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| Dr Alex Ekwueme, Chief Achike Udenwa, Dr Samuel Egwu, Senator Ben Obi and Others during an Igbo Summit in Owerri last year. Photo: Hill Ezeugwu |
Prominent Igbo leaders including governors; former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme; Ohanaeze and South-East PDP leaders, have been brainstorming on the issue.
The consensus is anchored on what a source described as ‘superior argument’ that in practical terms the SGF is better than the House of Representatives Speaker, which the zone is demanding on account of its massive support for the PDP at the Presidential and National Assembly polls.
Another factor that is swaying the decision in favour of accepting the SGF slot is the need to ‘help President Goodluck Jonathan to succeed’ after playing leading roles in getting him elected.
However, the leaders are against a leading Abia State politician, who had served severally as a minister and party leader since the return of civil rule and being pushed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, emerging as the SGF. They would rather prefer a more credible person, perhaps, a former leader of the National Assembly from the South-East to occupy the strategic post.
In the past couple of days, Igbo leaders have been intensely divided on the issue. Veteran journalist and former Editor of New Nigerian Newspapers, Chief Innocent Oparadike; Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, Secretary, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said that the speakership was more useful than the SGF, who holds the job at the absolute mercy of the President.
Imperial chief of staff
Indeed, Okechukwu said the SGF was irrelevant when “there sits on the throne of the President, an imperial chief of staff. More so, the office is not listed on the order of protocol and the occupier can be fired at the whims and caprices of the President.”
Former Governor of Anambra State and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, senator-elect in Anambra, Dr. Chris Ngige shares this view. Speaking on a television interview yesterday, he urged the South-East to insist on the speakership, which he stressed was better than the SGF, a mere appointee of the President.
However, some Igbo leaders told journalists that the SGF was more strategic and could position the Igbo better in the scheme of things in the country.
Those who shared this view include Second Republic politician and Anambra State chairman of defunct Nigeria Peoples Party, NPP, Chief Guy Ikokwu; former National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, chieftain, Chief Chuba Egolum and Chief Hyde Onuaguluchi.
Ikokwu, who was also a stalwart of NADECO and pioneer chairman of PDP in Anambra State, said the SGF was a powerful post because the occupier controls appointments, oversees the day-to-day running of government and is closer to the President than the Vice President.
He said: “Why did they remove Babagana Kingibe as SGF. They felt he was too powerful. If the South-East is going for the presidency in 2015, the nearest that will help them is the SGF. What is speaker? The Speaker is junior to the Senate President.”
Ikokwu said that apart from the presidency, SGF was another prime post that the South-East had not held. He noted: “We have tried vice president. We have tried Senate President thrice and Speaker twice. What did the South-East gain from them? Let’s embrace SGF.”
Besides, the politician, said the South-East had a duty to help Jonathan succeed.
Speaking in like manner, Egolum, said, “SGF is more strategic. He is there in the presidency and knows what is happening. All appointments go through him. Ministers report to him. He has votes and it is more broad-based than the speakership.”
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From time to time, history repeats itself but men learn very little from other peoples' past experience. The Igbos are yet to learn anything from history. Discordant tunes are by no means an acceptable political power modalities. A house divided amongst itself, cannot stand. Political infighting, accrimony and treachery will not in any way fuster the much needed formidable bargaining power of the Igbos.
ReplyDeleteWho are these bunch of senile, expired, tested political sychophants and charlatans who had for many years achieved and contributed nothing to the socio economic problems of the Igbo man.
With due respect to all these political Methuselahs of Igbo land, but with serious sense of laying the facts bare for all to judge, Dr Alex Ekwueme, was a vice President under Alhaji Shagari, and had always been in the corridors of power for over a decade supporting every government in the center. It is shameful that in the government of Obasanjor, he could not even as the Chairman of PDP board of trustees, attract the federal government to tar the road that passed from Ekwulobia- Okoh- Umunze- Ibinta road. That imporant road was cut in many spots in cluding his home town Okoh by gully erosion. We had to use the state fund under the government of Dr Chris Ngige to save his face. In every regime he jumps up and down, claiming leadership of the Igbos but once he is settled, he will become politically dumb and docile.
I bet you he must have again been promised something by this government that he has ignored the Ohaneze Ndigbo-the apex Igbo body, and the current incumbent governors, to accept the position of SGF which the Igbos are still rejecting and asking for something higher.
In Jos, I effectively campainged for this noble son of Igbo land but when the Political equation was changed by Babangida in the Jos township Stadium, Ekwueme was dropped with ignominy and Obasanjo chosen. And as the result of the PDP Primary was being announced, I quickly wrote Ekwueme and told him the result was not in his favour and that whenever they announced the result, he should say nothing to the press but just leave the venue sincer silence is golden. To my chargrin, he spoke immediately, accepting the result. Ofcourse that was how they read his mind and threw him into the gabbage heap through the window.
Brethren, compare his style with late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. Zik while staging Awolowo for a merger between UPN and NPP, did not lose sight of a better deal for the Igbos in the NPN. And when the opportunity came, he grabbed it for the Igbo man. That was politics.
These present political leaders of the Igbos, lack the necessary political sagacity, accumen and wisdom to negotiate for the Igbo man. The earlier we retire them like the Yorubas did to Obasanjo, Adedibu, Borde George etc, the better for us. We need young political worriors like Dr Ngige and powerful intelligent lieutenants. Surely not Achike Udenwa, Sam Egwu, Ojo Maduekwe or even Ekwueme. These political charlatans, have nothing to offer again accept seeking for their personal aggarandizement.
Finally, if we must take the SGF, we must look for a seasoned tested civil servant who is an authority with the Federal civil service rules. That was why Ekaitte the former SGF was respected. But Baba Gana Kingibe was sacked because he mixed his political prowess with his very serious civil service duties. It was not long, petitions began to land on the table of the President that he was usurping the powers of the President.
A seasoned civil servant, knows the intricacies of this job and also knows his limitations. Let us not make a mistake of suggesting a novice in federal civil service organogram and believing he will learn along the line. The job is too complex for a nonentity in civil service rules. I bet you no civil servant is ready to teach him or her the job. Once beaten twice shy. Also, when th preferable is not available, the available becomes the preferable.
Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuka(former DG NOA, Abuja)
What beats me hollow and why I have maintained there is a Leadership Vacuum in Igboland, is that hardly do you hear any body mention what should be paramount to the South-East as a region or as a people. Even the led have been misled into forgetting what should be causing them sleepless nights as a people or zone in the context of Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteThe first problem with the Igbos or the South-East is that they always choose Traders, or what people instead glorify as Businessmen, to lead them. These are men that, from morning till morning, only see politics or leadership in terms of political appointment for contract awards or securing import licenses, nothing else.
Lets review one example; Ekwueme. This is by no means aimed at belittling the man - a Prominent Leader. But lets make unbiased and objective evaluation of the man's leadership so far:
First, he is very highly educated and full of innate intelligence.
Second, he is a businessman and has been all through.
Third, since 1979, the things he has used his leadership of the Igbos to attract to the South-East include - import licenses, political office appointments, contract awards.
Fourth, when he came out from government what I personally observed is his chain of hotels.
Fifth, I dont know whether he owns banks as well; like his fellow Busineesman, Jim Nwobodo.
About January 1999, at Queens University Library, Belfast, I read a review of the 2 PDP leading Presidential Candidates written by a British Tabloid. It categorized Ekwueme as a Candidate coming from the South East where their leaders often sacrifice the overall well being of their people for the interest of their personal pockets; while categorizing Obasanjo and the leaders of the other tribes in Nigeria as people who are hell bent on what major investments they can attract to their region.
Why I'm making this observation is that while the Igbos or the South-East has only 5 States relative to the 6 or 7 in the other zones, the Lgbo leaders are more concerned with who gets the post of the Speaker or Senate President or National Chairman. There is no single negotiation for the PDP Government to create only one more State to make-up the deficit in the Sourth-East. Almost all the other 5 Zones have Refineries or Petrochemical Industry or other major industry that creates local jobs, yet none in the South-East. All the other Zones have atleast one very Major Industry, but none in the South-East. If Nigeria divides today into its component zones, the Igbos would go with nothing, mind you.
Can somebody ask Ekwueme to show the South-East one major productive Federal investment he has attracted to Igboland since 1979 to date, other than being appointed VP, or PDP Chairman or PDP BOT. He and his co-Igbo leaders where there the day Nigeria created 6 States in each zone and only 5 in the South East, just as one example.
Since 1999 to date, all I see the Governors in the South East do every other day is to hold meeting about political appointments, if it not for PDP Chairman it will be for Senate President or Minister, otherwise it will be for nominating a Candidate for election. So none is interested in holding meetings to establish viable Agric industry or manufactoring industries etc.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGBOS IS THE IGBOMAN
Obviously, THERE IS A LEADERSHIP VACUUM IN IGBOLAND BECAUSE TRADERS HOLDSWAY.
Review the type of leaders the Northerns commonly project: Shagari, a dedicated school teacher; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a dedicated school teacher; Umaru Yar' Ardua, a University teacher. Just watch for the rise of the articulate outgoing Governor of Kano State, Shekarau, a school teacher. These are career professionals. None of these people is a money bag or Businessman.
Match the performance of the Igbo career professionals when they had a stint in Government; the likes of Okonjo-Iweala, Ezekwesili, Dora Akunyili to mention a few.
THE IGBO LEADERSHIP NEEDS REPLACEMENT NOT REFURBISHING
What beats me hollow and why I have maintained there is a Leadership Vacuum in Igboland, is that hardly do you hear any body mention what should be paramount to the South-East as a region or as a people. Even the led have been misled into forgetting what should be causing them sleepless nights as a people or zone in the context of Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteThe first problem with the Igbos or the South-East is that they always choose Traders, or what people instead glorify as Businessmen, to lead them. These are men that, from morning till morning, only see politics or leadership in terms of political appointment for contract awards or securing import licenses, nothing else.
Lets review one example; Ekwueme. This is by no means aimed at belittling the man - a Prominent Leader. But lets make unbiased and objective evaluation of the man's leadership so far:
First, he is very highly educated and full of innate intelligence.
Second, he is a businessman and has been all through.
Third, since 1979, the things he has used his leadership of the Igbos to attract to the South-East include - import licenses, political office appointments, contract awards.
Fourth, when he came out from government what I personally observed is his chain of hotels.
Fifth, I dont know whether he owns banks as well; like his fellow Busineesman, Jim Nwobodo.
About January 1999, at Queens University Library, Belfast, I read a review of the 2 PDP leading Presidential Candidates written by a British Tabloid. It categorized Ekwueme as a Candidate coming from the South East where their leaders often sacrifice the overall well being of their people for the interest of their personal pockets; while categorizing Obasanjo and the leaders of the other tribes in Nigeria as people who are hell bent on what major investments they can attract to their region.
Why I'm making this observation is that while the Igbos or the South-East has only 5 States relative to the 6 or 7 in the other zones, the Lgbo leaders are more concerned with who gets the post of the Speaker or Senate President or National Chairman. There is no single negotiation for the PDP Government to create only one more State to make-up the deficit in the Sourth-East. Almost all the other 5 Zones have Refineries or Petrochemical Industry or other major industry that creates local jobs, yet none in the South-East. All the other Zones have atleast one very Major Industry, but none in the South-East. If Nigeria divides today into its component zones, the Igbos would go with nothing, mind you.
Can somebody ask Ekwueme to show the South-East one major productive Federal investment he has attracted to Igboland since 1979 to date, other than being appointed VP, or PDP Chairman or PDP BOT. He and his co-Igbo leaders where there the day Nigeria created 6 States in each zone and only 5 in the South East, just as one example.
Since 1999 to date, all I see the Governors in the South East do every other day is to hold meeting about political appointments, if it not for PDP Chairman it will be for Senate President or Minister, otherwise it will be for nominating a Candidate for election. So none is interested in holding meetings to establish viable Agric industry or manufactoring industries etc.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGBOS IS THE IGBOMAN
Obviously, THERE IS A LEADERSHIP VACUUM IN IGBOLAND BECAUSE TRADERS HOLDSWAY.
Review the type of leaders the Northerns commonly project: Shagari, a dedicated school teacher; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a dedicated school teacher; Umaru Yar' Ardua, a University teacher. Just watch for the rise of the articulate outgoing Governor of Kano State, Shekarau, a school teacher. These are career professionals. None of these people is a money bag or Businessman.
Match the performance of the Igbo career professionals when they had a stint in Government; the likes of Okonjo-Iweala, Ezekwesili, Dora Akunyili to mention a few.
THE IGBO LEADERSHIP NEEDS REPLACEMENT NOT REFURBISHING!!