HADIZA USMAN: Obla Bickers A' Ibom-born Right Activist, Barr Inibehe Effiong

Efio-Ita Nyok|18 July 2016|7:54AM

Mr Inibehe Effiong, the renowned Akwa Ibom-born rights activist and legal luminary, last week took a swipe at the presidency over the appointment of Ms Hadiza Usman, as the head of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA). If we recall, Ms Usman was a prominent figure of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) advocacy group and until the appointment the Chief of General Staff to Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State.

According to Activist Effiong, the appointment of Ms Usman as in other appointments by the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, is tainted by nepotism, cronyism and favouritism contrary to the opinions of apologists who contend that Buhari's appointment is underpinned by the competence on the part of the appointee(s). Effiong in his criticism refers to a 'most brutish and insensitive' cabal of which Governor El Rufai is a part that are responsible for an hijack of the Muhammadu Buhari presidency.

However, Activist Effiong's criticism has not gone down well with Cross River-born renowned right activist and Special Adviser to the President on Prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-obla who labels Effiong's submissions as being 'hasty, impetuous and presumptive'. Obla cites Ms Usman's competence as a condition for deserving the appointment. What follow are the exact words of conversation between Effiong and Obla:

Inibehe Effiong:
I do not know Ms. Hadiza Usman in person. She rose to national prominence through her Bring Back Our Girls advocay which many Nigerians appreciates. What I cannot understand is why people are expressing consternation over her appointment as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Let's stop deluding ourselves. President Muhammadu Buhari's government has been audaciously hijacked by powerful and selfish individuals. All past governments in this country had some form of cabal that greatly dictated the affairs of state. But President Buhari's own cabal seems to be the most brutish and insensitive in the history of our country.

What we are witnessing is only a tip of the iceberg. Ms. Hadiza is just another protege of the Buhari's cabal. The raging arguments about her qualifications and experience are otiose. What is clear is clear. If qualifications and experience were the basis for appointments, Hadiza and several others would not be beneficiaries of senior presidential cum executive appointments.

Certainly not as the head of a sensitive agency like the NPA.

As a Nigerian, I am greatly saddened by the turn of events. Anybody that underrates the influence of Governor Nasir El-Rufai in Buhari's government is living in self-denial. The governor's office offers El-Rufai an alibi to evade public scrutiny of his deep involvement in the politics and power play in Aso Rock.

The type of cronyism, favouritism and nepotism that is going on in this administration is most unfortunate, distasteful and scandalous. Those talking about merits and competence are not being sincere.

It is time we moderate our expectations from this government. Lest we forget, we only voted for change and not a revolution.

Okoi Obono-Obla:
@ Inibehe Effiong, Your conclusions are most times hasty, impetuous and presumptive!

HADIZA BALA USMAN IS A VERY COMPETENT YOUNG WOMAN. SHE IS EQUALLY WELL EDUCATED. SHE PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THE CHANGE THAT PRODUCED BUHARI.

SHE WAS A VERY DEDICATED AND COMMITTED MEMBER OF THE DEFUNCT CONGRESS FOR PROGRESSIVES CHANGE. SHE INDEED PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN POLICY FORMULATION FOR THAT PARTY.

I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I WAS THE DEPUTY NATIONAL SECRETARY AND PIONEER NATIONAL LEGAL ADVISER OF THE CPC AND INDEED AN INSIDER. SHE WAS APPOINTED A MEMBER OF BUHARI TRANSITION COMMITTEE! SHE TRULY DESERVE THE APPOINTMENT.

Inibehe Effiong:
Nepotism cannot be justified. It seems all that is required for one to be appointed is having ties with president Buhari and his cronies

Okoi Obono-Obla:
@  Inibehe Effiong. It is not unsual for Presidents even in Advanced democracies such as the United States to appoint they have had close family ties or old school mates.

President John Kennedy appointed Robert Kennedy his younger brother as his Attorney General!

…@ William Oden & Ignatius Olive, The Nigerian Ports Authority Act does not provide that the qualification for the Managing Director of Nigerian Port Authority must be a graduate of a certain discipline.

Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.org (Negroid Haven)