The Nation Newspaper

Tag: minister’s

  • After ministers’ nomination, what next?

    After ministers’ nomination, what next?

    The President has spoken. Twice last week, he spoke on issues of the moment. First, on the last day of September, after the Senate had sat and adjourned, President Muhammadu Buhari’s emissaries arrived to hand a sealed envelop containing ministerial nominees to the Senate President. In doing that, he addressed the anxiety of the people and checkmated plans of his adversaries. The truth told, I also saw no reason why it should take so long to decide those who would administer the country with him. With that move, composing the Federal Executive Council has moved to the second stage- screening of the nominees by the Senators.

    Then, on October 1, the President had his day in addressing the nation on his thoughts and perspectives on issues of the moment. It was a short speech that dealt with a number of contemporary issues.

    The President, in terms of charisma was no better than his predecessor. He was hardly audible, but sounded sincere and believable. He came across as a man honest and at peace with himself. He sounded like one who would have said the same things had the time and circumstances been different. But, of all he said, I found the reasons advanced for the long delay in choosing his ministers disarming. He explained that he had to make a choice between speed and order. It was his considered opinion that the federal bureaucracy could not be left at the pre-May 29 level and expected to perform rfficiently and optimally.

    Therefore, as recommended by his transition committee, he had to settle for restructuring at the same time as putting together his team. It was a cogent reason. The question, however, is why did it take him so long to come up with it? Had he volunteered the information early enough, the bad press and public agitation would have been halted. Is this the Buhari style, or sheer arrogance? I recall that he did the same over the controversy that trailed his educational status during electioneering. This might not be the best, going forward. He is no longer General Muhammadu Buhari, a retired military officer and former Head of State who could choose to be tight-lipped, pleading privacy. He owes the public explanations and his media team must be empowered to deliver.

    The President did not just speak through submitting his ministerial nominees to the Senate to grill, he also spoke to the expectations on the quality and caliber of the men and women who made his list. It is obvious that opinions would remain divided on this. The skeptics would argue that it is the same old guards; predictable. He went for the Director General of his campaign organisation, the man who superintended the convention that made him the All Progressives Congress’s presidential candidate, national chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples’ Party, legal adviser of his Congress for Progressive Change and Mr. Babatunde Fashola , seen mostly as the face of performance in state administration. And then, the question, if so predictable, why did it take four months? The argument that there was intense lobbying in the party is easily dismissed as it could not have been otherwise. Even in the Peoples Democratic Party, it was so,let alone a party that has as many as four strong tendencies. It was left for the President to put his feet down, pick those he knew could deliver and on whom he could take the rist of running the race with.

    In the days and months and years ahead, one would expect the President to speak more with Nigerians. He cannot afford to dismiss the people as if they are inconsequential. It is even more insulting when he chooses to get his message across to Nigerians through foreign media organisations. He is the Nigerian President and must run the administration in the country. It is unacceptable for him to keep sealed lips at home and open up to a foreign audience. His media team should tutor him on the danger on getting the channel of communication clogged.

    He could also do with some speech delivery practice sessions. He would need it in capturing his audience both at home and on his frequent visits abroad. It is not too late to deliver some flair even as he reads a prepared speech. For effect, it would not hurt if the President were made to listen to speeched delivered by the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa, the late General Murtala Muhammed and rx-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    In the next four years, at least in the first instance, President Muhammadu Buhari would be carrying the burden of this complex country. He is required to come across not only as the Chief executive with the authority that goes with it, but equally as Father of the Nation and the sense of responsibility it connotes, the Commander-in-Chief and the decisiveness that must accompany the appellation and Inspirer who mobilizes the people to change the national fortunes.

    One of the channels through which these qualities could be gauged is the national broadcast. It is my humble suggestion to our President that he submits to experts to work on the flaws. It could only reinforce his greatness.

  • Ministers: Nothing wrong with recycling ex-office holders- Adesina

    Ministers: Nothing wrong with recycling ex-office holders- Adesina

    Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, was guest on Kakaaki, a program of Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday, October 1.

    Here are excerpts from the interview:

    First of all, let’s look at the President’s October 1 broadcast. What do you make of it?

    We must recognise that it is a National Day broadcast, and he started by reviewing the state of the polity, particularly our march towards nationhood 55 years after independence. Are we a nation yet? Are we just a conglomeration of ethnic nationalities? I think on a day like this, that is the most important thing, all the others are ancillary, though important. It was an efficient broadcast, it may be short but it touched a number of crucial issues.

     

    One issue that has been generating lots of reactions is the ministerial list. The President did promise sometime in July that he was going to name his ministers in September. But what we saw was a submission of ministerial list to the National Assembly.

    We also need to mind the process and the procedure; Our federal lawmakers would be the first people to kick if the President just reeled out the names of the ministers and their portfolios. That would not be in order. What he does is to nominate and send to the Senate and after clearance, the ministers begin to work. At any given time, procedure must be followed.

     

    Part of the broadcast that a lot of people would have loved to hear more from the President is the issue of national unity and inclusiveness in running the affairs of state. It appears that the President did not dwell on that and a lot of people looking at Nigeria believe that national unity and inclusiveness appear to be quite elusive. One would have expected the President to reassure the country that Nigeria stays as one and this is what I am going to do so that everyone has a sense of belonging.

     

    Well, let me read this paragraph if you will permit, the President says here, “We have all the attributes of a great nation, we are not there yet because the one commodity we have been unable to exploit to the fullness is the unity of purpose .This would have enabled us to achieve not only more orderly political evolution and integration, but also, continuity and economic progress. Countries far less endowed have made greater coherence and unity of purpose.” So, he touched on what you said.

     

    Yes, he touched on it, but what I mean is that he should have dwelled on it, talking about Nigeria at 55.

    You should also realize that he is President, and he should not be dwelling on just challenges, rather he should be working to achieve solutions , which is quite better.

     

    There are some agitations that the President seems to favour some parts of the country, so the eagerness to see who and who will make the ministerial list…

    He also said that order is better than speed. What Nigerians want in these appointments appears to be speed, so that they can calculate how many are from the North, South, East and West, and all that. But we will get there, that is what the President is saying.

     

     The President wants to manage the country’s resources and he didn’t make any statement about the economy or the real sector, why is this so?

    I think we are forgetting that it is a National Day broadcast. It is about Nigeria, our people, the way we have lived together. What are the challenges and how are the challenges being surmounted? All those other things cannot necessarily come into a National Day broadcast, that is what I feel.

     

    How long shall Nigerians wait for the President to say something on the economic direction?

    The economic direction is not an opinion of one man but an aggregation of what a team feels and what they have agreed upon. That team is unfolding, we have a list of proposed ministers, that list has not been unfolded and when they are approved with their portfolios , they are the ones that will articulate the economic direction. What if the President as one man has said ,this is the direction and the team comes and feels different?

     

    Not as one man, because he has said that he has been in consultation with the Vice President and some other individual concerning solutions to our problems . Based on that statement, Nigerians are expecting that …

     That would still not amount to an economic direction.

     

    Let us talk about some things. It was reported that the President says that his relationship with the Senate president would depend on the outcome of the Code of Conduct trial. Could you confirm that ?

    I was at a session in New York when the President was granting that interview to Sahara TV and he said the relationship between them is cordial. The interviewer asked if they communicate and he said , yes, many times. There were some appointments that he couldn’t have made without writing the Senate president. He was further asked what would be the relationship in the light of the code of conduct tribunal trial that is going on, and he said, “Yes, I have to wait for that process to end and that would determine the relationship,” which I think is just right.

     

    Okay, I think that you need to break it down further, when he said that he needs to wait for the process before the relationship becomes cordial. Does it mean, it is not cordial right now?

    There is separation of powers between the executive and legislature…

     

     The President and Senate president are from the same party and they need to have a very cordial working relationship for the President to succeed.

    Is there an indication that the relationship is not cordial?

     

    From the statement of the President that he is awaiting the outcome of the trial, it has pitched him on a particular level… it seems the President is saying that the Senate president should not come close to me pending when the trial is over, to know whether you are clean enough or not.

    What the President meant was that he was not going to interfere in any way and the process must play out. He was emphatic about that and of course if the process finishes, whichever way it goes, it determines the relationship between the two individuals. For a government that pays high premium on transparency and accountability, it is very important that whoever is in a top decision must be seen to be accountable to the people.

     

     One would also ask if the President is conscious of the assumption of innocence until proven guilty.

     

    In all he has said, there is nowhere that assumption has been breached, No way and nowhere that it has been breached. He says that the Senate president is innocent for now and when the process ends, they continue the relationship.

     

    Okay now, let’s look at the ministerial list that was sent (September 30). We understand from what is in the news that just a few names were sent to the Senate, can you confirm this? And when would the rest be sent?

     

    The President himself was clear about that, he said the first batch but nobody knows how many is in the batch

     

    I am sure that you know…

     

    (laughs) … No…No…, you know, you are a news person and you can’t depend on everything you hear. It has been addressed to the Senate president. The list is there, he will unfold it officially. Nobody can say precisely how many. You said a few; you can’t be sure because the Senate president has not unfolded it.

     

    How many people are in the batch?

     

    A: Well, it depends on the President. There are certain prerogatives that the President has. Ministers are one of them. He has said that this is the first batch, I think that we should wait and see who are those in the first batch and after that we know how many remains, because the constitution already states that there must be a minister in each of the states. We have 36 states in the country, so when the list is unfolded, we know how many remains.

     

     You have just returned from the United Nations General Assembly in New York, we heard that a lot of things happened there, like missing meetings that the President was supposed to attend.

    Now, let me talk about the supposedly missed meeting. The truth is that, you don’t miss meetings that you are not scheduled to attend, That is just the truth. If you are not scheduled for a meeting, can you miss it? No.

     

    Was Nigeria not scheduled for the meeting?

     

    No, Nigeria was not scheduled to be at that meeting. That is the truth.

     

    O’Brien of the UN was reported as saying that he was quite disappointed that Nigeria was not at that meeting.

     

    A: We have a Permanent representative at the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu. The invitations Nigeria received are seven pages in all. I have them. You won’t see that meeting in any of the invitations that we got. Nigeria was not invited to that meeting and not scheduled to be there. With the passion that our President has on the Boko Haram, do you think that he will receive an invitation to a meeting that will discuss that issue and he will not be there? The truth is that Nigeria was not invited. We have said it and even the President has said in an interview before leaving New York and I guess that should rest the matter. What is happening, as far as I am concerned is storm in a teacup. A lot of people just want to find faults unnecessarily. Nigeria was not invited to that meeting, if she had been invited , she would have been there.

    Secondly, it was a meeting on Boko Haram and insurgency. There were two high levels meetings within the General Assembly days and Nigeria was at those meetings. It simply shows that she was not invited to the earlier one. Let me make this statement: it’s like Nigerians have been lied to so much that they find it difficult to now believe the truth. And the truth is that Nigeria was not invited to that meeting.

     

    Even if the President was not invited, was the Nigerian delegation aware of that meeting?

     

    A: How could the Nigerian delegation be aware, when it was not scheduled? I have told you that every meeting that Nigeria was scheduled to attend, I have the list here and that meeting was not there. Nigeria was not scheduled for the meeting.

     

    What would have informed the President’s desire to want to become the Minister of Petroleum, when he is talking about reforming the NNPC, making it transparent? Does he not trust anyone or believe that there are capable people who can be trusted to manage this ministry properly?

     

    I think the question, we will ask ourselves is: What would the President be bringing to the table, if he is going to supervise the petroleum ministry? He has been Minister of Petroleum about 32 years ago. That is a lot of experience. Those were years that things were done fairly properly in this country.

     

     A lot of people will say that things have changed over the years and lots of structures have also changed and those days may have gone….

     

    But there are things that never change in life. These include integrity, transparency, truth and responsibility. Those things never change and those are the things the President would bring to bear.

     

     In the newspaper review this morning, it was reported that 21 names made the ministerial list. Now, based on the constitution, a minister must be selected from every state. So, if the President wants to supervise the ministry of petroleum resources, how will this work out eventually? Does this mean that a particular state will have two slots?

     

    The constitutional requirement you quoted talks about the minimum , it states that there must be 36 number of ministers, at least one from each state. We have lived in this country where we had 46, 48 ministers and all that. That already shows you that 36 is the minimum requirement but this administration is one that wants to cut cost. We don’t expect that it would have a ballooned number of ministers.

     

    What would you say to Nigerians out there, who think that perhaps if some institutions are working, talking of EFCC, ICPC and some other regulatory and enforcement agencies, we won’t be talking about recycling of ministers or minister of petroleum in the person of President Muhammadu Buhari.

     

    What is wrong with recycling if that person has something he is bringing to the table? Recycling would be wrong if that person is adding no value. But if he is adding value, what is wrong with recycling? I tell you that this is one appointment, if you can call it so, that will bring a lot of value to that ministry.

     

     You said earlier that the President is bringing in honour, integrity, truth all those virtues into the ministry’s package. And the President has taken over three months to appoint ministers. I wonder, has he not found a Nigerian with all these qualities to run that office? We have seen in this country, where a former president oversaw this sector and there was not much difference.

     

    Don’t forget that the buck stops at the President’s table. At the end of his administration, it is going to be called the Buhari administration and not the name of any minister. Therefore, it is very important that what the President feels would make a difference in the country is what he does. At the end of the day, that administration would be rated with his name and not any other name.

     

    The last words from you Mr. Adesina before you go

     

    Well, I will just like to say that Nigerians trusted this President, they elected him into office, let them continue to maintain that trust, and at the end of the day, they will not be disappointed.

     

  • ‘Buhari should choose credible people as ministers’

    ‘Buhari should choose credible people as ministers’

    Remi Bamisile is a veteran journalist. In this interview with DAMISI OJO, she gives reasons why President Mohammadu Buhari could not afford to fail Nigerians. She also speaks on other national issues. 

    How do you think, President Muhammadu Buhari can run this country successfully without hitches, considering the problems facing it?

    I have no doubt in my mind that President Buhari will run this country successfully if Nigerians can cooperate with him. Nigerians are the problem of themselves, nobody want to work, even those they gave work to do, they will never do it and everybody want to become politician so that they can become billionaire overnight, this mentality has ruined this country. If Nigerians can cooperate with the president, he is going to be a wonderful leader. It is a fact that anybody can succeed as a president or as governor or as any leader in this country if the rest of the people are ready to cooperate with such person. I know for sure that President Buhari will perform because I am very sure, he cannot afford to fail because Nigerians are anxiously waiting for positive change.

    Monitisation Politics is the order of the day. Is there any way this could be curtailed?

    If you speak of politicians, just ask what they know in politics, they don’t know what the duty of a politician is, we only have few people who are real politicians in Nigeria. Many of them don’t know what should be their role, I am priviledged to be in London, that is where I did my Mass communication and Journalism, the politics they practice in other country is not like what we are practising in Nigeria. In advanced countries people go there to serve the people that voted for them, but in Nigeria, most,if not all of them, go there to fill their pockets.

    How do you think this menace could be tackled headlong, especially because of the future generation?

    This problem can be solved if all politicians are informed of their roles.They should know that performances are now the yardstick to measure them. And again their salaries and other emoluments should be reduced, if the salary can be at par with that of the civil servants,they will sit up.

    If their salaries are slashed, would that not hinder their performance?

    If they are paying politicians equal salary with the civil servants, they will perform. Are they going there to amass wealth or to serve the electorate? I believe they are elected or appointed to serve the people. Honestly,I am not happy with the way our politicians are doing. They have turned politics to money making venture. These people will come to you seeking for your votes, they can even sit on the floor with you when they need your votes and after voting for them, they will be vehicles, someone that is representing you will pass by you, you will not see his face not to talk of recognizing him or her. Politics is not just take N10,000 and vote for me, no, as a good politician, you suppose to do something in your constituency that will benefit everybody, not what all these people are doing. Some will go and buy cars for the Traditional rulers, how many people are going to be riding with the Kings. If the traditional rulers are going out with the car, how many villagers can he offers a ride. Instead of buying car for traditional rulers, why not provide bore holes, street light or something that will benefit the community as a whole, not that people should run after them to collect tokens. Some will say my in-law is sick, or my wife is being operated, or they have sent my children out of the school, no,politicians must be accountable for what they have done in their respective offices.

    President Buhari is yet to appoint his minister. What is your take on this?

    It is better for the man, I mean our President to take his time to select people of integrity who will be useful to him and the nation. Who will have the interest of the people and fear of God, not those people that will go there to enrich their pockets, he should not rush things for now because when you rush things, you make mistakes but if you take your time, you will never make mistakes, that is the basic truth. You know people are going round now lobbying him, the man want to take his time so that at the end of the day, his government will be one of the best  in this country. Surely, we have some good Presidents before now.

    The crisis in the National Assembly, most especially in the Senate is still raging. Don’t you think this can hinder Mr. President from performing to the people expectation?

    I know President Buhari has the fear of the God and he is a very plain somebody. I did not believe that the crisis will hinder him from performing because Nigerians are praying that whoever wants to send this country backward, God will silence them to allow the man to do a good job. I said earlier that we have good Presidents before him, like General Gowon (retired). I lost my father in 1972 during all Nigerian festival of Arts in Kaduna. My father’s group came first and on their way coming back from Kaduna in 1972, they involved in an accident in December 17, 1972,and my father died. Ondo state was under Western Region then, General Yakubu Gowon gave all the Kaduna disaster’s children Scholarship from primary school up to university level and then, I was in the secondary scho then, I was at Ekamarun Grammar School, Ifon in Ondo state but in 1973 I moved to St. Catherine Girl Grammar School, Owo to finish my school which is girl only, what the man did then, nobody has done it since then. It was 18 persons that lost their lives, five people from my town in Ipele, Ondo state which my father led  and 13 from Ibadan, they gave them mass burial at Liberty Stadium. If not for General Gowon, I may not finish my secondary school and if I did not finish, how do you think I will be where I am today. And after my secondary school, I was sent to London and when I met General Gowon during the 40 years of my father’s remembrance, I thanked him for what he did for us. I said please sir, Daddy, people love you, if you want to come back to rule this country, people will vote for you but he said he could not rule this country again, but he will supporting this country with prayers. Whenever, he calls me, I always kneel down on the phone, I know that Buhari will perform better. Not that Iam praising him because he is the incumbent President, others have done their best. Jonathan was not the only one that ran his administration; you will see that, after tracing fraudulent people in his government, the man, Jonathan may be spared of embezzlement. It is those people that surrounded him.

    And it is not possible for him alone to run a government. Baba Obasanjo try his best, he is a good President too, if not, he would not have administered this country for three times .But I am only appealing to Nigerians, they should allow General Buhari to transform this country.

    Coming to Ondo state, a lot of politicians are coming out now to contest for governorship. What is your own view on this?

    The advice I have for them is  to go and pray to Almighty God and they should go and think if they are really coming to serve the people, of the state, if yes, God will answer their prayers. Not that they should be going up and down saying that they want to become governor of the state without any genuine mission, Psalms 75 v 6, 7 says, promotion did not come east or west or from the south, but from Almighty God. It is God that elevate people. On the election, they should go and think and let the people know what they have for us, by birth. Iam from Ondo state by marriage, I am from Ekiti state. We want to know what they have in stock for us before the poor people will go and line up in the scorchy sun.

    Do you believe in the efficacy of prayers for our leaders in government?

    Yes,religious leaders should be praying for this country. Because prayer is the key to all success and those people that are destroying the country, the hardened criminals with their bad minds, if our religious leaders are praying, God will touch their hearts. Look at Saul now Paul, he was going to Damascus to persecute some people, but the Almighty God, on his way going, touched his heart and he became a wonderful preacher. Religious leaders have herculean task to support our country and its leaders with prayers.

    What advice do you have for Nigerians?

    My advice to Nigerians is that we should go and find something doing. Education is for knowledge, being a graduate does not prevent you from becoming an artisan. If you are a graduate and you learn how to become a bricklayer, after building any house, the finishing touches will be wonderful. I have never seen any country like Nigeria that said their citizens are government workers,  Being a graduate does not prevent you from becoming artisan but in Nigeria everybody wants to be civil servants. You can become rich if you are an artisan. Look at it now, the richest person in the world is not a civil servant even in Nigeria, they are not civil servant and as a business person or as an artisan what you can spend and gain within a week, none of your colleagues in the ministry can do it within six months once you are faithful in whatever you are doing, you will definitely succeed. Faithfulness is the key to success.

  • 15 Jonathan’s ministers hold on to official vehicles

    15 Jonathan’s ministers hold on to official vehicles

    Over three months after leaving office, some ministers in the last administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan have not returned their official vehicles.

    Such vehicles include pilot cars with which they get easy passage on the highway and cars attached to their families.

    The Federal Government has, however, written some of the ex-ministers to return  the official vehicles to the ministries.

    Some of the former ministers claimed they had not returned their official vehicles because of outstanding salaries, claims and severance package.

    Fifteen former ministers are yet to surrender the vehicles assigned to their former  offices.

    The government is believed to have asked permanent secretaries in the ministries to write the former ministers.

    The government threatened to compel the ex-ministers to handover the vehicles or face sanctions.

    A Presidency source said: “Some of the ex-ministers are yet to return their official vehicles, especially the Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), which they were using. It is amazing that some of them are still using pilot vehicles for passage.

    “While some of them claimed they are still entitled to such perks for about three months after leaving office, a negligible few handed over their vehicles before May 29.

    “Some of them said they had not fully disengaged because they had outstanding eight-month salaries, allowances, claims and severance package to collect from the government.

    “We have about 15 of them who have not fully complied with the directive to hand over their official vehicles.

    “The government has no choice but to write the affected ex-ministers. Or else, we may be forced to buy new vehicles for the incoming ministers.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “Some former ministers assumed that they were entitled to some of these vehicles because of the monetisation policy of the government.

    “They said they were awaiting official clarification on the matter.”

    It was learnt that the memo has started having effect. Some ministers last Thursday returned some vehicles.

    A former minister in the Ministry of Power was said to have returned 15 vehicles to the pool.

    The source added: “The vehicles included some which were hijacked from the parastatals or agencies under the ministry.”

    A former minister said: “They are talking of vehicles when some of us have not been paid for eight months. Most of us have outstanding claims and legitimate allowances to collect.

    “Do you know that most of us, including ex-President  Jonathan and ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo have not been paid our severance package. We left this vital decision to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Some former ministers went on annual leave abroad shortly after leaving office. Others were displaced and had been busy with relocation. But they are already returning these vehicles.”

  • Buhari’s unflattering view of ministers

    Buhari’s unflattering view of ministers

    Soon, President Muhammadu Buhari’s minders and aides will begin to despair. In May, Nigeria was glad to be rid of the gaffes and malapropisms of the irresolute former president Goodluck Jonathan and his assertive and obtruding wife, Dame Patience. In their stead came the ramrod, resolute and unflappable President Buhari and his polished but somewhat anonymous wife, Hajia Aisha. While there has been a change of personnel at the seat of power, very fascinating for the remarkable juxtapositions of characters and personages that accompanied it, some other things have remained unchangeable, such as the gaffes of course. President Buhari is turning out to be as gaffe-prone as his predecessor, in fact in ways that seem even more alarmingly memorable.

    During his last two-day visit to France, the president spoke to France 24 Television, where, like his United States visit, he made glib references to his ideas and leadership philosophy. Asked about his cabinet, he spoke of his personal reluctance to constitute it. This was not new. He had shown back home that he thought ministers to be a superfluous addition to government, and only considered taking them on for constitutional reasons.  “The ministers are there to make a lot of noise; for the politicians to make a lot of noise,” he growled. “But the work is being done by the technocrats. They are there to provide the continuity, dig into the records and then guide us, [those of us] who are just coming in.” Those who wondered why he had delayed in constituting his cabinet, and who were persuaded by the argument that he was taking his time because he wished to avoid making a mistake, now know better. “I think this question of ministers is political, ” he said warily. “People from different constituencies want to see their people directly in government, and see what they can get out of it.” In other words, his opinion of ministers is that apart from being needless, well, they are another name for graft.

    The president was, however, not done. “As for the cabinet,” he said testily, “I said we will have one by the end of the month, and time flies. The end of the month is coming too quickly for my liking. I will send the names to the National Assembly.” It is clear the country and the constitution are forcing President Buhari to constitute a cabinet. He had given a September date to put one together; he would have preferred a later date, he seemed to say. Perhaps, if he had the courage to ask, the country could give him an extension. What is even clearer is that the president can’t seem to define and understand what a cabinet stands for. He prefers civil servants, especially the permanent secretaries, whom he regards as experienced technocrats. He is spending inordinate and careful amount of time in assembling his ministers, yet, he can’t seem to understand that they are the people to avail him different perspectives, unlike the obedient civil servants, and proffer great social and economic philosophies to help his government transcend the limiting attributes of his constricted past and hesitant present.

    When he visited the US in July, he had advised US-based Nigerians eager to return home to stay put in their places of sojourn if they had something better doing. Then he suggested he was unlikely to treat all Nigerians equally on account of the fact that they did not vote for him equally in the last polls. Before one year is over, the country should expect more gaffes from the president. Dr Jonathan’s aides were unable to put a lid on his boyish optimism and utopian ideas; President Buhari’s aides have their work cut out for them in explaining and harmonising the president’s disparate and jarring thoughts. As president, Dr Jonathan couldn’t seem to identify any similarity between stealing and corruption, even as he engaged in colourful comparisons of presidential mannerisms, refusing in one comical instance to be likened to Nebuchadnezzar or Pharaoh, perhaps Pharaoh Ramses. He also accused and insulted the Lagos elite, mocked the body language of opposition leaders, and snarled insensitively at ethnic and religious tendentiousness. But as an untested politician who loved to prattle once goaded, Dr Jonathan was unsurprisingly at home with gaffes. President Buhari is on the other hand laconic, and his political and moral systems indiscernible. But this has not discouraged him from offering his publics dainty gaffes of his own, some of them as potent as Dr Jonathan’s.

    President Buhari, it is clear, can be trusted with the nation’s money. He remains honest and possesses both integrity far better than his predecessor’s and a more reassuring ability to manage public funds. What is not so clear is whether as modern people and progressives Nigerians can also trust him with their lives; or, in view of his fairly antiquated opinions of government and society, trust him with their future.

  • 21 ex-governors, ministers to lose passports by force

    21 ex-governors, ministers to lose passports by force

    42 ex-ministers, ex-lawmakers hold on to official travel documents

    The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) yesterday asked 21 former governors, 42 ex-ministers, and more than 260 former members of the House of Representatives to return their diplomatic and official passports.

    The NIS said it might be forced to impound the diplomatic and official passports of past public officers defying the directive.

    The Comptroller-General of Immigration Service, Mr. M. K. Ibeshi, gave the directive in a statement he personally signed.

    It was gathered that the Federal Government was worried that some former ministers, who have cases to answer, had been  junketing abroad with diplomatic immunity.

    Although the statement was silent on the actual number of those affected, it was learnt that the list includes 21 former governors, 21 ex-deputy governors,   42 ex-ministers, 233 former members of the House of Representatives, 76 senators and more than 774 former local government chairmen,  among others.

    The statement reads: “Further to the directive on the withdrawal of diplomatic and official passports held by unauthorised persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service hereby directs all affected persons to comply forthwith. These persons include, among others, former: (i) State Governors( ii) Senators( iii) Members of House of Representatives

    (iv) Members of State Houses of Assemblies; (v) Ministers

    (vi) Commissioners, (vii) Special Advisers/Special Assistants; (viii) Chairmen/Deputy Chairmen of Local Governments Areas;  (ix) all retired Heads of parastatals and (x) Retired public servants

    “These categories of persons are hereby informed that these passports which were previously held by them have been revoked and should return them to the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters Sauka Abuja, with immediate effect.

    “Failure to comply with this directive will amount to an offence under the Immigration Act 2015. Such unauthorised possession will be impounded at our control posts on arrival or departure.

    This is the second time in a month that the Federal Government will issue the directive.

    The government in August directed the former elective and political office holders to return their diplomatic and official passports.

    “The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abubakar Magaji, Federal Ministry of Interior, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to retrieve all valid diplomatic and official passports with immediate effect from all persons who are not entitled to hold such documents,” the statement said.

    “The attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to the fact that some Nigerians who are not entitled to hold diplomatic and official passports are in possession of these documents,” it said.

    According to the statement, the measure is intended to protect and promote Nigeria’s integrity in the comity of nations in addition to ensuring law and order.

  • Buhari: I’ll name my ministers this month

    Buhari: I’ll name my ministers this month

    President Muhammadu Buhari  yesterday  in Aburi, Ghana reassured Nigerians and the international community that he will name his cabinet before the end this month.

    Buhari spoke at a joint news conference with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama.

    The President said: “After I was sworn in,  I said I will have my cabinet in September. I expect that Nigerians should ask me questions after the 30th of September if I do not do so.”

    He also told reporters that the military, in close collaboration with the Multi-National Joint Task Force, has recorded remarkable progress in the fight against Boko Haram since he assumed office as President.

    He said: “The first thing I did after I came into office was to reorganise the military and clear orders were given to them in terms of retraining, re-equipping and redeployment of troops.

    “In the northeast, the military is gaining ground and Boko Haram has been limited to the Sambisa forest.

    ”Internally Displaced Persons are gradually moving back home and they are being reintegrated into their respective communities,” President Buhari said.

    On the declaration of assets, the President affirmed that it was a constitutional requirement that all public office holders in Nigeria should declare their assets before and after their term in office.

    The President said: “I recall that in 1975 when late Murtala Mohammed became the Head of State, we were lined up – governors, ministers, members of the Supreme Military Council.  Officials of Ministry of Justice were brought and every individual was made to declare his assets.

    “All Heads of States and Government, governors, ministers, permanent secretaries have to declare their assets because it is a constitutional requirement.

    “I have declared my assets four times. When I was governor in 1975, I declared. After being Minister of Petroleum and as a member of Supreme Military Council, I declared. When I was Head of State and now as a President, I have also declared.”

    Speaking earlier, President Mahama said both leaders had fruitful discussions on how to enhance bilateral relations and improve regional security.

    President Mahama said that Nigeria and Ghana will soon begin the process of reviving their joint commission for cooperation.

    The Ghanaian President added that both leaders also agreed to encourage closer cooperation between the intelligence and anti-graft agencies of both countries.

    He thanked President Buhari for his visit and assured him of Ghana’s support in the fight against terrorism.

     

  • Anti-graft war: Jonathan’s ministers fight back

    Anti-graft war: Jonathan’s ministers fight back

    After a long while, former President Goodluck Jonathan is set to defend his integrity. He has rallied his troops – members of his cabinet where actions and inactions contributed to the mess the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is cleaning. How will this battle be fought? Ask Bunmi ogunmodede and Oladesu Emmanuel

    PINNED against the wall with allegations that they mismanaged public resources and plundered the nation’s wealth, some of the ministers who served in the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan regrouped at the weekend.

    But for the fact that they were no longer in government, the gathering, which held on Sunday in Abuja, would have passed for a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by the former President.

    No fewer them 15 of the former FEC members attended what many called ‘the Abuja strategy session”, at the end of which took exception to bashings from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration that they grounded the economy.

    After appraising their performance in government, they scored themselves high and said they were not corrupt as being portrayed by the Buhari adminstration.

    Not a few Nigerians have been calling for the probe of those who flattened the nation’s economy. Some even want the probe extended beyond the immediate past administration to serve as a deterrent.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) said the looting by public officials under the Jonathan administration was so massive that over-looking it by the Buhari administration will amount to a disservice to Nigerians.

    Its spokesman Lai Mohammed said in a statement on August 16 that only the total recovery of every kobo stolen from the public till could placate Nigerians, who have been short-changed by those entrusted with the commonwealth.

    Mohammed said that whoever attempts, either by deed or word, to sabotage the recovery efforts of the Buhari administration could not be seen as patriots.

    The APC statement reads: “It is absolutely gratifying that Nigerians are vehemently opposed to the few who would rather have the government of the day turn a blind eye to the looted funds and, in their words, carry on with the process of governance.

    “Truly, what sort of governance can go on if the billions of naira in a few hands are not recovered? In the first instance, the government needs every kobo of the funds it can muster to bring about the change it has promised Nigerians.

    “Secondly, leaving such hair-raising funds in the hands of the few looters is dangerous, because they can use the funds to destabilise any government.

    “In fact, no one will be surprised if the looters use their dirty funds to sponsor public demonstrations against the government’s determination to recover the funds.

    “Thirdly, allowing those who privatised the commonwealth to get away is offering a thumbs-up for looting. No responsible government will do that.”

    According to the APC, the government will be sleeping with fire on its roof by allowing looters to walk the streets free as ill-gotten wealth could be used to cripple governance. It alleged that the looters were already embarking on a relentless and an increasingly-bold campaign to discredit the government—- in a spirited attempt to sabotage funds’ recovery, using newspaper columnists, “talking heads” and otherwise respectable opinion leaders.

    “They and their paid hirelings have tried to employ sophistry to muddle the waters, but Nigerians are much wiser, and will not succumb to the dirty antics of the looters’ megaphones,” it said.

    “In fact, no one will be surprised if the looters use their dirty funds to sponsor public demonstrations against the government’s determination to recover the funds.”

    The party listed some of the looting to enable Nigerians have a better appreciation of the seriousness of the issue at stake.

    They are: N3.8 trillion out of the N8.1 trillion earned from crude oil (2012-2015) was withheld by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); $2.1 billion from Excess Crude Account (ECA) unaccounted for; N109.7 billion royalty from oil firms unremitted by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and $6 billion allegedly looted by some ministers in the immediate past administration.

    Others are: $13.9 billion being proceeds of 160 million barrels of crude lost between 2009 and 2012; $15 million from botched arms deal yet to be returned to Nigeria; $13 billion Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dividends mostly unaccounted for; N30 billion questionable waiver granted to rice importers and N183 billion  unaccounted for at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The party said these “missing” funds constituted just a tip of the iceberg since they were from a few sectors of the economy – mostly the oil sector – and were discovered even before the forensic audit now being undertaken in some key areas.

    “The level of looting that went on in other sectors is better imagined, hence the need for all Nigerians to rally around the Buhari administration to recover the loot, bring the looters to justice and to put in place measures to prevent such looting in the future.”

    But at their strategy session, the former ministers dismissed the APC’s claim and mandated Abubakar Suleiman, a former National Planning Minister, to speak for them. The former ministers said “contrary to what the APC and its agents would rather have the public believe, the Jonathan administration did not encourage corruption; rather, it fought corruption vigorously, within the context of the rule of law and due process.”

    They listed the introduction of the e-Wallet in the distribution of government-subsidised fertiliser, the development of the Government Integrated Financial Management Platform, the Treasury Single Account (TSA), and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management Systems (IPPIS) as some of the anti-corruption measures initiated by the Jonathan administration.

    At a forum during the electioneering campaign in the run-up to the March 28 and April 11 general elections, Dr Jonathan described as petty stealing what Nigerians were describing as corruption.

    Jonathan’s position was a sharp contrast to Buhari’s conviction that corruption could kill Nigeria if the authority failed to decisively deal with the cankerworm.

    As part of his electoral promises, Buhari, who identified corruption in public office and insecurity as frontline problems plaguing the country, promised to wage an unrelenting war against the twin-menace —if elected.

    Though their best may not have been good enough for Nigerians, the former ministers said: “We are proud to have served Nigeria and we boldly affirm that we did so diligently and to the best of our abilities.”

    Demanding a stop to the name-calling of those who served under the Jonathan administration and the trial by news media, the former ministers said they were pushed to defend themselves because the scathing remarks on them have not stopped.

    “We have reserved our comment until now, in the fervent hope that once the euphoria that may have inspired the various attacks on the past administration wears off, reason will prevail.

    “But we are constrained to speak up in defence of the legacy of the Jonathan administration, and shall do so again, for as long as those who are determined to rubbish that legacy are unrelenting in their usual deployment of blackmail, persecution and similar tactics.”

    Six ex-ministers were closer to showcase Jonathan’s legacy landmarks

    “No administration can be either completely bad or completely good,” the former ministers said.

    The ministers said the contributions of the former President to Nigerias development deserved acknowledgement.

    They mandated some of their colleagues to showcase the legacy projects of the Jonathan government for Nigerians to see that the ‘kettle is not as black as it is being painted’.

    Saddled with the responsibility are: Mike Onolememen (Works); Osita Chidoka (Aviation); Ibrahim Shekarau (Education); Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Finance); Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke (Petroleum Resources) and Onyebuchi Chukwu (Health).

    But critics have been wondering how some of these ministers will defend their integrity, considering the massive infrastructural deficit facing Nigeria.  The airports projects remain unfinished, their contracts immersed in secrecy despite the huge cash thrown into their execution.

    Nigerian’s finances, hobbled by questionable subsidy payments, doubtful withdrawals and sheer recklessness, have been in trouble, even as Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala claims to have done well. The oil sector is being cleaned up, after it was bled almost to death by those who saw it as a big pipeline to siphon away Nigeria’s wealth.

    There are, however, those who believe that Dr. Jonathan should hold his head, having put up a noble action of conceding defeat in the March 28 presidential election.

    “He should be proud, continue to play the statesmen and shrug off the accusations”, a source said, adding: “Did they expect Jonathan to allow more Nigerians to die before conceding defeat? Does he not deserve to enjoy his retirement in peace?”

    The source, who pleaded not to be named, urged Nigerians to show more understanding “as far as Jonathan is concerned”.

    Jonathan’s legacies

    • Got rid of the fraud in fertiliser subsidies with e-Wallet
    • Supported institutional development of strong systems and mechanisms to curb corruption in the public service and plug revenue leakages.
    • Development of the Government Integrated Financial Management Platform
    • Designed the Treasury Single Account (TSA)
    • Introduced Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management Systems (IPPIS)
    • Saved over N100 billion paid to ghost workers and ghost pensioners with the introduction of biometric registration of civil servants and pensioners.
    • Cleansing of the oil sector
    • Tarred 25, 000 kilometres of roads
    • Promoted multinational response to Boko Haram insurgency with the formation of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF)
    • Commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to audit the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
    • Introduced the Nigerian Content Policy
    • Unbundled the Power Holding Company of Nigerian (PHCN) Plc. to encourage completion in the power sector
    • Promoted the rule of law, free speech, fundamental human rights, and a robust freedom of information regime.
    • Promoted women’s rights to participate in public life and applied the federal character principle
    • Promoted inclusive governance and encouraged the Organised Private Sector to play key roles in governance

     

    The mess left by PDP 

    • A mind-shattering $2.2 billion-arms scandal.
    • A $6.9 million-fraud committed under the guise of buying three mobile stages
    • A N2.5 billion-scam involving the renting of house boats.
    • N3.8 trillion out of the N8.1 trillion earned from crude oil (2012-2015) withheld by NNPC
    • $2.1 billion from Excess Crude Account (ECA) unaccounted for
    • N109.7 billion royalty from oil firms unremitted by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)
    • $6 billion allegedly looted by some ministers
    • $13.9 billion being proceeds of 160 million barrels of crude lost between 2009 and 2012
    • $15 million from botched arms deal yet to be returned to Nigeria
    • $13 billion Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dividends mostly unaccounted for
    • N30 billion questionable waiver granted to rice importers
    • N183 billion unaccounted for at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

     

  • Jonathan, ministers versus Buhari…and the battle ahead

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan may not be enjoying a blissful retirement. Outside power, he is left in the cold. The presidential privileges are gone. But, the public perception about him as a former leader is also giving him a headache. Critics are asking him to render a proper account of the administration he presided over for six years.  They blame him for poor governance, national economic adversity and a legacy of incompetence.

    However, the politician from Otuoke, Bayelsa State, is taking an exception to what he described as media trial. He is now fighting back.   Dr. Jonathan is trying to mobilise his army of former ministers, advisers and personal aides for battle. It is a collective resistance by the former men of power, some of who are now in the bad book of his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, for alleged corruption.

    As Jonathan’s men regroup, the criticisms against them become more intense. Regressing to a tactical defence mechanism, the former leader seeks to lift the burden of accountability by diverting public attention to some sorts of achievements, hoping to achieve a relief. But, according to observers, Nigerians who endured the lean years of his rule are not assailed by “collective amnesia”.

    Irked by the persistent call for the probe of his administration, especially some ex-ministers who held sensitive portfolios, Jonathan, according to reports, met his successor for 20 minutes. He made two requests: the subjection of his team to media trial should stop and election petition tribunals in Rivers and Akwa Ibom should not be hindered by interference by the Department of State Security Service (DSS). President Buhari’s response was unknown. But, sources said that the President will not compromise his anti-corruption crusade.

    Instructively, Jonathan cried out, barely two weeks after the activist-priest, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Dr. Mathew Kukah, who lauded Jonathan’s performance in office, advised the Federal Government against what he described as selective trial and lack of due process.

    For President Buhari, there is no going back on the promise to recover looted funds and try culprits in court. On the campaign podium, he had made the promise to Nigerians. Any attempt to look back after placing his hand on the plough may backfire. There are startling revelations by Permanent Secretaries and other ministry officials who merely operated under the shadow of powerful ministers and special advisers. The rot, sources said, has not motivated the President to immediately settle down for work by appointing ministers. The National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said doing that would be tantamount to building a neat edifice on a flawed foundation.

    Public anger has not been doused. Under Jonathan, Nigeria had become a fragile nation; a stepping stone to a failed state. To observers, there should be explanations for billions of naira that went down the drain as the infrastructure battle failed. If Nigeria has suffered from power outage for years, if the National Assembly has blown the whistle on oil subsidy scam, if money earmarked for arms to fight insurgents were not properly utilised and billions that should be in the government purse developed wings, some people must be ready to accept responsibility.

    The trial of suspected corrupt officials has not commenced fully. Investigations are still on. But, the sack of government officials appointed by the past administration underscored President Buhari’s resolve to maintain a clean break from the past. Clearing the Augean stable is a major priority. The President has appointed new helmsmen for the Armed Forces, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Customs and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    In the first 100 days of Buhari in office, Nigerians have been heaving a sigh of relief. They have invested hope in change. Electricity is becoming more stable. Even the refineries are being revived. Also, despite the fall in oil earnings, the country can boast of improved revenue. The Federal Government has embarked on the proactive measure of bailing out distressed states from their financial mess. Civil servants are turning a new leaf. The government is sharpening its arrows against fraudulent public officials. The President has said that there will be no sacred cows.

    What the Jonathan forces have resorted to is to pre-empt the Commander-In-Chief’s move to bring erring officers to book. Reminiscent of the presidential campaign days, a battle signal has been given. The approach is to move from the defensive to the offensive position. A respected priest has reminded Nigerians that former President Jonathan’s performance was spectacular in some ways. Thus, in few weeks time, when the  new opposition cabinet assembled by the former leader swings into action, there will be a sort of media war. Ahead of their investigation by the anti-graft bodies, the former ministers will render accounts in the people’s court to swing public opinion. They will tell Nigerians that Jonathan was the architect of the relatively stable power supply, the notable success recorded in the anti-terror war and the improved revenue base. Ethnic voices in the South will be recruited to criticise the President over his silence on the report of the defunct National Conference. Critics will challenge the President to tell Nigerians what he has done differently in three months.

    Also, Jonathan’s men will beam a searchlight on the political appointments made so far by President Buhari, to demonstrate their lopsidedness and violation of the federal character principle, and to the detriment of the Southwest and the Southsouth.

     

     

     

  • Buhari and the search for credible ministers

    Buhari and the search for credible ministers

    In this piece, Lagos lawyer Wahab Shittu urges President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a cabinet that will assist him in the implementation of his manifesto.

    Under normal circumstances, no one would have expected the search for credible cabinet ministers by the Buhari administration to have generated this level of controversy in our country, but then these are unusual times.

    Opinions of course vary on the seeming delay in constituting the cabinet by the Buhari administration but I prefer not to join issues with either side of the divide but would rather prefer to focus my searchlight on factors that should guide the President in constituting a cabinet of credible ministers that would deliver on good governance. I am convinced in taking the debate on this direction given the fact that the President had assured that the cabinet would be constituted in September this year and this in my view is just around the corner, I would therefore prefer to give the President the benefit of the doubt and sue for greater understanding on the part of the populace.

    The President came into office with a clear agenda on anti-corruption, security, economy and infrastructure. Clearly, only those who could deliver on these agenda need be considered. Therefore, one fundamental factor that cannot be compromised in the constitution of the cabinet is the issue of competence, character and capacity. One is convinced that persons who are willing to key into the change agenda of the administration are required to drive the process.

    Secondly, it is important to enlist the services of persons with impeccable track records and antecedents. These include persons with credibility who are not lacking in integrity, honesty and ethical dealings in all their private and official transactions. It is clear that persons in this category cannot be found on the platform of political parties alone, the belief being that such credible people are scattered across political parties, professional groupings, private organisations and in all strata of the Nigerian society including outside the shores of Nigeria. The search for these elements must therefore cover the entire field believing that the Nigerian project is a collective enterprise requiring the services of the best hands wherever such talents may be found. It is this realization that can deliver on the quality outcomes required by the change agenda.

    The other issue that should be noted is that these talents abound in all the geo-political zones of the country and no particular geo-political zone has a monopoly of these human resources. Consequently, the searchlight to discover these best hands must be extensive, balanced and reflect the type of federal character that would give every entity within the Nigerian federation a sense of belonging. This will be in furtherance of the President’s commitment at his inauguration when he said ‘I belong to nobody and I belong to everybody’. The President should walk the talk on this fervent commitment of cohesiveness and all-inclusiveness which he made on national television.

    I agree with the President’s promise not to appoint persons who are ‘hostages’ and heavily compromised as ministers in that the President cannot afford to be polluted by persons who do not have his record of discipline, integrity and incorruptibility. Luckily, his Vice-President, Professor YemiOsinbajo (SAN) is already of that orientation and pedigree. The few appointments the President had so far made also agree with his credentials of high integrity and ethical standards. The tempo must be sustained throughout the cabinet.  Persons with the right attitude are required since attitude is everything.

    It would also seem that the President would require a balanced mix of politicians and technocrats in constituting the cabinet focusing mainly on knowledge, experience, exposure and integrity. This is not the time to give jobs to the ‘boys’ but time to allow appointments to reflect overall national interests.

    It is important to note that these are unusual times. Times such as these require the services of great thinkers, people of foresights who can think ahead of time and who are gifted not only with the power of ideas but also the power of action and those with abilities to galvanize the power of action and ideas in to evolving result oriented policies for the transformation of the society. More than ever before, these are men and women required now to take our country to the next level.

    Taking the country to the next level require persons who could see beyond the day’s crisis and who are imbued with vision, the indispensable quality of leadership. This vision should transcend national borders with local and international influence.

    The country also requires persons who can be trusted to manage the destiny of the country and its vast resources. Persons who though may be talented but are unreliable and untrustworthy are not required in the service of our country at this period and may not be required for a long time to come rather we need persons who place emphasis on values and motivation.

    Depending on the circumstances and given the atmosphere of relative insecurity under which we found ourselves presently, we also require persons who have strong political skills to cope with conflicting requirements of multiple constituents. We need to realize that Nigeria is highly diversified country with several tendencies, beliefs and consciousness. Only persons who by their actions and pronouncements are capable of taking advantage of these tendencies in building a cohesive and unified country are required at this critical point in time. We do not need people who are parochial, narrow minded, divisive and shortsighted at the helm of affairs. We need leaders who are statesmen and who are able to rise above primordial sentiments in building a great and prosperous country.

    We need persons of great influence and with capacity to priotize responsibilities based on self-discipline as ministers.

    We can also not underestimate the need to enlist the services of persons imbued with problem solving skills. There is the urgent need to fix the economy, fix infrastructure, fix insecurity, fix corruption and raise living standards. Only those with problem solving skills and can think outside the box need come on board to address these challenges.

    We also need men and women of deep compassion who understand the human element. I mean persons that understand the most appreciable asset is people and know how to develop them including persons who have value for people, commitment to people, integrity with people, standard for people and influence over people. We do not need people who do not value human lives and do not give a damn about basic human needs as ministers.

    We need persons who are decent, patriotic and hardworking as ministers. It is important that such ministers are assigned portfolios relevant to their knowledge, expertise and exposure.

    We need persons who understand the workings of democracy and are willing to abide by the fundamentals of the democratic tradition. Persons who are democrats are required since they will operate in a democratic setting. Consequently, we need persons who are schooled on the theory of constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, transparency and accountability, rights and freedom of others, separation of powers and good governance.

    Finally, we need persons who have a sense of duty and are ready to make sacrifices even at the expense of their personal comfort in making the country great and prosperous.

    In the words of Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest and most quotable American Presidents ‘The worthiness of life is deep-rooted in sacrifice to mankind. If one dies in the process, he becomes a martyr’.

    We need men and women who could make sacrifice. I mean real sacrifice.