Last week began on a trembling note for the Aso Rock community as the Commander-in-Chief took his first bite after many barks.
On Monday, at about 2:00 PM local time, State House Correspondents received public confirmation of a question millions of Nigerians had been asking for days.
The previous evening, President Bola Tinubu directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate allegations of misappropriation of funds in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
However, it was not clear whether he would go further than that. Would he ask the Minister to step aside during the investigations? Would the ministry halt all social intervention programmes in the meantime? Time was ticking, and Nigerians were growing impatient.
For context, the Ministry’s helmswoman, Dr Betta Edu, became the focal point of public ire after a leaked memo on December 20, 2023, revealed that she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585m to a private account owned by Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry said serves as its Project Accountant for Grants for Vulnerable Groups. The development came just as ministries prepared for their first performance assessment by the end of January.
Days earlier, the President suspended the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, for allegedly signing off N44bn from the government account in just five days between December 27 and 31, 2023.
For Nigerians, such news should not emanate from a body tasked with alleviating the pains of the most vulnerable citizens. Any hint of inaction would become fodder for the army of observers, well-meaning critics, and political rivals of the nascent administration.
A statement from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation that Sunday evening said the government was concerned about the issues raised by the public regarding the allegations. That is not special; any responsible government should!
But it further read, “The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is transparent and accountable to the people and is committed to ensuring that public funds are allocated and utilised effectively and efficiently to address the needs of Nigerians.
“In light of recent events, the President has directed that a thorough and comprehensive investigation be conducted to ascertain the accuracy and validity of the reported details.
“The government is determined to unravel the truth as it relates to this matter and assures that appropriate action will be taken to ensure that any breaches and infractions are identified and decisively punished, in line with the Administration’s commitment to public accountability and due process.”
18 hours later, the Presidency issued a statement suspending the Minister altogether. It read, “In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect.
“The President further directs the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder.”
The sombre ambience in the Villa that afternoon mirrored a rich cocktail of shock, anxiety, sympathy, and fulfilment, depending on who was staring into the frame.
From discussions in the corridors, memories of the President’s earlier ‘threats’ bubbled to the surface.
At the 2023 Cabinet Retreat for Ministers, Presidential Aides, Permanent Secretaries, and top government functionaries last November, President Tinubu stated that Ministers could only retain their offices based on performance, which would be reviewed periodically.
“If you are performing, there is nothing to fear. If you miss the objective, we’ll review it. If there is no performance, you leave us. No one is an island, and the buck stops on my desk,” said the President.
It is safe to say the “objective” transcends delivering the key performance indicators for each ministry. It also includes upholding public trust in the sight of Nigerians who are justifiably difficult to please.
At the inaugural meeting of the Federal Executive Council held last August, Tinubu told Ministers, “You and I know that expectations are high, and these are tough times. We must work hard and move ourselves to create a buoyant economy that will serve Nigeria…you have been selected to perform your utmost best.
“It is in your hands now… It is a great commitment that you have made to the country. Since your inauguration as a minister, you have become a servant for the people, serving all of the people, all of the time.”
Having served for barely five months, Edu is the first cabinet member to get bitten. Whether she would be last or not depends on how well her 47 counterparts conduct their business going forward.
What is now clear is that ministerial offices are no longer political monarchies. Every day spent on the seat should be justified by results, transparency and accountability because, as the President said, “…expectations are high.” Nigerians also expect the anti-graft agencies to dig deep enough to unravel the TRUTH of the matter.
Hours after Edu’s removal, Tinubu also “dismissed” the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Mr Babatunde Irukera, and the Director-General/CEO of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr Alexander Okoh.
However, the Presidency has since clarified that the agency heads were simply “relieved” of their duties, not sacked.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, said their exit was not a dismissal.
He tweeted, “The President’s directive did not intend a dismissal. The two men who have served our country were relieved of their duties by the President, as he scouts for their successors. The connotations implied in using the word dismissal were clearly not intended in the statement issued.”
Season of Felicitations and Mournings
The President has continued the custom of his predecessors by sending goodwill messages to prominent Nigerians who are celebrating their birthdays and commiserating with bereaved families mourning the death of prominent citizens.
Press statements on birthday wishes and condolence messages are issued regularly from the Presidency to the extent that some State House correspondents have noticed a pattern to them. This hints at a possible template for such statements in the media office. Based on that observation, I also developed my template for writing stories from such statements.
In the past week alone, at least seven such statements were churned out. They include four statements consoling former President Goodluck Jonathan over the loss of his elder sister, Madam Obebhatein Jonathan, another sympathising with the Ogunsulire family over the passing of Ambassador Omotayo Ogunsulire, and mourning the passing of the Baba Adinni of Lagos and Chairman of the Executive Council of Lagos Central Mosque, Sheikh Abdul-Hafeez Aṣhamu Abou. He also mourned the passing of one of Nigeria’s finest football coaches, Mr Sebastian Brodericks-Imasuen.
On the celebratory side, the President congratulated the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji, business tycoon Gilbert Chagoury, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, and founder of Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr Fola Adeola, who marked their birthdays within the week.
Even among prominent Nigerians, not many get the rare privilege of being congratulated by the President on their birthdays during the year. However, it is not clear what criteria qualify an individual for the hallowed gesture.
