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By Chuks Osuji
Incontestably, politics in Nigeria at all levels and in every political party is based mostly on personal and inter-personal interests and considerations. In fact, hardly do people who enter politics do so with the objective to serve the nation but to serve themselves.
Few illustrations could throw more light on this assumption. For example, how many Nigerian politicians at every level have resigned from their either elected or appointed positions for the reason of their being accused of misbehavior?
Furthermore, how many politicians have decided not to run for positions preferring to yield to another person they may consider to be more qualified and is likely to serve the people and the nation better?
Another unfortunate aspect of Nigerian politics is the penchant, which people have in criticising present or former office holders. That is to say, Nigerians take delight in pilling allegations or accusations on former or serving public office holders. Why do they do this? Simply to damage the apparent popularity, which such individuals enjoyed while in offices.
A typical illustration of this type of condemnable political behavior could be seen in the recent role, which Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has assigned to himself for daily criticising Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, the erstwhile Minister of Finance and the Supervising Minister.
Since after the Presidential elections, Adams has not rested for one moment in his unrelenting attack on the former Minister of Finance. In fact, no day passes without the Edo State Governor coming up with a fresh accusation against Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. It has become so persistent that many objective observers have begun to wonder if there is anything personal between two of them.
Although Adams Oshiomhole is notorious in Nigeria as a self-seeking person even from his days as the Labour Leader, his new inglorious comments against Dr. Iweala has become not only enunciating but also embarrassing to some leaders in APC.
The main plank of Adams diatribe attack is predicated on his numerous questions as to what has happened to the 2.1 billion excess crude account revenue. These utterances began when he could not pay Edo civil servants. In order to find an alibi, he tried to exonerate himself and other reckless and wasteful Governors by saying that even the Federal Government also owes its civil servants.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala’s own sin was that she came out in quick response to debunk Adams Oshiomhole’s claim. From then on till now, Adams has made his attack on Ngozi Iweala, his daily routine to hip series of accusations on the former Minister.
Unfortunately, Adams Oshiomhole has forgotten how the Obasanjo administration made strenuous efforts to lure that lady to the country to help in cleaning the mess in our financial system. Her exemplary performance encouraged Goodluck Jonathan to retain her. We know Dr. Okonjo Iweala’s pedigree.
Nigerians still remember Adams Oshiomhole’s background. Few years ago, he was virtually stripped off naked by Obasanjo who did everything to demolish his labour fortress where he as a tyrant and a haughty dictator manipulated the Nigerian workers according to his whims and caprices. Then, many Nigerians saw him as purely an “Agbero Labour Leader,” who was in the habit of cursing and abusing everybody in the government.
Through the accident of political inadequacies in the Nigerian, Adams became the Governor of Edo State. Since then, his toga of incorruptibility has been unmasked. For example, unless miracle happens, in a day or so, the civil servants in Edo would begin another round of strike action. He still thinks that governance is about talking and pouring out propaganda impunities. No, it is not the same thing as Labour Leadership and rascality.”
DAILY INDEPENDENT
