Cursory look at some ministerial nominees

President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominee for Cross River State, Goddy Jeddy Agba, as reported by a section of the media, had allegedly aided a former oli minister in shady deals and was allegedly part of the looting that took place during the past PDP administration which, the current All Progressives Congress (APC) administration never forgets […]

President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominee for Cross River State, Goddy Jeddy Agba, as reported by a section of the media, had allegedly aided a former oli minister in shady deals and was allegedly part of the looting that took place during the past PDP administration which, the current All Progressives Congress (APC) administration never forgets to lampoon at the slightest provocation.

Agba, who was a former Group General Manager (GGM), Crude Oil Marketing Division (OMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, when Diezani held sway, making it on Buhari’s ministerial list, shows that the disciplined, austere President may be contradicting himself by rewarding corrupt people with appointments. The media had reported that appointing Agba a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was synonymous to Diezani’s return to power.

Agba worked under Diezani and he oversaw the multi-billion dollar oil-for-fuel swap deals which were enmeshed in corruption.  The news media alleged that Agba has offshore property running in to billions of naira, especially in London. If these reports are verified to be true, his appointment will not only drag President Buhari’s hard earned reputation in the mud, it would also put a dent in his spirited fight against corruption.

Whose interest is the Obudu silent billionaire going to represent in Buhari’s Next Level? Are there unseen hands pulling the strings while the President is looks on obliviously and they toy with his reputation?

It is also a puzzle why Akinwumi Ambode, the immediate past governor of Lagos State, was overlooked for nomination. People who would complement the president’s efforts in fighting corruption and providing social amenities to the people are overlooked while those who are ensnarled in corruption allegations are getting picked.

Again, the manner Usani Usani, who is a prominent ally of the president in Cross River State, has been dropped and Agba picked shows that the party at the national secretariat is working at cross purposes with the President. Now, the question is not whether the Prince from Obudu evaded scrutiny from the eagle-eyed president, it is a matter of  the President, who has taken so many years to build his reputation, to take decisive action to clear his name as he work assiduously to take the 200 million Nigerians to the next level.

Terna Doki wrote this piece from Makurdi, Benue State