PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2013
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Still on Okonjo-Iweala’s controversial appointments By Yushau A. Shuaib
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still wonder how the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala is in the eye of the storm. Her grandiose title (Coordinating Minister of the Economy) is not a mere tautology as some people will assume. Being the first holder of that title in Nigeria’s history, her position could be seen as equivalent to Prime Minister, which gave her the mandate to oversee and superintend over every other ministry, department and agency of government including their budgetary allocations and revenue expenditures. She is invariably the next most powerful cabinet member after President Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo. In the last ten years, this writer is one of her ardent admirers who is impressed by her academic accomplishments and enviable working experiences on the international scene including her contributions to Nigeria’s economic development after her appointment as the first female Finance Minister and later first female Foreign Affairs Minister by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 and 2006. Though she left the administration unceremoniously over personal issues, her tenure then was a success story. One of the major reasons some of us believe strongly in ability of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was the way and manner she carried By Mohammed S. Umar
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ixty years is between the youth and old age. Indeed, it is not age that matters most, but overall contribution to human growth. Aspiring statesmen got agitated on taking stock of legacy to humanity. Good governance is cumulative efforts to impact positively towards citizens' uplift by leaders. Much of the time it is the duty of history and opinion moulders to bring to the fore achievements of leaders. Leadership, we must bear in mind, is not easy task. Human beings are the most dynamic elements of creation, changing in demand on regular basis, and never satisfied in wants. This informs our constant demand that we respect our leaders and accord them appropriate place in history. Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto has passed much political tutelage in the hands of respected elders and politicians before attaining the present enviable position of Chief Executive of Sokoto State. Any person who wants to excel in future must humble himself to learn from those in the act before him. Sarkin Yamman Sokoto did just that in associating with and observing thick men of this environment and beyond. Late Sultan Abubakar III first spotted the leadership qualities in Alu when he appointed him Senior Prefect of the prestigious Sokoto Teachers College in 1971. However, before then he served as Head Boy in Wamakko Primary School from January 1966 to December 1967 and became Junior Prefect in Sokoto Teachers College 1970 to December 1971. His subsequent appointment by late Sultan Abubakar III marked
major players both from the North and the South along while she were Minister of Finance between 2003 to 2006. She were never accused of discrimination or bias against any of the diverse groups of the ethnically charged and religiously polarized nation. The same will be said of her then principal, Olusegun Obasanjo who, despite some of his shortcomings will never be accused of tribalism. He is a detribalized leader and a nationalist to the core who believe strongly in the Nigeria project. The choice of her nominees into top public appointments and even the composition of her associates cut across every segment of Nigeria including those in her Economic Team like Nasir Elrufai, Nuhu Ribadu, Bode Agusto, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar and Chukwuma Soludo among others. Her achievements too were glaring. We recall that in 2005 she led Nigeria to striking a deal with the Paris Club, a group of bilateral creditors, to pay a portion of Nigeria's external debt amounting US $12 billion in return for an $18 billion debt write-off. She ensured transparency in monthly federation account allocation by the introduction of monthly publication of the disbursements in selected media. She was instrumental to helping Nigeria obtain its first ever sovereign credit rating (of BB minus) from an international ratings agency. Even when she left
the government in 2006, her nongovernmental organisation, NOI Global Consulting, partnered with the Gallup Organization to introduce what may be described as the first credible opinion poll, the NOI poll, into the Nigerian polity. With these at the background, it was not surprising that when she were reappointed by President Jonathan as Finance Minister and when she were shortlisted for the post of President of the World Bank in 2012, she received overwhelming support from all Nigerians. An online publication even claimed that some Northern Mallams were praying for her success in the mosques. Everyone at that period believed that she were a detribalized Nigerian with realworld experience of policy-making. The reason for writing this write-
up is to alert her to some disturbing trends as regards some recent appointments into top public offices in Nigeria in view of their economic and political implications. As the most powerful minister and an Igbo Princess from the Niger Delta by virtue of being a daughter of Obi of Ogwashi-Uku community in Delta State, I believe she should continue to live above board. Recently the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) made some disturbing allegations of ethnic cleansing of Yoruba in federal appointments by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Wife of the sage, Chief HID Awolowo and the retired Bishop of Akure, Rt. Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi in Ikenne Ogun State after the meeting of the forum accused the administration of
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She should be aware that many Nigerians are referring to a book, 'Chinua Achebe Teacher of Light' which she co-authored where she expressed bitterness about how her tribe was dealt with before, during and after the civil war and insinuating that now that she is in authority, she is determined to correct all that she perceived as injustice against her people
As Wamakko clocks 60
recognition by a very high force of sterling leadership qualities in the man. Student unionism is a training ground for enlightened politician in the making. His Excellency was elected Treasurer of Nigerian Students Association in America (Pittsburgh Chapter) 1979 to 1980. Since then he served in various capacities in active organizations. The list of committees and organizations he served and gained experience is very long and can take much to chronicle. But let us at this stage list his working experience. He started his career as a teacher. He taught in Sanyinnawal Primary School, Yabo ADB. By 1977 he had risen to Mobile Teacher Trainer (Sokoto ADB). From 1978 to 1979 he was a Lecturer in Hausa Language at the University of Pittsburgh (USA). During his youth service (NYSC) he taught in Sokoto Teachers College, 1981. Sarkin Yamman Sokoto started his administrative career as Principal Assistant Secretary in Zurmi Local Government from December 1981 to October 1982 and from November 1982 to December 1982 he served as Acting Secretary, Zurmi Local Government. From July 1984 to July 1985 he served as Principal Assistant Secretary, Kaura Namoda Local Government. He acted as Sole Administrator, Kaura Namoda Local Government from August 1985 to October 1985. From November 1985 to May 1986 he served as Principal Assistant Secretary, Kaura Namoda Local Government. He was Chairman, Sokoto Local Government from
June 1987 to November 1987. He became Under Secretary, Sokoto State Local Government Service Commission from November 1987 to April 1988. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly, Abuja, 1989. From April 1989 to June 1989 he served as Acting Director, Personnel Management, Ministry of Education, Sokoto. He was Director, Personnel Management, Home Affairs Department, Military Governor's Office from June 1989 to October 1990. He was State Secretary, Finance and General Purposes Committee (FGPC) from October 1990 to October 1991. From October 1991 to January 1992 he was General Manager, Hotels Management and Tourism Board, Sokoto. Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko was Director General, Careers and Special Services, Governor's Office, Sokoto from January 1992 to March 1992 and served in the same position at the Civil Service Commission, Sokoto from March 1992 to July 1992. He moved to Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, Sokoto where he served from July 1992 to February 1994. From December 1994 to September 1995 he was posted to Ministry of Works and Transport, Sokoto as Director General. He served as Director General/Clerk Designate, Sokoto State House of Assembly from November 1996 to 1st May 1998. He became Deputy Governor of Sokoto State on 29th May 1999 and was re-elected to the same position in 2003. He voluntarily resigned as Deputy Governor of Sokoto State from 15th March
2005. He was elected Executive Governor of Sokoto State on 14th April 2007. After that election was nullified by Kaduna Appeal Court he was overwhelmingly elected Executive Governor in the rerun election and was sworn in on 28th May 2008. He was also overwhelmingly re-elected for second term and sworn in on 22nd February 2011. Born 1st March 1953 in Wamakko town, the Governor holds Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and Masters (MPA) degrees from Pittsburgh University, United States of America (USA). He also attended Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON); holds Certificate in Fraud and Corruption Prevention Techniques from Royal Institute of Public Administration, London among other qualifications. As a Governor he pursues policy of poverty reduction. He articulates strategies that penetrate actual realization of the peoples' yearnings, within available resources. He resuscitated the ailing education system; rehabilitated dilapidated buildings, constructed new ones and equipped them. His administration recruited more teachers. For effective and efficient teaching and learning . Teachers in the schools across the State are being roundly motivated. He caused to be mounted intensive campaigns for enrollment of boys and girls into schools. He established a State University which has admitted its first intake. He encouraged make-up classes for school drop-outs to pass their secondary education for admission
systematically excluding the Yoruba nation from the federation in terms of appointments without justification. They called on the government to redress the “systematic discrimination” against the Yoruba nationality in federal appointive positions without delay, saying that the Yoruba have been getting “crumbs” from the administration. No sooner did the Yoruba allegation was made than the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) also publicly lamented gaping marginalization against the North over appointments and promotions in the military. According to these distinguished Nigerians, there are lopsidedness in employment and postings in the Nigerian Army in favour of the Igbos, which is clearly in the breach of the principle of Federal Character. She should be aware that many Nigerians are referring to a book, 'Chinua Achebe Teacher of Light' which she co-authored where she expressed bitterness about how her tribe was dealt with before, during and after the civil war and insinuating that now that she is in authority, she is determined to correct all that she perceived as injustice against her people. Some even insist that what she is doing now is promoting regional and ethnic agenda to the detriment of other groupings in Nigeria by manipulating appointments. To be continued to tertiary institutions. Shehu Shagari College of Education and the State Polytechnic have many courses accredited through the concerted efforts of his administration. Education, to His Excellency, is a child's right. This necessitated his abolition of discriminatory school fees against non-indigenes. The youth are trained in various trades and crafts for self economic sustenance under the youth empowerment programme. On finishing their apprenticeship they are equipped with tools and start-off funds. The programme has recorded tremendous results. Farmers receive necessary encouragement in the provision of implements and fertilizer at subsidized rates. Grazing reserves and veterinary services provision enable increased beef production. There is tremendous increase in farm produce because of provision of irrigation facilities which encourage all season farming. A newspaper columnist once heckled over Governor Wamakko's generosity. But we see Governor Wamakko as living the life of a truly religious person who believes in assisting the needy. This is the reason he pays minimum wage to every disabled person in the State. His Ramadan breakfast programme is in tandem with this posture. He believes in overall partake in the common parsimony. Your Excellency, Alhaji (Dr) Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sarkin Yamman Sokoto), we wish you Allah's guidance and good health to continue your selfless service to mankind as you clock 60 years. Mohammed S. Umar can be reached via sokotosolid2007 @yahoo.com