Date Published: 03/07/10

Some unexpected names in the Presidential 26-Wisemen

It is good to congratulate His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCON, the acting President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his thoughtfulness in setting up a Presidential Advisory Council aimed at helping him in areas of national interest – policy making, promotion of good governance, power, economy, security, infrastructure, social sector, electoral process and the fight against corruption, among others.

But there seems to be a misgiving; some names that made the list of this all-important Council, deserve some comments. Personally, I do not have personal animosity against any of the appointed fellows, but I believe that the masses may be saying something in the direction based on what they have known about the fellows. This would cast some questions on the Acting President that appointed them; did he apply due diligence or not?

Lt Gen Theophilus Danjuma who happens to be the Chairman of the Council shocked the nation when he said that he made US$500million by selling off an oil block that was allotted to him for exploration.  This is an act of corruption. We all know the situation with the Halliburton bribery scandal and this allegedly involved the former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji M.D. Yusuf. This pending case borders on corruption. That Isa Ismaila was a former President of Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) does not mean that he is not having in the law court, a known suit challenging his hijack of the Daily Trust newspaper against the wishes of co-founders. Until the case is fully determined, he remains questionable.   

Then how could those who are involved in such sit in a Council that would adjudicate on how to eradicate on matters that involves what they are deep necked into. There could be others that one may not know much about. It is not late to amend this otherwise the composition may continue to receive this type of knocks.

Dr. Peter Kosowei, 421 Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State