Babasessy:

I strongly believe the Igbo's ought to have presented a much stronger candidate for this position.And why must we recycle old politicians who have had their own fair share of the 'National cake'.The rich getting richer or a deal of the devil you know is better than the angel you don't know?.

After my piece, two weeks ago, on the ire in the South East for being zoned out from the elective commanding positions in government, I received several calls from prominent Igbo people, regaling me with the ‘mighty powers of the SGF’ in the political scheme of things and even insisting that the SGF should indeed, be regarded as the prime minister in our presidential system. Without taking anything away from what I have discovered to be the enormous powers, influence and possibilities of the SGF, I however wish to quickly submit that my protest against the treatment of the SE by the PDP is based on the fact that one of the most compelling factors in power politics at every level, especially in our environment, is the psychological component and the sense of belonging in the Nigerian Project.

It would be very difficult to explain to Ndigbo how, when the most important fiddles in Nigerian power equations are at play; the South East would not be found playing anything before the fifth string. I had called on my emergency ‘teachers’ to consider the situation in their own local communities where positions are being allocated on village-by-village basis and their own villages are left out in the cold.

However, because the best one can do under the current circumstance, especially when those directly involved seem to have abandoned the ‘struggle’ even before it had started, and had settled for the crumbs that satisfied their personal, as opposed to group interests, one should have the serenity to accept what one cannot change, which is that the fact that the leaders of the South East seem to have happily accepted the SGF position as being adequate, if not better, than what their short-changed people had bargained for. Continuing to drag issues when one lacks the powers to change what seems to be a fait accompli seems unrealistic. The best one can do now is to advise and caution on how Ndigbo would not get into  a situation whereby they would produce four or five SGFs in four years and thereby, provide the basis for those who point to their incompetence in governance.
[b]
It has been reported that the Presidency had requested the governors of the zone to forward names of qualified individuals who would fit the bill, and as those reports claim, the names turned out to be those of cronies rather than of people of proven competence and clout. Next, the apex socio-cultural leadership forum of Ndigbo, the Ohanaeze, was reportedly consulted to submit own list. From all indications, the names submitted showed that not much deep thinking and consultations was deployed in the act. An insight into the job content of the SGF as well as the quality of the 16 eminent Nigerians who have occupied that position since independence, vis-a-vis the list that Ohanaeze submitted, would give inkling into the apex leadership body of Ndigbo.

All the 16 Nigerians who have been the SGF, starting from Mr. S.O.Wey (1961-66), through M.A. Ejueyitchie ((1966-70), A.A. Atta (1970-72), C.O. Lawson (1972-75), Alison Ayida (1975 -77), Ali Ciroma (1977-79), Shehu Musa (1979-1983), G.A. Longe (1984-86), Chief Olu Falae (1986-89),  Aliyu Mohammed (1990-93), Mustapha Umara (1993), Aminu Saleh (1993-95), Gidado Idris (1995-99), U.J. Ekaette (1999-2007), Babagana Kingibe(2007-08), to the current Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, had been core and competent career public servants.

Apart from Kingibe, who was a super director with exemplary and proven track record, all the other 15 had been permanent secretaries while some had also been heads of service in addition. Therefore, this being the first time that a South Easterner would be occupying that position, one should expect that the zone should put its best foot forward by nominating its best hands with equal or better records as those who had served.

It should be noted that though Ohanaeze nominated people of competence and clout in their own right and in other areas of endeavour, they are totally deficient in the requirements for the job description of the SGF, the apex of the intricate affairs of the nation’s public service. For instance, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, the one-time senate president who acquitted himself well in that post, had not advanced beyond a principal officer position in the public service, before joining politics. Engr. Emeka Eze, the brilliant and hard-working boss of the Due Process office and a one-time president of Nigerian Society of Engineers also lacks the requisite experience and clout for such a position for which Ohanaeze submitted his name.

For in spite of his sterling record and experience in the private sector, it was not until nine years ago that Eze started to acquire real public service experience, and not even in its mainstream. In a publication of AES, an NGO whose director he was, his profile reads, inter alia that,  “In November 2002, Engr. Eze was invited by Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, then Minister of Education to join her in the BMPIU as a sector specialist, ” Even though his performance there might have been so marvellous as to have enabled him to become the unit’s current boss, it would be unrealistic to think that Eze qualifies for the post of the SGF.

Also on the Ohanaeze list are two erudite professors: Ben Obumselu and Uzodimma Nwala, intellectuals with undisputed clout and international repute in academics, but with little or no experience in the public service at the federal level. I do not even want to give any weight to the view that apart from Eze, the other nominees are all members of the Ime Obi (the inner caucus of the Ohanaeze elders). It would, therefore, be unfortunate if the Ohanaeze had regarded that important and trying position as ‘dash’ to its cronies.

On the other hand, serving and retired people with equal and better credentials than the former SGFs abound in Igboland and for lack of space; I can just volunteer a few names whose record I am conversant with without consulting any sources.
Engr. Ebele Okeke graduated in 1971 as the first Nigerian female civil engineer and joined the federal ministry of water resources in 1978 as a principal engineer and moved up to become the permanent secretary of that ministry in 2005 from where she was made Nigeria’s first ever female head of service in 2007. If she gets the job of the SGF, she will set another third record as the first woman to occupy that post. Talking of women, there is also Mrs. Ijeoma Umez-Eronini who was a reputable permsec in Imo state before coming over to the federal service and is currently the commissioner representing Imo and Abia states at the Federal Civil Service Commission.

Amb. Uche Okeke easily fits the bill too. A career civil servant, diplomat and security/intelligence operative for an unbroken span of 35 years, he left a career record which can hardly be bettered both in terms of what he put in as well as in the variety of his areas of competence. It would take volumes to discuss Uche Okeke’s career path, but it would be impossible to forget that he was the longest serving director general of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) ever, having been in that position for eight years, from 1999 to 2007. He was also Nigeria’s High Commissioner to UK for four years and served in numerous other posts and positions. Perhaps one of the distinguishing proofs of his standing was his unanimous election by the heads of all the other African external intelligence agencies as the pioneer chairman of the continent’s security organisation (CISSA).
Of course, there is also Engr. Raymond Okenwa, the retired former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, under whose watch enormous achievements were recorded by the ministry. There are other retired and serving Igbo career public servants Igbo with the requisite qualification, experience and skill to fill the position.[/b]

Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, the Harvard trained economist who was a federal permsec for over five years has great experience that is as varied as it is rich, both in the private and public sectors. After retirement from the federal service he became the first elected governor of Anambra State during the short-lived Third Republic and has served as Obasanjo’s political adviser. It is a surprise that Ohanaeze did not nominate him, even though he was a top member of its Ime Obi as well as the only one there with the required experience and qualification. Those who suggest that the 72-year Ezeife might have been dropped on account of his age should realise that Professor Obumselu and Raph Uwechue are both 76 and still nominate and make themselves available for national assignments.



There is no doubt that the South East is replete with people who are very qualified in every area of human endeavor. The problem is that leaders had always been selected and enthroned for the zone from outside quarters which made them susceptible to the proverbial banana peels. This is the time to pick the best and brightest from the South East for the SGF position; it is not a time to continue to play with their emotions and dignity. Let Ndigbo insist that the best and most qualified become their torch bearer, for a refreshing change.

http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6778:what-manner-of-sgf-&catid=25:politics&Itemid=92

kabba7:

Is these man a career technocrat or partyman come chop.GEJ must play OYOYO this country is in distress

dem_people:

@Jason,

Not a spectacular appointment but at the same time, not a disappointing one, He's more popular for fighting Obasanjo than being senate president albeit not really a technocrat but a career politician.

At least, he's better than his contemporaries and some other politicians in the likes of Maduekwe, Nwodo etc.

dem_people:

@Jason,

Not a spectacular appointment but at the same time, not a disappointing one,  He's more popular for fighting Obasanjo than being senate president albeit not really a technocrat but a career politician.

At least, he's better than his contemporaries and some other politicians in the likes of Maduekwe, Nwodo etc.

kloma_k:

hmmm, people are "generally" happy with this decision.

1st time Igbo really are not castigating their own,
Let us just hope he does well, the congrats will come after he performs,
Like Jega, he need to prove himself

Blazing99:

This guy carried out his role as senate president well without scandals like his predecessors. Lets hope his principles can guide him in performing this role efficiently.

RICHIE BOI:

In as much as i would have preferred ken nnamani to be the SGF, but i think pius anyim is an OK guy.