Efio-Ita Nyok|13 October 2015|4:15am
Whereas, Bukola Saraki, the President of Nigeria's 8th Senate, has officially announced the names of successfully-screened ministerial nominees from President Muhammadu Buhari nee 'Baba go slow'; and whereas Barr. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the immediate past governor of Nigeria's oil-rich Rivers State and incidentally, the erstwhile Director-General of Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Organisation, made it to the list of ministerial nominees having failed to make it to the previous list of Special Advisers, Senior Special Advisers, Chief of Staff/Secretary to the Federal Government (SFG), etc, it has become apposite to address an important theme that seem to characterise these federal executive appointments.
Political pundits and rumours from certain quarters suggested that Amaechi was earmarked for either of two senior political appointments in Buhari's presidency, namely, the offices of Secretary to the Federal Government (SFG) or Chief of Staff to the President (CoS). This was taking cognizance of the latter's investment of profound commitment towards the successful emergence of President Buhari in the 2015 General Elections. If we recall, previous attempts in 2004, 2007 and 2011 by the incumbent President of Nigeria to clinch on the nation's top job were marked by abject failures.
It is alleged that Amaechi's tune of financial investment channelled towards PMB's emergence as President is beaten only by the 'Lion of Bourdillon', to wit, former Lagos State governor Ahmed Tinubu. Again, his non-financial investments were probably paralleled by no other in the entire All Progressives Congress(APC): it maybe said that Amaechi risked his life far beyond others to see to Buhari's election as president! Amaechi therefore may not be denied the tag of loyal political genius.
Between the two offices of CoS and SFG to which Amaechi was earmarked, he was more favoured for the office of CoS, this was because former Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola was tipped for SFG owing to his perceived administrative/organisational skills. By all reading, Amaechi would therefore be a mini-President if you wish. But, Alas! The dice had already be thrown. Amaechi did not make it to these two foremost offices. What transpired is now history.
However, the question begging for answer is: why did Amaechi not make it to the first list of SAs, SSA's, SFG, CoS, etc? Why did Buhari omit the name of his most successful DG from his first list of federal executive appointments? The more ready response is intrigues -political intrigues. We all know that brow-raising intrigues undergird politics at whatever level whether international, national or local. Now the intrigue that outwitted Amaechi was harped on the sentiment of corruption. Political opponents of Amaechi convinced PMB to lay aside his former campaign DG on the premise of the corruption scandal that where brought to the fore against Amaechi courtesy of incumbent governor of Rivers State, Wike and the CNN's Christiane Amanpour, where it is alleged that Amaechi is in custody of public funds to the whooping tune of N74 billion. This represent the trending position that the APC peddle; this is what and how they want us to know. Nevertheless, critical analysis suggest otherwise.
To begin with, now that Amaechi has made it to the second list, the question is: Is Amaechi no more corrupt? Has he been officially cleared of corruption? Why is it that the corruption scandal that deprived him of CoS or SFG, couldn't do away with his name in the ministerial list? Why didn't Buhari give in to the opponents of Amaechi this time around? I want to believe they came again harping a similar sentiment. The same question goes for Fashola who also made it to the ministerial list but has been accused of corruption too, the most recent being the building of a personal website while being governor of Lagos State with about N78 million of public funds.
Albeit, seeing that Amaechi made it to the second list despite the fact that he is still perceived to be corrupt, it stands to reason then that President Muhammadu Buhari deliberately sidelined his former DG, not on the bulging premise of corruption as purported but on a perceived ethno-religious sentiments of the born-to-rule north of which he maybe, from all indication, be a kingpin.
This brings the previous appointment that where perceived to be bias into context. In the first list only one southerner made it to the list, one Femi Adesina. Then a few easteners especially the NNPC boss, Kachukwu. All others are from the north! Is it that it is only the north that is corruption-free and most competent for positions of these natures? Or, are there the only Nigerians whom Mr. President can trust or have a history with?
It is in view of the foregone that one is compelled to ask Mr. President whether Amaechi is no more corrupt? How did he scale through the corruption status screening that preceded his nomination? Has he been cleared of the N74 billion he is accused of being in custody of? Is the intention of the Senate to bend the rules in clearing Amaechi and Fashola for ministerial appointments not influenced by the Presidency from behind? If the Senate is bending the rules now, why didn't Buhari bend his then? Why did Buhari cave in to opponents of Amaechi in his presidency when they maliciously advice him to take Governor Wike's official allegation and CNN'S Christiane Amanpour seriously? Has Amaechi being cleared of those allegations? Is Buhari's fight against corruption, corrupt or otherwise? Is it selective or fair? Is Buhari going to be the saviour of Nigeria judging by these perceived callous ethno-religious trends? Is the 'change' they promised, a literal change from the once most popular acronym, PDP, to APC? Won't it be concrete in the every day life of an average Nigerian?
President Muhammadu Buhari, the most important questions begging for answer is: Is Rotimi Amaechi no more corrupt? Are you still poised to fight corruption in the very tone and tenor you evinced before May 29? If your response is in the affirmative, how do you approach the above set of questions? If the response is a denial then I am afraid, it is obvious that, you and your change touting party, the APC, deliberately took Nigerians for granted during your campaigns!
One may not be wrong therefore to posit that Our collective destiny, as a nation(Nigeria), may have been profoundly compromised.
