<\/p>\n
I am often times baffled at the way some so-called intelligent Nigerians
\nexpress their frustrations, play out their fantasies and reveal their dark
\nthoughts.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the days following the release of the results of the presidential
\nelection, all sorts of opinion articles have been published, most revealing
\nthe inner workings of the minds of their writers. Most of these op-eds
\nfocus on whom to blame for President Jonathan narrow loss to General
\nBuhari at the elections. Some have made fanciful commentaries here and
\nthere, whilst certain others have stooped to derogatory remarks which, by
\nall accounts, are uncalled for. But, that is not where I am going with this
\npiece.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The first is a reaction to the so-called list of people who caused the
\npresident alleged downfall. There are desperate attempts by some jesters
\nto reduce the eminence of Okonjo-Iweala by roping her in the scandalous
\nactivities of the likes of Diezani Allison Madueke and Mama Peace. Now,
\nisn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that ridiculous? If there is anything an unbiased analysis of the
\nJonathan administration would acknowledge, it is the fact that
\nOkonjo-Iweala added legitimacy, respectability, zest, as well as local and
\ninternational acceptance to the GEJ administration.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
May I mention the billions of dollars that flowed into the Nigerian economy
\nfrom Direct Foreign Investments (DFIs) under the watch of Dr.
\nOkonjo-Iweala? This is unprecedented in the entire history of Nigeria
\neconomy. Can we even enumerate the number of businesses that started,
\nblossomed and are thriving because of the friendly policies she put in
\nplace to drive the growth of cottage, small and medium scale enterprises in
\nthis country?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While it may not be a bad idea to begin to reel out the long list of local
\nand international awards she has received in the last four years, I will
\nspare my readers the trouble and go straight to the point. Madam Finance
\nMinister remained committed to her passion of seeing the Nigerian economy
\nbloom, even to the point of it being acclaimed the largest on the continent
\nand one of the most promising in the world. This she did regardless of
\nvarious attacks from vested interests who are averse to the structures she
\nput in place to block leakages and pilfering in the system, whereas some of
\nthem are simply jealous of her portfolio as Coordinating Minister of the
\nEconomy.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I wonder if any of those writing these articles have ever read Mrs Iweala
\nprofile. Do they know anything about her academic and professional
\nbackground before she became minister? Do they imagine that heading the
\nNigerian finance ministry is the highest office she has occupied, or that
\nher earnings while serving as minister are anything compared to what she
\nwas being paid before? Some may not have the answers to these questions,
\nand I have decided to take it upon myself to fill in the blanks for them,
\nthus ending their ignorance.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Madam Okonjo-Iweala came into the Nigerian polity at a time when the
\nnation economy was badly in need of restructuring. And President Obasanjo
\nsought out the best head for the job. She came in with a mouth-watering
\nreputation, was widely renowned as a developmental economist to the thrill
\nof us all, then she delivered and she left. Did her career end there? No.
\nShe went on to become Director at the World Bank and was at a time
\nconsidered for the World Bank presidency. When she leaves her office as
\nCoordinating Minister of the Economy on May 29, 2015, I can assure you, it
\nwill not be to sit in some corner biting her nails and scheming how she
\nmight publish some ten-pager as to re-launch herself back to reckoning like
\nthe Soludos of this world. She was born to shine, and shine she always will.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
She is an example that hard work pays off. When she joined the Jonathan
\nadministration, she had a local and international reputation that few
\npeople can boast of. The accolades, awards and commendations have increased
\nsince then. She will leave with her reputation intact because despite all
\nthe best efforts of her political enemies to mar her stellar reputation,
\nthe international community and those that know better are not deceived;
\nthey know a gem when they see one.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When someone lends her talents, skills and even put her reputation on the
\nline to manage her country’s economy, posterity will forever remember her
\nfor good for selfless service to fatherland. While we may be subjective
\nhere, biased even, there are tons of records to prove that Ngozi
\nOkonjo-Iweala is in a class of her own.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I think her haters are just scared that some other government, institutions
\nor organisations who know her worth will quickly grab her off the market;
\nthus further skyrocketing her career, and ultimately prove them wrong or
\nreveal them for whom they really are: haters!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Secondly, some of our people have this very abominable habit of always
\nlooking for whom to blame when things go wrong. Jonathan lost, so people
\nmust be blamed. May I ask at this point, has Jonathan told you he blames
\nanyone? If the President is mature enough to move on with his life rather
\nthan looking for whom to blame, I think we should all borrow a leaf from
\nhim. Mind you, these jesters are not looking for accountability here. They
\nare rather more interested in the drama that results from throwing dirt.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I am all for people having opinions and enjoying the freedom to express
\nthem, but I have found that some Nigerians are too fond of dishing out
\nuninformed opinions which and then passionately carrying on with it in
\norder to make a name for themselves as social commentators. As annoying as
\nit is, we will forgive them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And, why not? After all, in a few short years when Dr Mrs Okonjo-Iweala
\nadds more laurels to her already intimidating list of recognitions, we are
\nall going to be saying, That our woman. She is doing Nigeria proud.\u00e2\u20ac
\n\u2039<\/p>\n
Dan Osofisan writes from University of Jos<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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