President should jettison partisan rancour and fully embrace the reconciliation moves by his younger brother Governor Timipre Sylva and other well-meaning Ijaw people to attract development to Bayelsa State. For Example, this is the time for the Federal Government to take over the construction of the legendaryKolo-Nembe-Brass Road. It is also the time for the Ag. President to compel all transnational oil companies operating in Bayelsa State to establish their headquarters in Yenagoa so Bayelsans can be gainfully employed. At the highest level of government vindictive politics must give way for mutual understanding, while partisan rancour are jettisoned in the interest of the generality of the people.
- Finally, the Ag. President should pursue with vigour, the implementation of the Post-Amnesty programme. This is where people like Comrade Joseph Evah, Mrs. Ann kio-Briggs, Barr. Iniruo Wills, Dr. Chis Ekiyor, the IYC President, Barr. Ledum Mittee and others who understand the Niger Delta problem should be brought in. Timi Alaibe should have played a role but he is too corrupt to fit in. In addition, President Goodluck Jonathan should prune down the seven-point agenda and concentrate on three areas namely: Power supply, provision of physical infrastructure such as roads and repositioning the hydrocarbon industries. President Goodluck Jonathan should act fast to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians before thinking of bequeathing a legacy to posterity. Nigeria is unarguably a failed State, like an asphyxiated man gasping for breathe. The nation has to be revitalized or risk total collapse.
We of the Niger Delta Coalition in the Diaspora believe that the aforementioned actions are necessary if the Ag. President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is to reciprocate the public confidence reposed in him. The time for President Goodluck Jonathan to act is now. Leadership requires taking critical decisions and the time for the President to take such decisions to save Nigeria is now.
Idumange John, Nigeria Bowles Alapere, USA
NIGER DELTA COALITION IN THE DIASPORA
|
