Date Published: 12/02/09

Dear Editor,

Ekaette on Trial: Fights the Reps

In the media in 23 rd November, 2009 issues, The Nation quoted Chief Ufot Ekaette, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs thus: “I have served my country for over 40 years in various capacities and I have never heard that kind of insults in my entire life and I honestly feel the matter should be addressed as Nigerians may not have the right impression of the ministry going by the reports that came out of the (House of Reps) session”, and in The Guardian thus: “I have served this country loyally, honestly and I will continue to do so. No amount of insult will compel me to go and do something I know that is not in the best interest of this country”.

Earlier, members of the House of Representatives had raised the point that the Ministry is inept and paid almost all the money allocated to it in 2009 budget to Consultants, leaving the main Contractors with almost nothing; they posited that the Ministry should either be scrapped or the Minister sacked. Before then, the Speaker of the House of Representative, Dimeji Bankole at an earlier date in the media asked the people of the Niger Delta area to hold the Minister and his Ministry accountable for the bad roads in the area. Some ex-militants and representatives of the organized oil producing communities had also asked for the Minister’s sack.

The bottom line is that the Minister should have recognized the protests before his appointment and also after the appointment; from such respected quarters. He is neither an engineer nor studied related course. He is an Economists and a good and loyal administrator; that is why the President should have allowed him to remain as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation – a job he performed creditably during Obasanjo regime. The President probably set a nest of destruction to some of his recent aides that include Ekaette and Akunyili by posting them to places of their incompetence and those probably also out of greed, decided to accept. Ekaette should resign honorably; he loses nothing.

Dr. Peter Kosowei

421 Aba Road

Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

peterkosowei@yahoo.com