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 reb*ttal 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 reb*ttal. Shuaibu was subsequently removed from his position through a letter last week.”
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 reb*ttal. 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.”
HBC: How dare he step on the tigress tail in this Nigeria's "Democratic" Rule?...Hmmmm.
This is a serious case. It should be probed to the bottom. It has obeyed Newtons 3rd Law: for every action, there is an equal & opposite reaction. So, there is no way Mr. Shuaibu just got "removed" just like that. Oppressor are oppressing.
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