Last week , one of President Muhammadu Buhari ’ s ministers, Aisha
Alhassan , voiced her support for the 2019 presidential ambition of
one of the President ’ s strongest rivals . BAYO AKINLOYE profiles
Alhassan and other public officials who dared or defied Nigerian
presidents
Your Excellency , ” the Minister of Women Affairs and Social
Development, Aisha Alhassan , began in a video that went viral on
social media last week. “ Our father and our president by the grace of
God come 2019 . Before you are your people , your supporters for life ,
and the people of Taraba State ; they are here to pay homage and to
greet you on the occasion of Sallah and for all that Allah has done
for you because Allah has raised your status. ”
The fair - skinned, bespectacled minister was not addressing
President Muhammadu Buhari . Buhari hasn’ t signified an intention
to run for reelection . However , his associates have been dropping
hints of a possible run for reelection while supporters are clamouring
for the same .
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar , the man Alhassan was
addressing at the event , has not hidden his intention to contest the
presidency again , possibly during the 2019 presidential poll .
Therefore , Alhassan ’ s mellifluous voice and salutary words , which
later caused much disquiet within the corridors of power , must have
sounded like good music to Abubakar.
It was the same tone of voice she used in an interview with the
British Broadcasting Corporation , Hausa Service a few days after.
She spoke with such verve and boldness . During the interview ,
Alhassan who is also known as Mama Taraba , reiterated her
support for Atiku and his ambition .
“ Since I was in the civil service , His Excellency , Atiku Abubakar , has
been my mentor and godfather . He has remained so even now that I
have joined politics. There is a reason for every political relationship .
“ Baba Buhari has not told anybody that he is contesting in 2019 . I
can assure you that today , if Baba Buhari says he is going to
contest , walahi tallahi ( I swear by Allah ) , I will go and kneel down
before him and say , ‘ Baba , I am grateful for the opportunity you have
given me to serve as a minister in your administration but Baba , like
you know , Atiku is my godfather .
“ If Atiku says he is going to contest – but he too has not said he will
contest … Why I said ( Atiku ) is ‘ our President come 2019 ’ is that we
expect that he will contest . But if he contests , I will go and do what I
just told you I will do . ”
Alhassan was equally daring as she assessed the possible
consequences of her bold support for Atiku.
She said , “ Those who are saying I will be sacked will be put to
shame. Even if I am sacked , it is Allah ’ s will; I never lobbied for it . It
was Allah who gave it to me. ”
Her comments were met with silence from the Presidency; neither
Buhari nor his spokesmen have reacted to her statements .
Her position has made the ruling All Progressives Congress to press
the panic button with its National Working Committee calling for a
meeting to be held on September 11 .
However , Mama Taraba is not the first minister or public official to
dare or defy a President .
Lokpobiri dared Buhari too
In this dispensation , the dare - or- defy posture seemed to have begun
with the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development,
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri , jetting out of the country in January this
year without any approval to do so.
Buhari had in 2016 directed his aides and other top officials of the
Federal Government to get approval from him through the Chief of
Staff , Abba Kyari , for trips outside the country .
The junior minister , who had written a letter dated December 28 ,
2016 , to the President through Kyari , travelled out of the country
without getting a reply to his request .
Reportedly , Lokpobiri ’ s request was turned down – but he was said
to be already in faraway China when the response to his letter came
on January 9 , 2017 .
Onagoruwa ’ s derring - do
Speaking up against maximum ruler , Late Gen . Sani Abacha, during
his infamous reign as Nigeria’ s Head of State , was a risky business
left for those in the opposition .
Olu Onagoruwa , a lawyer with impeccable records as a human rights
champion , first did the unspeakable when he threw his weight
behind Abacha’ s government in 1993 by accepting to be its attorney
general and minister of justice .
Barely one year after , Onagoruwa had turned into an activist in
government . He condemned and dissociated himself from eight
decrees the dictator had issued .
Onagoruwa addressing a press conference said the decrees would
“ sweep away our liberties . ” He threatened to resign.
Unlike Alhassan and Lokpobiri in the current administration ,
Onagoruwa was given the boot .
Prior to the press conference where he lashed out against the
decrees , the firebrand minister had enraged Abacha by issuing a
letter ordering the release of Turner Ogboru who was incarcerated
for a crime allegedly committed by his brother , Great Ogboru.
Entered Akunyili
Late Prof . Dora Akunyili , said to be close to the then - President
Umaru Yar ’ Adua ’ s family , particularly his wife , swam against the tide
when she circulated – to the dismay of other ministers during a
Federal Executive Council meeting – a memo requesting that then -
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan should be declared the acting
president.
She was instantly accused of betrayal . But she stood her ground .
“ I want to start my humble submission by stating that I am a 100-
per - cent loyalist of President Yar’ Adua . President Yar’ Adua is very
dear to me just as he is to all of you . We are all aware of what has
been happening in Nigeria, especially as it concerns the issue of
making the Vice President an acting president.
“ What went wrong? We love our president but we should remember
that he is not infallible . Before he left Nigeria he had a moral and
constitutional obligation to officially inform the Senate and hand
over the mantle of leadership to the Vice President pending his
return and recovery . That did not happen . Yes, the mistake has been
made by our boss and brother . Mr . President is ill and did not
choose to be sick . But while we continue to pray for his recovery , we
should try to right the wrong he did .
“ We need to do what is morally right and constitutional for the
president to officially hand over to the Vice President to function as
acting president. If he does not , we can evoke whichever aspect of
the constitution that should make the Vice President an acting
president. If we fail to act now , history will not forgive us. I rest my
case , ” Akunyili had argued .
Her clarion call was supported by Senator Bala Mohammed of the
Nigeria Integrity Group , who was later rewarded by Jonathan as the
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory .
Sanusi suspended for speaking out
As a former CBN governor , Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was suspended
for speaking out against what he perceived as gross financial
impropriety by some government officials and the management of
the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation .
He had written to former President Goodluck Jonathan months
before accusing the NNPC of failing to remit $ 49 . 8 bn ( about N 8 tn )
from the sales of crude oil for 19 months .
That letter , according to political observers , was interpreted as
indicting the president of being negligent or complicit of the goings -
on in the oil firm .
Jonathan would later wield the big stick and ordered the indefinite
suspension of Sanusi for daring to look him in the eye .
Tukur too
Hamman Tukur, a former Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation ,
Allocation and Fiscal Commission , had a running battle with former
President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was also the Minister of
Petroleum , about the money the NNPC ought to have remitted to the
federation account.
According to Tukur , the accounts of the organisation was unaudited
since 1999 until 2006 .
Tukur also claimed some top officials of the corporation were
involved in a N 502bn shady practice of producing crude oil in excess
of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries ’ quota for the
country .
He also accused the corporation of unclear accounting of about
N 555 bn between December 2004 and April 2007 .
The RMAFC boss noted that the nation might have lost the sum due
to lack of transparency and accountability in the NNPC ’ s
computation and payment procedures.
Alhassan , voiced her support for the 2019 presidential ambition of
one of the President ’ s strongest rivals . BAYO AKINLOYE profiles
Alhassan and other public officials who dared or defied Nigerian
presidents
Your Excellency , ” the Minister of Women Affairs and Social
Development, Aisha Alhassan , began in a video that went viral on
social media last week. “ Our father and our president by the grace of
God come 2019 . Before you are your people , your supporters for life ,
and the people of Taraba State ; they are here to pay homage and to
greet you on the occasion of Sallah and for all that Allah has done
for you because Allah has raised your status. ”
The fair - skinned, bespectacled minister was not addressing
President Muhammadu Buhari . Buhari hasn’ t signified an intention
to run for reelection . However , his associates have been dropping
hints of a possible run for reelection while supporters are clamouring
for the same .
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar , the man Alhassan was
addressing at the event , has not hidden his intention to contest the
presidency again , possibly during the 2019 presidential poll .
Therefore , Alhassan ’ s mellifluous voice and salutary words , which
later caused much disquiet within the corridors of power , must have
sounded like good music to Abubakar.
It was the same tone of voice she used in an interview with the
British Broadcasting Corporation , Hausa Service a few days after.
She spoke with such verve and boldness . During the interview ,
Alhassan who is also known as Mama Taraba , reiterated her
support for Atiku and his ambition .
“ Since I was in the civil service , His Excellency , Atiku Abubakar , has
been my mentor and godfather . He has remained so even now that I
have joined politics. There is a reason for every political relationship .
“ Baba Buhari has not told anybody that he is contesting in 2019 . I
can assure you that today , if Baba Buhari says he is going to
contest , walahi tallahi ( I swear by Allah ) , I will go and kneel down
before him and say , ‘ Baba , I am grateful for the opportunity you have
given me to serve as a minister in your administration but Baba , like
you know , Atiku is my godfather .
“ If Atiku says he is going to contest – but he too has not said he will
contest … Why I said ( Atiku ) is ‘ our President come 2019 ’ is that we
expect that he will contest . But if he contests , I will go and do what I
just told you I will do . ”
Alhassan was equally daring as she assessed the possible
consequences of her bold support for Atiku.
She said , “ Those who are saying I will be sacked will be put to
shame. Even if I am sacked , it is Allah ’ s will; I never lobbied for it . It
was Allah who gave it to me. ”
Her comments were met with silence from the Presidency; neither
Buhari nor his spokesmen have reacted to her statements .
Her position has made the ruling All Progressives Congress to press
the panic button with its National Working Committee calling for a
meeting to be held on September 11 .
However , Mama Taraba is not the first minister or public official to
dare or defy a President .
Lokpobiri dared Buhari too
In this dispensation , the dare - or- defy posture seemed to have begun
with the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development,
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri , jetting out of the country in January this
year without any approval to do so.
Buhari had in 2016 directed his aides and other top officials of the
Federal Government to get approval from him through the Chief of
Staff , Abba Kyari , for trips outside the country .
The junior minister , who had written a letter dated December 28 ,
2016 , to the President through Kyari , travelled out of the country
without getting a reply to his request .
Reportedly , Lokpobiri ’ s request was turned down – but he was said
to be already in faraway China when the response to his letter came
on January 9 , 2017 .
Onagoruwa ’ s derring - do
Speaking up against maximum ruler , Late Gen . Sani Abacha, during
his infamous reign as Nigeria’ s Head of State , was a risky business
left for those in the opposition .
Olu Onagoruwa , a lawyer with impeccable records as a human rights
champion , first did the unspeakable when he threw his weight
behind Abacha’ s government in 1993 by accepting to be its attorney
general and minister of justice .
Barely one year after , Onagoruwa had turned into an activist in
government . He condemned and dissociated himself from eight
decrees the dictator had issued .
Onagoruwa addressing a press conference said the decrees would
“ sweep away our liberties . ” He threatened to resign.
Unlike Alhassan and Lokpobiri in the current administration ,
Onagoruwa was given the boot .
Prior to the press conference where he lashed out against the
decrees , the firebrand minister had enraged Abacha by issuing a
letter ordering the release of Turner Ogboru who was incarcerated
for a crime allegedly committed by his brother , Great Ogboru.
Entered Akunyili
Late Prof . Dora Akunyili , said to be close to the then - President
Umaru Yar ’ Adua ’ s family , particularly his wife , swam against the tide
when she circulated – to the dismay of other ministers during a
Federal Executive Council meeting – a memo requesting that then -
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan should be declared the acting
president.
She was instantly accused of betrayal . But she stood her ground .
“ I want to start my humble submission by stating that I am a 100-
per - cent loyalist of President Yar’ Adua . President Yar’ Adua is very
dear to me just as he is to all of you . We are all aware of what has
been happening in Nigeria, especially as it concerns the issue of
making the Vice President an acting president.
“ What went wrong? We love our president but we should remember
that he is not infallible . Before he left Nigeria he had a moral and
constitutional obligation to officially inform the Senate and hand
over the mantle of leadership to the Vice President pending his
return and recovery . That did not happen . Yes, the mistake has been
made by our boss and brother . Mr . President is ill and did not
choose to be sick . But while we continue to pray for his recovery , we
should try to right the wrong he did .
“ We need to do what is morally right and constitutional for the
president to officially hand over to the Vice President to function as
acting president. If he does not , we can evoke whichever aspect of
the constitution that should make the Vice President an acting
president. If we fail to act now , history will not forgive us. I rest my
case , ” Akunyili had argued .
Her clarion call was supported by Senator Bala Mohammed of the
Nigeria Integrity Group , who was later rewarded by Jonathan as the
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory .
Sanusi suspended for speaking out
As a former CBN governor , Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was suspended
for speaking out against what he perceived as gross financial
impropriety by some government officials and the management of
the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation .
He had written to former President Goodluck Jonathan months
before accusing the NNPC of failing to remit $ 49 . 8 bn ( about N 8 tn )
from the sales of crude oil for 19 months .
That letter , according to political observers , was interpreted as
indicting the president of being negligent or complicit of the goings -
on in the oil firm .
Jonathan would later wield the big stick and ordered the indefinite
suspension of Sanusi for daring to look him in the eye .
Tukur too
Hamman Tukur, a former Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation ,
Allocation and Fiscal Commission , had a running battle with former
President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was also the Minister of
Petroleum , about the money the NNPC ought to have remitted to the
federation account.
According to Tukur , the accounts of the organisation was unaudited
since 1999 until 2006 .
Tukur also claimed some top officials of the corporation were
involved in a N 502bn shady practice of producing crude oil in excess
of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries ’ quota for the
country .
He also accused the corporation of unclear accounting of about
N 555 bn between December 2004 and April 2007 .
The RMAFC boss noted that the nation might have lost the sum due
to lack of transparency and accountability in the NNPC ’ s
computation and payment procedures.
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