₦airaland Forum

mrlizo: On Twitter, reacting to accusation that he was once a blind defender of President Olusegun Obasanjo , a former Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to Obasanjo on Public Communications, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode in a bid to justify himself referred to Presidents Jonathan and Yar’Adua as dogs. You can see it for yourself below:

IF IT WAS NOT PRESIDENTS JONATHAN AND YAR’ADUA HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, WHO IS FANI-KAYODE REFERRING TO AS DOGS? WELL, IT SEEMS HE WENT TOO FAR ON THIS ONE.

See Pictures (Snapshots below):
http://www.newsinnigeria.org/2013/04/incaseyoumissedit-femi-fani-kayode-refer-to-presidents-jonathan-and-yaradua-as-dogs-with-snapshots.html

Your school fees should be returned to your sponsor.

MODs free Geomac. Am i not entitle to amnesty?

Ikenna351: OAM4J,

I apologise for my previous post here addressed to you publicly, which should have been done via PM or in mod section.

But please, let us (the moderators) in this section treat one another fairly. Lets not give the impression that "My decision here is final". It doesnt feel right to hid your co-mod posts in complaint thread, when those posts are not off-topic. But am not doing the blame thing anymore, but to ask for forgiveness.

I will try and stay out of this thread, so that i dont give the tribal bigots the room to win this war we all have started.

Please, we are good and i pray you accept my apology.

Ikenna.

You just earn my respect, although you have not released Geomac.

mekaboy: good, you brought your childhood hobby into your position in govt. it seems you have not grown up.


when i was young i use to deep bread inside tea , it felt so good . even.though i still do it in secret, but i cant do it publicly now.

if everyone in position starts.to behave like they did uni , what type of country would we have.

once again you have proved that your did not get to your position on merit.

you are guilty of what you accuse the minister of.

shame on you .

It is dip and not deep.

Shame on you too.

MODs, It is high time you released Geomac.

When I wrote an open letter to the Coordinating Minister in Charge of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over appointments to some top positions, it was, to me, simply the continuation of an age-old hobby that I developed since my student days in the university. I write with the purest of intentions not to malign anyone. I respect characters in my writings and readers’ views.

It was through my opinion and feature writings that I won some awards in the university and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at state and national levels. Though I deferred an admission offered to me by the University of Nigeria Nsukka to pursue Masters Programme in PR after I was honored with Automatic Scholarship for being the best Writer during the NYSC, I accepted automatic employments by both the Delta State Government and the Federal Government in 1993 and 1994 respectively.

In my letter of acceptance, I reflected that I would continue to write opinion articles that will be geared towards making Nigeria a better society that every Nigerian will be proud of. My experiences with great Igbos, Itshekiris and Urhobos formed the fulcrum of my early write ups during my youth service and after I started work at the Government House, Asaba. Their leaders, who took me as their son, protected and provided for my needs. Prof. Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba, Chief Paulinus Akpeki and Ugoh of Okpe Kingdom were among some of the great people that made my youth service year and work experience a worthwhile adventure in Delta State.

When I moved to the Federal Civil Service, I never stopped writing. In fact most of my deployments to different offices were largely influenced by my enthusiasm for generating news items, issuing press releases and producing well-informed features stories.
As a Nigerian and a public official, I have always been conscious of my responsibility to ensure that the general public perceives government in a good light. I have strived to be a good ambassador of the government and people of Nigeria. I performed my roles with the best of intentions.

My writings can be divided into two major categories: official and unofficial. A careful perusal of my writings in the media will show that I sign the first category in my capacity as information/PR officer of the different places that I have been posted to. In the second category, I have been careful to make it clear that I write in my personal capacity as a private citizen. To make that point even clearer I affix my personal home address or email to personal opinions.

Since my employment, I have published books, issued over 2000 news releases, wrote news features and personal opinion, all in my bid to promote the activities of government and contribute to the peaceful coexistence of the diverse groups in the country. Most of my writings are accessible on my blog: www.yashuaib.com.

The recent article, which generated a lot of reactions and comments, was not done to malign anyone. Incidentally, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a personality I have a lot of admiration and respect for. I believe that she is aware of this. And so, when I put pen to paper in what has become routine to me to express my viewpoints on some recent appointments into top positions in her ministry, I never expected that it would be perceived negatively. It was to draw her attention to the strong speculations making the rounds which, in my view, she is not only capable of addressing but would do well to be aware of.
Maybe I should add here that during the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration in which Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was also an influential member, I wrote some critical opinion articles on the activities of the president, Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Nasir el-Rufai, Mrs. Oby Ekwesili, and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), among others. During the short-lived administration of President Umaru Yar’Adua, I x-rayed some of the president’s policies and those of Segun Adeniyi, his spokesman. I even wrote critical commentaries on my supervising Minister then, Mr. John Odey, who on some occasions, publicly responded to and addressed some of the my issues raised in my write-ups. As late as 2012, I wrote an article on President Goodluck Jonathan with the title “Flood in the Eyes of the President” and it was published in most national dailies. Following this, I received words of encouragement even from some of his aides and was consequently requested to support my postulations with photographs.

The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani-Sidi, who had intervened several times to resolve the current issue with Madam Minister, is one of the bosses that have tolerated my critical opinions on various issues. We disagree and later agree on issues like normal human beings do.

In essence, encouraging responses that I have received in the past have served as the impetus for me to continue with my cherished hobby. To me, I am simply contributing to the betterment of our country. It was in view of the above, therefore, that I was encouraged to pen the open letter to the Finance Minister on some developments, which I strongly believe she has the capacity to address.

I was initially elated when I received a telephone call from the Minister on Wednesday March 20, 2013 at 6.15pm. Naturally, I was happy that, once again, my effort has yielded fruit. Receiving a call from someone that a reputable international news organization described as one of the most influential women on earth is humbling. I felt jubilant when I heard “Shuaibu, this is Okonjo-Iweala!” However, when she added “Why should you do this to me? You can’t praise me and condemn me and call it constructive criticism. Haba Shuaibu!” I knew that my opinion had not been viewed positively.
Despite the huge difference in age and status, the Minister took her time to explain to me why so much of what I concluded was not the case. During the conversation, the Minister even read portions of my write-up.

While feeling flattered and honored that a world-class technocrat like the minister was humble enough to personally call me and explain her position to me, I couldn’t help wondering why this particular piece attract such concerns and why so much more meaning than I intended has been read to it.

To me, the article was as harmless as every other that I had written in the past. I was still contemplating how to tackle the seeming complications when just a few days afterwards, hate comments and rejoinders pointing out that my article had been inspired by ethnic and religious considerations began to appear in newspapers and Nigerian online forums.

I want to emphasise, once again, that my article was written with the purest of intentions, and even a cursory internet search will reveal that I have done this religiously in the last 20 years. Contrary to insinuations of ethnocentrism, sectionalism and sponsorship in many of the reactions and rejoinders to the opinion, I take full responsibility for the views that were expressed. I have never written with, or caused articles to be published with malice. I am a strong believer in the oneness and potentials of this country, and most of my opinions have been centred on great Nigerians that I admire and will not want to see fall into disrepute.

Despite this, however, I have realised that the said opinion has caused great discomfort to some individuals and groups. I want to reassure my elders and my good brothers and sisters, especially from a section of the country, who might have felt offended by my write-up that I harbor no grudge against them. I will not like to see this discomfort and the continuation of unnecessary hate comments. After all, we are one big family.

Yushau A. Shuaib
www.yashuaib.com

http://yashuaib.com/2013/04/my-writings-and-dr-ngozi-oknjo-iweala/

11.
Caring and loving. Provides material and emotional needs and makes time
for family. Very responsible and treats wife as
partner and helper.

…..Punitive posting of Shuaib likely to Borno or Yobe

A row has broken out between the Minister of Finance, Dr.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku over the insistence of Okonjo-Iweala that the Head of Public Relations Unit of the National Emergency Management Agency, Yushau Shuaib be removed.
Shuaib’s sin borders on an article he posted on his blog which the Minister rated as anti-government.
Although Shuaib, who is a top Information Officer in the Federal Ministry of Information, had written more than 2,000 articles to defend the government of President Goodluck Jonathan and Okonjo-Iweala’s policies in a rabid manner, the Coordinating Minister has thrown caution to the wind.
Piqued by the article, Okonjo-Iweala had gone straight to the President to report Shuaib, who is old enough to be his son.
It was gathered that many ministers, including Labaran Maku, were unhappy that Okonjo-Iweala decided to breathe down from the top. A source said: “In spite of the fact that he is a Coordinating Minister of the Economy, she does not know due process. She has been dishing out orders to Maku to either redeploy Shuaib to troubled spots in the North or get him out of the system.
“We do not have peace again in the Federal Ministry of Information. Maku and all the directors have been under pressure. When a senior government official approached Maku to draw his attention to how Shuaib had assisted the government, the Minister simply said ‘this is an order from Oga patapata.’
“As a first step, Okonjo-Iweala by-passed Vice-president Namadi Sambo , who is supervising NEMA, to recall Shuaib to the Federal Ministry of Information last Wednesday.
So, until last Wednesday when he issued a statement on the proposed establishment of National Emergency Information Centre (NEIC), Yushau A. Shuaib who was the spokesperson of the agency did not realize that that would be his last official assignment.
On Thursday April 11, 2013 a letter from the Federal Ministry of Information with a directive from the Oga-at-the-top had asked for his recall to the Ministry.
The genesis of the problem was on an alleged pressure mounted by the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the officer to be disciplined for criticizing her in one of his recent opinion articles over alleged lopsidedness appointment into top positions in the public service. The said article was posted on his blog and syndicated by major online media.

The Minister was said to be furious with Open Letter of the writer, especially the last paragraphs where wrote that: “For those of us who still respect the Hon Minister of Finance and Economic Development, we strongly believe she should dissociate herself from current allegations of ‘biafranization’ of top public offices in Nigeria. We are in democratic government where policy issues should not be done in dictatorial manner of ‘we-are-now-in-power.’

“I therefore urge her to ensure that appointments into important positions should be done in credible and transparent manners that can withstand public scrutiny. I believe strongly that only those that mean well will dare to tell the truth on the general feeling in the country.”
Yushau Shuaib, a blogger also known for his syndicated articles in over 20 years, was said to have received threats and warnings over the article before the Dr. Okonjo-Iweala engineered his recall for adequate punishment.

According a reliable source, the officer would soon be issued an official query before his suspension and later posting to act as Federal Information Officer in any of the troubled states in the Northern Nigeria, either Borno or Yobe.

A recipient of several awards in PR and writings was a beneficiary of the Presidential Automatic Employment Award in the Federal Civil Service 20 years ago as a recipient of State and National NYSC Honours award for his unique writings. He was Press Secretary at Federal Ministries of Finance, Health and at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission. He was also Public Relations Officer in Government House, Asaba, Delta State after winning the state NYSC Honours awards

Shuaib has so far published over 200 opinion articles on topical issues and had issued more than 2000 press statements on activities of the government. He is also author of books on Mass Media and public relations.

http://newsdiaryonline.com/rumpus-in-jonathans-cabinet-as-okonjo-iweala-orders-labaran-maku-to-sack-nema-spokespersonyushau-shuaib/

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s orders sack of NEMA spokesperson over article


Last Updated on 17 April 2013 Hits: 603 .

Overbearing Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of Information, Labaran Maku are not in the best of terms following the insistence of the former on the sack of Head, Public Relations Unit of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Yushau Shuaib.

Okonjo-Iweala is believed to be after Shuaib for an article on his blog that she considers unhelpful to government interests.

“For those of us who still respect the Hon Minister of Finance and Economic Development, we strongly believe she should dissociate herself from current allegations of ‘biafranization’ of top public offices in Nigeria,” Shuaib had written in the last paragraph of his Open Letter.

“We are in democratic government where policy issues should not be done in dictatorial manner of ‘we-are-now-in-power.’ I therefore urge her to ensure that appointments into important positions should be done in credible and transparent manners that can withstand public scrutiny. I believe strongly that only those that mean well will dare to tell the truth on the general feeling in the country.”

Shuaib, a top information officer in the Federal Ministry of Information, has written more than 2,000 pro-government articles in defence of policies of President Goodluck Jonathan and Okonjo-Iweala. But the finance minister is reported to be uninterested in all that; and she went ahead to report Shuaib to the president despite the opposition from some ministers.

“In spite of the fact that she is Coordinating Minister of the Economy, she does not know due process. She has been dishing out orders to Maku to either redeploy Shuaib to trouble spots in the North or get him out of the system,” a source said.

“We do not have peace again in the Federal Ministry of Information. Maku and all the directors have been under pressure. When a senior government official approached Maku to draw his attention to how Shuaib had assisted the government, the minister simply said 'this is an order from Oga patapata.'

“As a first step, Okonjo-Iweala bypassed Vice-president Namadi Sambo, who is supervising NEMA, to recall Shuaib to the Federal Ministry of Information last Wednesday.”

Shuaib’s last assignment was last Wednesday, when he issued a statement on the proposed establishment of National Emergency Information Centre (NEIC). The following day, he received a letter from the Federal Ministry of Information ordering his recall to the Ministry.

Yushau Shuaib, a blogger also known for his syndicated articles in over 20 years, was said to have received threats and warnings over the article before Okonjo-Iweala engineered his recall for adequate punishment.

According a reliable source, the officer would receive an official query soon after which he’d be suspended and later posted to act as Federal Information Officer in any of the troubled states in the Northern Nigeria, either Borno or Yobe.

Shuaib, a recipient of several awards in PR, was a beneficiary of the Presidential Automatic Employment Award in the Federal Civil Service 20 years ago as a recipient of State and National NYSC Honours award for his unique writings. He was Press Secretary at Federal Ministries of Finance, Health and at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission. He was also Public Relations Officer at the Government House, Asaba, Delta State, after winning the state NYSC Honours awards. He is also author of books on Mass Media and Public Relations.

http://huhuonline.com/index.php/more-news1/1276-ngozi-okonjo-iweala-s-orders-sack-of-nema-spokesperson-over-article

THE ARTICLE THAT GOT SHUAIB FIRED:

Still On Okonjo-Iweala Over Controversial Appointments By Yushau A. Shuaib
Posted: March 5, 2013 - 09:22

By By Yushau A. Shuaib
I still wonder how the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and the Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala is in the eye of the storm. Her grandiose title 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 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 real-world 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 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 than the Yoruba allegation was made that 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 drive the point home, her name has been lately mentioned as collaborating with another Igbo top ranking appointee in government to ensure the reinstallation of Ms Arunma Oteh as Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) despite the glaring allegations against her and consistent calls by the National Assembly for her removal. Okonjo-Iweala stood her ground, damning all and today, Oteh remains in the position.

While the debate on Oteh's saga was yet to subside, a coalition of youths, led by human rights activist and President of Civil Rights Congress, Shehu Sani, queried the rationale behind the appointment of a new Chairman for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) when a northerner, Kabir Mashi was already in the position and improving the revenue base of the agency, especially VAT collection for the Federation Account. Under Mashi FIRS has continued to record steady increases in the collection of taxes that it closed the 2012 financial year with a total collection of N5 trillion where N1.8 trillion (36.07 per cent) came from non-oil taxes.

The group claimed that the committee that Okonjo-Iweala set up was a smokescreen just to give a semblance of due process and fairness whereas it was populated mainly by her Igbo kinsmen. They added that “We don’t believe there is transparency in the process, and we caution the President against the excessive ceding of his own power to the finance minister.”

They publicly criticized her of playing an ethnic game with many of the appointments made in the country since she returned to the saddle. Some of the other positions, they alleged, which were created and filled during this period include those of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Sovereign Wealth Fund, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) and even the recent appointment of a 40 year old lady as Director General of National Pension Commission (PENCOM).

People are wondering at the coincidence of only Igbos beating every other person at competitive interviews conducted by her nominated international consulting groups. The only semblance of federal character principle in some of those institutions is the appointment of ceremonious but temporary chairmen who are merely figure-heads, with mandates for mere advisory roles.

The use of catchy phrases such as "best brains," “foreign trained,” and “foreign-based” to deprived qualified, competent and experienced Nigerians to aspire to top positions is quite inimical to the progress of our nation. The erroneous impression that some competitive and sensitive positions can only be filled by unique intelligent tribes must be corrected.

Experiences have shown that in practical situations, some so-called foreign trained and bookish first class graduates could not do better than other Nigerians who have the competence and experience to prove their worth in most difficulty terrains.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala should also note that blatant disregard to the sensitivities and sensibilities of others while arrogantly promoting only people from her tribe may expose them to hatred with potentially explosive consequences such as those experienced in the 1960s when most federal positions were occupied by a particular tribal group.

For those of us who still respect the Hon Minister of Finance and Economic Development, we strongly believe she should dissociate herself from current allegations of ‘biafranization’ of top public offices in Nigeria. We are in democratic government where policy issues should not be done in dictatorial manner of ‘we-are-now-in-power’.

I therefore urge her to ensure that appointments into important positions should be done in credible and transparent manners that can withstand public scrutiny. I believe strongly that only those that mean well will dare to tell the truth on the general feeling in the country.


Yushau A. Shuaib

Willy7: They started with d Aviation minister,it didnt work,they moved over to Chief of Army staff,their daftness was laid bare,now they have switched over to Finance minster,they will also be put to shame where they belong.Bunch of cowards and senseless propagandists.Though i have no love for this administration but then all this cow brains that see themselves as born to rule should just let sensible Nigerians be.If they know so much,why is Nigeria still like this after so many years of their piloting d affairs of the Nation?Or did they just discovered their developmental zeal or progressive brains?Pls lets allow this people to do their works,and by 2015 we have a choice to kick them out.We can criticize d govt constructively,not those outdated ethnic jagons often used by failures and disgruntled elements.Who uses what happened in the 60's to judge what will happen in 2013?Some people are still living in d past,and they intend ruling a 21st century people?If what happened in d 60's should repeat itself,Nigeria will be a desert,no ethnic group will survive it,no matter ur military strength and capabilities.As for me,his sack is on point.

You need to have your lips sealed.

Lilimax: Truly they are all looking old and expired. We need new and young breed politicians. These ones will have nothing to offer the country.

Don't mind them, they are just wasting their time although i respect Buhari.

Keneking: Those people from that region are indeed doing well.

Which region?

We are watching.

National Emergency Management Agency Public Relations Officer, Yushau Shuaibu, has been removed from office for reportedly publishing an article that was critical of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Shuaibu’s removal, it was gathered, took place last Thursday.

Besides, there are fears that he might face further sanction from the authorities for daring to raise issues on Okonjo-Iweala’s alleged involvement in the appointment of her relatives to top positions.

Shuaibu in a newspaper article had said, “Dr. Okonjo-Iweala should also note that blatant disregard for the sensitivities and sensibilities of others while arrogantly promoting only people from her tribe may expose them to hatred with potentially explosive consequences such as those experienced in the 1960s when most federal positions were occupied by a particular tribal group.

“For those of us who still respect the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, we strongly believe she should dissociate herself from current allegations of ‘biafranisation’ of top public offices in Nigeria. We are in democratic government where policy issues should not be done in dictatorial manner of ‘we-are-now-in-power’.”

Our correspondents gathered that Okonjo-Iweala had complained about the article to Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who conveyed the minister’s dissatisfaction to the NEMA Director-General, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi.

It was learnt on Thursday that the finance minister called Shuaibu and reprimanded the NEMA image-maker over the article and even insisted that he should write a rebuttal in some dailies.

A source said, “Okonjo-Iweala was not satisfied with Shuaibu’s explanation that the article was not sponsored and she insisted that he should write a rebuttal. Shuaibu was subsequently removed from his position through a letter last week.”
When contacted, the former NEMA spokesman confirmed his removal, but declined further comments.

Meanwhile, the minister, who spoke through her Senior Special Assistant, Communication, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, said, “I have seen several reports, especially online, which claimed that the Finance Minister is using her power to oppress Mr. Yushau Shuiabu. That is false and unfair. The minister is the one oppressed here.

“Mr. Shuaibu accused her of pursuing an ethnic agenda. But those he mentioned as beneficiaries of the so-called agenda are people who were already in office before she returned as minister.

“So she is the victim of a serial campaign based on lies sponsored by people, who are angry that due process rather than politics is being upheld in the recruitment of a new Chair for Federal Inland Revenue Service.

“But we believe that every part of this country has brilliant people. who have what it takes to go through a competitive process and perform well at any level. No part of Nigeria has a monopoly of capable people. Our history confirms so.
“To invoke the tragic events of 1966 based on these lies so flippantly as he did in the article is indeed unfortunate. I won’t say more than that.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/nema-spokesman-loses-position-for-criticising-okonjo-iweala/

What about the Rifinery in Kaduna? Brainless lawyer!