When Mr. President’s influence fails

Many politicians, even when they have the wherewithal to occupy a particular public office, believe rightly or wrongly that they must be in the good book of some stalwarts before they can achieve their political ambitions.

That is why many aspirants to public offices mill around the Villa in order to get President Goodluck Jonathan’s attention and perhaps his endorsement. For instance, worship at the Aso Villa Chapel on a Sunday and you will see how people that qualify to be called big men and women by all standards will be falling over themselves just to catch the President’s attention. Call it eye service and you may not be far from the truth.

While some people are lucky and end up reaping from these activities, some others are left disappointed. One of those that Mr. President’s influence has failed to bring luck to in recent times is Senator Andy Uba who has been aspiring to contest the forthcoming Anambra governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. Ahead of the party’s primaries, Uba became a regular face in the Villa, particularly the President’s residence. So regular was his face that though he is a Christian, he joined Muslims on August 8 to pay Sallah homage on the President at the end of the annual Ramadan fast!

In an interview with State House correspondents at the end of the homage, he had boasted that he would win the party’s ticket because, according to him, he remains the frontrunner in the governorship race. He was said to have organised a parallel primary where he emerged governorship candidate but the party leadership has decided to recognise Tony Nwoye who emerged at a congress organised by a five-member panel led by Governor Ibrahim Shema which was appointed by the national secretariat of the party. For Uba, Mr. President’s influence failed him.

In a typical case of different strokes for different people however, Kanayo O. Kanayo recently got something tangible to show for his regular presence in the seat of power. The actor is always leading his colleagues in Nollywood to the Villa to meet with the President or his wife. He is a regular face in the chapel too. At times, he worships there with one of the diminutive actors of Aki and Paw Paw fame. His loyalty (or eye-service?) paid off as he was recently named the board chairman of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Studies.

One of those who are still waiting for their own compensation is a member of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu. He is also a regular worshipper at the chapel. He is always with one delegation or the other.

On Monday, he was part of the delegation of the Anioma Peoples’ Congress led by the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozien who requested for the President’s support for the creation of Anioma State, or presidential support for the next governor of Delta State to emerge from Delta North, if Anioma State does not become a reality before 2015. Maybe that is why Elumelu is positioning himself. We are waiting.

Another minister kisses the dust

The President started this week with a strong message to his appointees, especially his ministers, that the power to hire and fire resides in him and he can exercise such power whenever he wants without fear and favour.

After about a year of calling the shots at the Ministry of Youth Development, the President sent Sokoto State-born Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir parking from the Federal Executive Council.

In announcing the President’s decision, a three-paragraph statement was issued from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, to the effect that Jonathan had seen enough of Abdulkadir’s face and it was time for him to say good bye.

With his sack, Abdulkadir joined the league of former ministers who have been shown the way out by the President under this dispensation. Jonathan had last year sacked Dr. Haliru Bello as the Minister of Defence. He has yet to name a replacement for him. Shortly after that, Prof. Barth Nnaji also left as the Minister of Power. Although Nnaji was said to have been advised by the President to resign, it was learnt that the Presidency announced the acceptance of his resignation at a time when he was still returning to his office to write the resignation letter, an indication that the resignation option was a softlanding for him.

The statement announcing Abdulkadir’s sack deliberately left out the reason why the President wielded the big stick. The reason for that was best known to the author of the statement. The Presidency was however forced to change its mind when it was confronted with various media reports (the Presidency prefers to refer to them as speculations), insinuating while the minister was sacked. Some attributed it to the minister’s alleged loyalty to his state governor, Aliyu Wammako; and his kinsman who is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwwal, against his principal, Mr. President. A particular newspaper went a step further by saying that the former minister was axed for failing to crown the President’s choice as the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.

That allegation was obviously not a compliment for a President that has been using every opportunity to express his commitment to the sanctity of the electoral process. The Presidency was therefore forced to come out from its shell and explain the circumstances leading to the sacking of the minister.

Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, issued a statement that Abdulkadir drew the President’s ire by mishandling the NYCN’s elections in Makurdi and Minna which resulted in the unfortunate fractionalisation of the council. He said Abdulkadir’s failure to provide appropriate leadership towards open and transparent youth council elections was unacceptable to the President and his administration.

The explanation was a good one. But I still don’t understand why the Presidency would wait until the media started speculating before explaining the reasons behind the President’s decisions. Or do they think Jonathan is not answerable to Nigerians? I don’t think it is out of place if the SGF had made it clear in his statement announcing the sacking of the minister that he was eased out for this particular wrongdoing. That would have saved them the stress of having to reply to speculations on the reason. For me, their clarification is an after-thought and it is their words against that of Nigerians. Many people still hold the view (and justifiably so) that the Presidency has not said the whole truth on the matter. Whichever way, what remains clear to all is that Abdulkadir has been sacked.

All work and no play…

I will embark on my annual vacation from Monday. There will be no deadline to meet, I will also not bother my head whether Jonathan continues his late night meetings or not for the period of the holiday. The implication of this is that your darling column will be on recess throughout September. All things being equal, I hope to come your way again from Saturday, October 5, refreshed and with new vigour. God be with you till we meet again.

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