by Denrele Animashaun
As usual, her kinsmen have missed the point; that the procurement is wholly irregular and she has to explain why it was purchased for her in the first place. They praised her work at the helm for turning round the fortune of aviation (that is highly debatable).
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Someone once asked the American actor, Will Smith the best advice his father ever gave him, he said that he told him that everything in moderation, that he could not drive more than one car at a time.
How I wish Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi had such advice, she might have not have got herself in this mess, evading questions from the senate and the people.
GEJ has distanced himself from her and bowed to public pressure. The speculations are rife as to why the lady and the president still made the travel to Israel when she was under investigation. It seems comprehensible that the president remains present and in close proximity to the scandal. Stella should have been told to stay home and face the music after all she was not needed to sign the bilateral agreement. So will she make herself available and will the president publicly declare that she does so? The lady is riding the coat tails of her kinsmen and supporters to claw her way back to the top. Despite several demands to explain herself she refuses to appear or give reasons for her absence. One can only read meaning for her absence as insolent and arrogant to say the least.
It has become a very public affair and it is going to get ugly. The princess is suddenly evasive hiding behind trip to Israel instead of getting ready her brief, she is stalling for time and support from some quarters. About time she faced the music and understand that no one ,even the president, is above the law. The fragrant lady does have very vocal supporters, her home town grown and proud supporters,who maintain that no one should touch their own or remove her from office .
The Igbo Progressives Union (IPU) held a peaceful but loud protest that their princess had done nothing wrong and she should be allowed to carry on at her post .According to them, she has done a sterling job of turning round the fortune of aviation in Nigeria that the whole kafuffle is a ruse to get her out of the way come 2015 and the mischief makers are digging because of her closeness to GEJ. They said she had made so many enemies because of her success hence why the purchase of two bullet-proof cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
As usual, her kinsmen have missed the point; that the procurement is wholly irregular and she has to explain why it was purchased for her in the first place. They praised her work at the helm for turning round the fortune of aviation (that is highly debatable).
Instead, her kinsmen led by High Chief George Nwabueze stood in defence of their daughter of the soil, exonerating her from any wrong doing in the purchase of the cars. They stated that she had made enemies as a result of her diligence so it explains why she had to have two bullet proof top of the range bullet proof cars . They failed to explained or mention that the procurement was highly suspect and illegal. So if she is the boss at the top the bucks stops with her and therefore she has a case to answer.
About time people stop playing region politics and face the facts that when someone is wrong it is wrong to support them because they are the daughter of soil.
The Chairperson of the inquiry panel, Ms Jumoke Okoya-Thomas accused the minister of shunning 12 invitations previously extended to her by the committee, explained that the Public Procurement Act clearly spelt out the penalty for any breach. In the Section 58 (5) of the Act states: “Any persons, who, while carrying out his duties as an officer of the Bureau or any procuring entity who contravenes any provision of this Act, commits an offence and is liable to a conviction of cumulative punishment of (a) a term of imprisonment of not less than five calendar years without any option of fines and (b) summary dismissal from government services”.
The facts are there for all to see and Okoya-Thomas dismissed the explanation by the NCAA that the cars were procured through a lease agreement and pointed out that no government official or agency could claim to be ignorant of the provisions of the Act. The Princess should be allowed to face the due process of the law and have their day to explain their actions.
The blind sentiment of her supporter is typical of the illness that plagues us as people. The spokesman said:”This is a woman that has given the aviation sector a new face since she came into office. Today, our airports can compete with airports in foreign countries. Before she came to office, we were hearing about international airport but today, it has become a reality in Igbo land. We are ready to swim and sink with her,”
We cannot and do not know how to openly accuse one of our own even when they have been misappropriating funds from our commonwealth. So the people of Ogbaru led by their High Chief, Nwabueze, is convinced that the princess has done no wrong but that she has been set upon because of the 2015 presidential elections! I wish these people give Nigerians some credit.
So, while the lady makes elaborate evasion excuses that she is in Israel to sign a bilateral agreement which also coincides with GEJ’s visit to Israel. There was no sign of her being instrumental in the actual signing, that was done by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri. So what was our lady doing then in Israel then that she could have come home to face the panel of committee. The committee, headed by Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, has had to postpone the hearing through a statement on last Monday and explained that it will give time for all involved to prepare their briefs.
It had previous requests and there was no appearance by the good lady. It has been too lenient as they have previously issued out not less than 12 invitations to the Minister of Aviation, but she has not deemed it fit to respond even once. It is about time the GEJ administration puts its house in order, whether would it do it or not , it remains to be seen. It is not over until this lady sings.
N.B: This was written before, the Aviation Minister’s appearance at the hearing, Thursday, last week.
