Cabinet: Okonjo-Iweala snubs President

President Goodluck Jonathan’s desire to have the current Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, return as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance in the cabinet being reconstituted may have failed as[b] she has not shown up for screening as promised[/b].  Okonjo-Iweala, it was reported met with President Jonathan on Thursday at the Plaza Hotel in New York for over an hour before the latter returned to the country after a high level meeting of the United Nations (UN) on HIV/AIDS.

It was gathered that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala accepted the presidential offer but has failed to appear before the screening panel. It is not however known if the president will go ahead to forward her name to the National Assembly for clearance without any input by the security agencies. Sources told Saturday Mirror that the president had hoped to anchor his economic drive on the World Bank’s Managing Director.

A source who spoke with Dr. Okonjo-Iweala told our reporter that the former minister might not take up the national assignment because she is not convinced of the[b] present government’s determination to afford her the needed support to embark on drastic restructuring plans. “Dr. Okonjo-Iweala succeeded because of the support she got from former President Obasanjo. She had insisted that for every successful minister, there is always a determined and strong willed President.”[/b] Despite Dr. Okonjo- Iweala absence, more than 40 ministerial nominees have been listed to be sent to the State Security Service (SSS) for screening for possible confirmation as ministers including[b] former Central Bank governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, who may head the finance ministry in the absence of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.
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While over half of the nominees as at last night have successfully undergone the mandatory SSS grilling, others will take their turns early next week. A security source told Saturday Mirror that the screening is done slowly and patiently to ensure that the best candidates with good records are recommended to the presidency. “Nigerians cannot be left in the hand of criminals again. We will ensure that all that needs to be investigated about them are done thoroughly,” the source said. However, the Senate yesterday said that there was no need for any rush in the submission of the ministerial lists to the National Assembly for consideration as it is still on recess and the security agencies are not done with their job.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent, the former Senate spokesperson, Ayogu Eze, who though insisted that he was not competent to comment on the development as he is no longer the Senate’s spokesperson, warned against indulging in conjectures. When asked if the Senate will cut short its recess to attend to the nominees list, he said “for now, the executive has not asked us, when they are ready, then we will think of considering their request, but they have not approached the Senate.” Meanwhile, as the name of ministerial nominees are being made public, most state governors are getting agitated that President Jonathan has completely sidetracked most of their nominees for technocrats, former cabinet members and entirely new entrants. For instance, in Enugu against the hope that former Aviation Minister, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze would return to the new cabinet, the name of Prof Bath Nnaji appeared. In Abia State, Okonjo- Iweala is being penciled down against Onyema Ugochukwu.

jamebex:

Ren pem ren pem supepe repere sua siakudum OKONJO IWEALA lampuneaun World Bank vanemunatse Finance minister

Eko Ile:

what is this screening nonsense sef? What about the ones they screened? Are they not all crooks? Thieves screening thieves.

what is this screening nonsense sef? What about the ones they screened? Are they not all crooks? Thieves screening thieves.

zstranger:

I dont think they've screened Tinubu yet?

Eko Ile:

I know some clueless, ignorant and illinformed illiterates like you have it in your heads that Tinubu is public official when even a day old baby sabi that he's not. He left office years ago, he's not an elected official and he's not seeking any office.

So what are you screening him for? ACN leadership position? Where is the joke? Is the joke not on you?

That was really re-tarded.

Your country is getting blown up left and right, you have a clueless and incompetent president who can not protect you and yours, but you are worried about a man who is not a public official, a man who is not even responsible for your lives or anything thing beyond his politcal party, you yell his name as if he's your only path to salvation, you yell his name for the air you breath, you yell his name for the sun and the moon.

You fools are too pathetic for your own good and your country.

zstranger:

I dont think they've screened Tinubu yet?

ekt_bear:


So not only did Tinubu have sex with your fiancee, he also made her pregnant and left you paying child support? That can be the only possible explanation (at least I can think of) for you bringing him up in this thread.

ekt_bear:


So not only did Tinubu have sex with your fiancee, he also made her pregnant and left you paying child support? That can be the only possible explanation (at least I can think of) for you bringing him up in this thread.

Eko Ile:

I know some clueless, ignorant and illinformed illiterates like you have it in your heads that Tinubu is public official when even a day old baby sabi that he's not. He left office years ago, he's not an elected official and he's not seeking any office.
So what are you screening him for? ACN leadership position? Where is the joke? Is the joke not on you?
That was really re-tarded.
Your country is getting blown up left and right, you have a clueless and incompetent president who can not protect you and yours, but you are worried about a man who is not a public official, a man who is not even responsible for your lives or anything thing beyond his politcal party, you yell his name as if he's your only path to salvation, you yell his name for the air you breath, you yell his name for the sun and the moon.
You fools are too pathetic for your own good and your country.

wesley80:

I just hope its true. Better to have a novice than a Bretton woods stooge within our confines.

A source who spoke with Dr. Okonjo-Iweala told our reporter that the former minister might not take up the national assignment because she is not convinced of the present government’s determination to afford her the needed support to embark on drastic restructuring plans. “Dr. Okonjo-Iweala succeeded because of the support she got from former President Obasanjo. She had insisted that for every successful minister, there is always a determined and strong willed President.”

The belief in or the policy of advancing toward a goal by gradual, often slow stages.

jamebex:

Ren pem ren pem supepe repere sua siakudum OKONJO IWEALA lampuneaun World Bank vanemunatse Finance minister

igbo boy:

Shuoooo Nna bros dem dey pay you? Seriously are you under Tinubu's payroll? If not i bet you are related to him. Damn the way you defend this man left and right one will think he is your boyfriend or some sorts, If people make ignorant comments about the man your tendency to defend the man in a passionately rude manner doesnt help either,

Gbawe:



You are so transparent in your hero worship of GEJ that makes it easy for you to ungraciously attack those all Nigerians can praise as folks who tried their best for our Nation. Why will you not ungraciously insult Okonjo Iweala , because of your bias, even when[b] every Nigerian[/b] should concede , unequivocally, that she is the sort needed because of how she performed previously when called upon to serve her Nation. Were you on Mars when the "Bretton Woods stooge" worked hard to get our debts cancelled?

Even as other posters missed it, I know that it is Okonjo Iweala's indirect criticism of GEJ that stung you:
To call her a Bretton Woods stooge , aside being revisionist, is tragic. Did she behave like a "bretton Woods stooge" when she served under OBJ or was she simply one of the best public servants in that Era? Did she sell Nigeria out the last time she served as our Finance Minister? You are simply mad , to the point of being ungracious, because Iweala hints that she does not want to be a part of a Government , with a weak President, that will be unable to take bold decisions that might harm the interest of the buddies of a very compromised President. It will not be lost on Iweala that GEJ is unwilling to fight for a leaner Government in the quest for reducing recurrent expenditure and promoting the type of brave and decisive cost-cutting , now popular worldwide, that will transform economies for the better .

wesley80:

Nice to see u back allbeit with guns blazing. I made my comment about the ex minister knowing fully well it was going to tick off a number of folks considering the cult following she enjoys  amongst observers while also hoping it  would get people like you to examine what she REALLY would be bringing to the table, pity that all you see is nothing but a pro-Gej stance (probably a case of my reputation getting ahead of me) but take it from me, this has got nothing to do with Gej but with my honest view on what's best for the economy. I'm on a mobile so pls permit me to break my replies.