Nigeria’s “first ladyism (11): Bayelsa’s Permanent Secretary, Patience Jonathan, must resign now – Tola Adenle

 While Nigerians continue to throw up the usual collective hands in exasperation, there are still many that do not believe that the president’s spouse, Patience Jonathan’s “elevation” to permanent secretary from director-general is a true story.  One of such is an educated close friend whom I finally convinced – hopefully – that it’s neither a joke “going the rounds” nor a lie.  THAT is the level to which Nigerians have become disconnected from government.

Meanwhile, not a word – at least to my knowledge – has been uttered by the country’s president who should have not allowed the travesty to happen in the first place.

Here is an excerpt from a paper delivered at the 2012 Iju Public Affairs Forum to mark the 70^th birthday of Professor Ladipo Adamolekun, the initiator of the public discourse yearly forum.

By the way, Adamolekun delivered a an inauguration lecture which I reported here as

http://emotanafricana.com/2011/06/08/would-jonathan-deserve-%E2%80%98transformational-leader%E2%80%99-in-2015-ladipo-adamolekun-d-phil-oxon-president-jonathan%E2%80%99s-inauguration-lecturer/  when President Jonathan was inaugurated.

The Paper which I used here a couple of weeks back, “No nation can rise beyond the capacity of its public service” by Ms. Amal Pepple, the Federal Minister for Housing …, contained the following:

Dichotomy of Politics and Administration

In order to maintain a sense of balance in the running of government affairs, public administration is kept separately from politics.In this regard, while political leaders are concerned with providing leadership and direction in policy making, in line with the set priorities of their party manifestoes, appointed public servants, such as civil servants and others in the enlarged 3 public service, are forbidden from participating in party politics, at least in Nigeria.

This is in line with the doctrine of neutrality and anonymity which is one of the cardinal principles of the Weberain model of bureaucracy. It emphasizes insulation of the bureaucrat as the subordinate expert advisor and policy executor from all forms of politicization in order to enhance his/her professionalism, enable the provision of impartial advice and curtail the culture of impunity and arbitrariness in government.

Well, there we have it, and here are just three questions of many that Mrs. Jonathan needs to answer:

Why does she need to be permanent secretary?

IF she wants to pursue her career as a top state civil servant, I have no problems with that but then she must leave Abuja and move to Bayelsa where, like other civil servants, she must spend her work days and put in the hours required to merit the position.

What exactly is the president’s opinion on this embarrassing situation or does he really believe his wife can be 1^st lady, though an unconstitutional position but one that bestows on his wife a retinue of official staff?

ONE MORE THING

What do we make of the worse than embarrassing matter of the Abuja land imbroglio between Mrs. Jonathan and her predecessor, Mrs. Yar Adua who reportedly paid monies in excess of N180 million (that is a million U.S. Dollars-Plus) but the land was seized by the Capital Authority re “public interest” but was later awarded to Mrs. Jonathan.

Here is one link to the current impasse and below it, my comments for the Premium Times story:

http://premiumtimesng.com/metro/93686-war-of-the-first-ladies-turai-yaradua-returns-to-court-as-reconciliation-talks-breaks-down.html

Tola Adenle

1. If the land was seized from Mrs. Yar Adua for purported public interest use, how could it be re-allocated to Mrs. Jonathan?

2. It’s difficult to understand what kind of foundation-laying ceremony was performed “near the land” recently.

This is beyond impunity and the FCT authorities responsible for this shenanigan seems to have crossed from impunity to criminality.
emotanafricana.com

And earlier when the story first broke, Sahara Reporters, July 21, 2012,

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/nigerias-first-lady-patience-jonathan-sworn-bayelsa-permanent-secretary-pm-news-lagos

And my comments:

 Sheer insanity

Submitted by tola adenle on July 21, 2012 – 09:29.

Since President Jonathan has allowed this travesty to actually take place, it seems apparent that he does not mind the depth to which Nigeria has sunk under his administration. If he does not know – nor “give a damn” about this aberration, it is apparent that he does not have what it takes to continue to rule Nigeria and IT IS TIME FOR HIM TO THROW IN THE TOWEL.