An email had been in circulation for some time now. I have received it twice now. The first time I did not pay notice to it, but now in light of recent events, I began to see it differently. It goes like this “no
matter the position you are offered in ANY organisation if your deputy
is named "Goodluck", please decline... in case you think I am joking:
Goodluck (Acting President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) was an assistant head boy in primary school. The head boy got expelled, he took over. Goodluck was an assistant senior prefect in secondary school. The senior prefect died, Goodluck took over. Goodluck was deputy local govt chairman, the chairman got implicated in corruption and got removed from office,
Goodluck took over. Goodluck was deputy governor to Alameiseigha. We all know that story. Goodluck was vice to Yar Adua (President Umaru Musa
Yar'Adua). You may say it a coincidence, an, you know. A colleague of mine just called off his church wedding. Why? His best man was named
Goodluck. He is insisting that all that will occur is a traditional
wedding (That does not require a best man).”
Like all things on the web, it is difficult to prove whether this story is all true or not. But one thing we do know is that some of it is true, and the Acting President has been very lucky. Born on Wednesday, 20th of November 1957 in Otueke in Ogbia Local Government Area of the then Eastern Region. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Zoology obtained in 1981. He also holds an M.Sc. in Hydrobiology/Fisheries biology obtained in 1985, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Zoology obtained in 1995. All his degrees were from the University of Port Harcourt. We know that he was more of an Administrator until recently. He has worked as an education inspector, lecturer and environmental protection officer before going into politics in 1998. Where he became deputy Governor for Bayelsa State in 1999, meanwhile Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was Governor. Alamieyeseigha was detained in London on charges of Money laundering. From the actions that came straight out of an espionage film or novel, Alamieyeseigha managed to evade the whole of the metropolitan police and appear in Nigeria. There was a lot of speculation about whether to avoid further embarrassment, the British Government just allowed him to escape, or he was able to strike a deal with Her Majesty’s Government (Although it is believed that the British Government does not strike such deals). Goodluck’s wife Patience was investigated by the EFCC in 2006 over allegations that she tried to launder money (But these charges were dropped). In 2007, his house was attacked by rebels, but he was not at home by a stroke of more good luck.
Due to the complexity of Nigerian politics with its quota system, it was alleged that there was a complex arrangement by the ruling party that a specific tribe or geopolitical region would “hold” the Presidency for one or two terms. The arrangement was complex in that it was agreed by the party's major stakeholders, which allowed them to work together, as it was a contract. Also, all the major posts in the government were divided along tribal or geopolitical regions so that no region was left out. A spanner was thrown into their good layout plan when the President became incapacitated, and he did not officially hand it over to his VP (either by the fault or not). Since the constitution said one thing, i.e., the Vice-President should take over, but Party Policy said another thing (it was the President’s tribe turn to hold the Presidency). The ruling party was in a dilemma, and so was the nation. Whose turn was it to hold the Presidency? The secretary to the Federal Government Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe (from the region whose turn is to hold the presidency) was unceremoniously sacked because it was believed that he was contenting for the top job. There was a lot of speculation, and it seems to paint a messy picture, the wheels of government where not running effectively. Major decisions were not being made, and the country was going into a state of paralysis. Throughout this time, Goodluck remained silent since he has “Patience”.
In comes Mrs Dora Akunyili, the ex-Minister for Information and former NAFDAC chief. Dora described as a strong-willed woman among weak-minded men. Where everybody else was plotting and scheming, trying to protect their lives and their future careers. Dora did as she had been doing in her NAFDAC years (where she narrowly escaped death on several occasions, on one a bullet went through her hat); Dora hit the nail on the head with a 5 page Memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on 4th of February, 2010. Stating what was obvious to everyone, that “State of the Nation” due to the absence of the President (since 23rd of November, 2009) was not that good (that is me putting it lightly). She suggested that they make the Vice-President an Acting-President. It seems that Dora was trending through a land minefield as she was from the South East the same region of the Vice-President. There were many allegations from various sources that indicated that she was acting for her own self-interest rather than that of the Nation. But personally, I feel that she acted from her heart.
Hence at the end of all speculation, Goodluck was elevated to the post of Acting President on 9th of February, 2010, with all accompanied powers until Yar’Adua had returned to 'full health'. Although Yar’Adua had since returned to Nigeria on the 24th of February, he had not been public. He was due to attend a prayer at the Abuja on Friday, 26th of March, but he failed to turn up. On the 17th of March, 2010, about 5 weeks after assuming powers, Mrs Dora Akunyili announced that Acting President Goodluck had dissolved the Executive Council (this includes all the Cabinet Ministers, including herself). Many speculators felt that the Goodluck wanted to make his own print on his own leadership. For one thing, as Acting President, he will need a lot of Good Luck and Patience.
Like all things on the web, it is difficult to prove whether this story is all true or not. But one thing we do know is that some of it is true, and the Acting President has been very lucky. Born on Wednesday, 20th of November 1957 in Otueke in Ogbia Local Government Area of the then Eastern Region. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Zoology obtained in 1981. He also holds an M.Sc. in Hydrobiology/Fisheries biology obtained in 1985, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Zoology obtained in 1995. All his degrees were from the University of Port Harcourt. We know that he was more of an Administrator until recently. He has worked as an education inspector, lecturer and environmental protection officer before going into politics in 1998. Where he became deputy Governor for Bayelsa State in 1999, meanwhile Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was Governor. Alamieyeseigha was detained in London on charges of Money laundering. From the actions that came straight out of an espionage film or novel, Alamieyeseigha managed to evade the whole of the metropolitan police and appear in Nigeria. There was a lot of speculation about whether to avoid further embarrassment, the British Government just allowed him to escape, or he was able to strike a deal with Her Majesty’s Government (Although it is believed that the British Government does not strike such deals). Goodluck’s wife Patience was investigated by the EFCC in 2006 over allegations that she tried to launder money (But these charges were dropped). In 2007, his house was attacked by rebels, but he was not at home by a stroke of more good luck.
Due to the complexity of Nigerian politics with its quota system, it was alleged that there was a complex arrangement by the ruling party that a specific tribe or geopolitical region would “hold” the Presidency for one or two terms. The arrangement was complex in that it was agreed by the party's major stakeholders, which allowed them to work together, as it was a contract. Also, all the major posts in the government were divided along tribal or geopolitical regions so that no region was left out. A spanner was thrown into their good layout plan when the President became incapacitated, and he did not officially hand it over to his VP (either by the fault or not). Since the constitution said one thing, i.e., the Vice-President should take over, but Party Policy said another thing (it was the President’s tribe turn to hold the Presidency). The ruling party was in a dilemma, and so was the nation. Whose turn was it to hold the Presidency? The secretary to the Federal Government Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe (from the region whose turn is to hold the presidency) was unceremoniously sacked because it was believed that he was contenting for the top job. There was a lot of speculation, and it seems to paint a messy picture, the wheels of government where not running effectively. Major decisions were not being made, and the country was going into a state of paralysis. Throughout this time, Goodluck remained silent since he has “Patience”.
In comes Mrs Dora Akunyili, the ex-Minister for Information and former NAFDAC chief. Dora described as a strong-willed woman among weak-minded men. Where everybody else was plotting and scheming, trying to protect their lives and their future careers. Dora did as she had been doing in her NAFDAC years (where she narrowly escaped death on several occasions, on one a bullet went through her hat); Dora hit the nail on the head with a 5 page Memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on 4th of February, 2010. Stating what was obvious to everyone, that “State of the Nation” due to the absence of the President (since 23rd of November, 2009) was not that good (that is me putting it lightly). She suggested that they make the Vice-President an Acting-President. It seems that Dora was trending through a land minefield as she was from the South East the same region of the Vice-President. There were many allegations from various sources that indicated that she was acting for her own self-interest rather than that of the Nation. But personally, I feel that she acted from her heart.
Hence at the end of all speculation, Goodluck was elevated to the post of Acting President on 9th of February, 2010, with all accompanied powers until Yar’Adua had returned to 'full health'. Although Yar’Adua had since returned to Nigeria on the 24th of February, he had not been public. He was due to attend a prayer at the Abuja on Friday, 26th of March, but he failed to turn up. On the 17th of March, 2010, about 5 weeks after assuming powers, Mrs Dora Akunyili announced that Acting President Goodluck had dissolved the Executive Council (this includes all the Cabinet Ministers, including herself). Many speculators felt that the Goodluck wanted to make his own print on his own leadership. For one thing, as Acting President, he will need a lot of Good Luck and Patience.
Comments
Post a Comment