Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa
Political Observatory
Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa was last Tuesday added to the list of ex-bosses
of the Bureau of Public Enterprises. Though no official explanation has
been given, at least till now, for her sack as D-G, the immediate cause
would be the shoddy handling of the $23.6 million Transmission Company
of Nigeria contract to Canadian firm Manitoba Hydro International, which
was cancelled and restored again by the Presidency. Reinstating the
Manitoba contract after it was initially cancelled would have been a
tough one for President Jonathan as it may create fears in investors’
minds in respect of the handling of the power privatization projects.
But truth is Onagoruwa’s reign at BPE had been turbulent, The National
Council on Privatisation headed by Vice-President Namadi Sambo had not
been comfortable with the handling of BPE affairs by Onagoruwa. There
were some disagreements over bids for some power firms. The most
virulent attack on Onagoruwa, however, came from the Senate.
The Senate had last year adopted the report of its ad hoc committee on
privatisation and commercialisation, which called for Onagoruwa’s sack
for alleged gross incompetence in the management of the privatisation
process. And the Senate had been strident in this demand. Once Onagoruwa
came to defend her corporation’s budget before the Senate committee and
was sent back. So, if you ask me, the remote cause of Onagoruwa’s sack
would be the Senate’s demand, which it would appear the President heeded
at last. But is Onagoruwa’s sack a foretaste of what may befall Ms.
Arunma Oteh, the Director-General of the Security and Exchange
Commission who has had an open disagreement with the Capital Market
Committee of the House of Representatives and by extension, the House? I
think so.
The House had also demanded Oteh’s sack. Oteh may have had her problems
at the SEC, particularly her perceived highhandedness, lack of prudence
and all of that, however, she has succeeded in exposing the chicanery
of the House committee under Hon. Herman Hembe. Yet the House insisted
she must go. And methinks President Jonathan may also in the fullness of
time cave in on the demand as a way of straightening the rough edges in
his relationship with the House. Therefore, I think with the sacking of
Onagoruwa, the bell tolls for Oteh.ThisDay
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