“The fact is that APGA cannot be an exception in this merger talks. If the ACN, ANPP, CPC that were all branded as ethnic parties are now in the new party, APGA cannot be an exception.
InformationNigeria
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Confession: APGA PDP Is Against Merger Talks – Okorocha
“The fact is that APGA cannot be an exception in this merger talks. If the ACN, ANPP, CPC that were all branded as ethnic parties are now in the new party, APGA cannot be an exception.
InformationNigeria
"Cristiano Ronaldo, a Bully, a Monster" - Gary Neville
Ahead of Manchester United's Champions League showdown with Real Madrid, Gary Neville has labelled Cristiano Ronaldo "a bully".
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal with Gary Neville in 2006
Former United captain Neville played alongside the Portuguese ace for six seasons before Ronaldo's record-breaking £80m transfer to Real in 2009.
Neville is aware Ronaldo remains one of the best in the world at exploiting weak defenders, and feels that he deserves to be in the "same bracket" as Lionel Messi, Pele and Maradona.
"Ronaldo is a bully," said Neville. "He bullies the weakest defender. He does it all the time. He did it to Manchester City against Maicon. He will play on the left wing. If he can't get on the ball he will play centre-forward, midfield, right wing.
"He changed my perception at United. We had a midfield four - Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs - I played with Beckham for seven years. They never had the freedom to decide their position on the pitch.
"Suddenly I didn't have someone in front of me who would come back and double up on the left-winger. In those early years he used to go wandering off. He was told to play on the right by Sir Alex Ferguson and would end up on the left. That was unheard of.
"He just decided his own position, which was based upon where the space was and who was the weak link. He made me realise you didn't always need to be in your shape.
"We had a player who was beyond a level of talent I had ever seen. He would go and win us game after game. I suppose that is more important.
"Now, he is a monster. I saw him on Saturday evening. He picks the ball up in an innocuous position, 30 yards out, does some type of shimmy I can't even describe let alone do, beats a man and whacks it in from 25 yards.
"You can't defend against that. He is in the same bracket as Messi and you can put them both up there with Pele and Maradona."
Naij.com note: Gary Alexander Neville, 37, is an English former footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years. Since retiring from football in the middle of the 2010–11 season, Neville has gone into punditry and is a commentator for Sky Sports. On 14 May 2012, Neville was appointed as a coach at England by the new manager.
Naij.com
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal with Gary Neville in 2006
Former United captain Neville played alongside the Portuguese ace for six seasons before Ronaldo's record-breaking £80m transfer to Real in 2009.
Neville is aware Ronaldo remains one of the best in the world at exploiting weak defenders, and feels that he deserves to be in the "same bracket" as Lionel Messi, Pele and Maradona.
"Ronaldo is a bully," said Neville. "He bullies the weakest defender. He does it all the time. He did it to Manchester City against Maicon. He will play on the left wing. If he can't get on the ball he will play centre-forward, midfield, right wing.
"He changed my perception at United. We had a midfield four - Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs - I played with Beckham for seven years. They never had the freedom to decide their position on the pitch.
"Suddenly I didn't have someone in front of me who would come back and double up on the left-winger. In those early years he used to go wandering off. He was told to play on the right by Sir Alex Ferguson and would end up on the left. That was unheard of.
"He just decided his own position, which was based upon where the space was and who was the weak link. He made me realise you didn't always need to be in your shape.
"We had a player who was beyond a level of talent I had ever seen. He would go and win us game after game. I suppose that is more important.
"Now, he is a monster. I saw him on Saturday evening. He picks the ball up in an innocuous position, 30 yards out, does some type of shimmy I can't even describe let alone do, beats a man and whacks it in from 25 yards.
"You can't defend against that. He is in the same bracket as Messi and you can put them both up there with Pele and Maradona."
Naij.com note: Gary Alexander Neville, 37, is an English former footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years. Since retiring from football in the middle of the 2010–11 season, Neville has gone into punditry and is a commentator for Sky Sports. On 14 May 2012, Neville was appointed as a coach at England by the new manager.
Naij.com
Mba Wants Europe Move
Nigeria’s unlikely hero in the final
of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Sunday Mba, has said he hopes he has
done enough to earn a dream move to Europe.
On
Sunday in Johannesburg, the 24-year-old Warri Wolves forward scored the
goal that ended Nigeria’s 19-year wait for a continental glory as they
won their third Nations Cup trophy at the expense of Burkina Faso.
In the 1994 final in Tunisia, Emmanuel Amuneke came off the bench to fire two goals past Zambia and give the Super Eagles their second Nations Cup triumph after they first won the tournament on home soil in 1980.
Amuneke, who was then playing for top Egyptian side Zamalek, would subsequently move to Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon and eventually Barcelona.
“I hope I can also get a deal in Europe after what I achieved at the Nations Cup,” said the former Nigeria U17 star, who was also the match winner against star-studded Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the competition.
His exploits have already sparked off interest from top German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
In 2008, he was close to teaming up with Spanish lower league side Elche, but the deal collapsed after his local club, Enugu Rangers, demanded too much money.
“A transfer abroad is the next step for his career after his decisive goals capped a very decent tournament for him,” said Nigerian football agent Vincent Alumona, who was behind the player’s move to Spain five years ago.
“However, this could be tricky. The window in western Europe is shut, but there are still opportunities in places like Ukraine and Russia. And that is where the dilemma for Mba lies. To move now or wait till the next window in Germany, Spain or France opens in July?
“He will need good advisers to make a decision about this. And whatever he chooses would surely shape his career for the next two, three years.”
What would a European club be getting if they sign Mba?
He is a skillful, hard working player who could play deep in midfield, as a second striker or even as the top striker.
He shot to national prominence early last year when he scored twice for the Eagles in an international friendly in Liberia.
He took his chance in South Africa when the highly-rated Nosa Igiebor from La Liga outfit Real Betis struggled.
The former Enyimba star would go on to play a very deep role in the middle, using his big engine to graft for Chelsea star Mikel Obi and also having enough strength to move forward to score his two tournament-defining goals.
But the only drawback for Mba is that at 24, he is a little too long in the tooth for a big breakthrough in Europe.
Naij.com
On
Sunday in Johannesburg, the 24-year-old Warri Wolves forward scored the
goal that ended Nigeria’s 19-year wait for a continental glory as they
won their third Nations Cup trophy at the expense of Burkina Faso.In the 1994 final in Tunisia, Emmanuel Amuneke came off the bench to fire two goals past Zambia and give the Super Eagles their second Nations Cup triumph after they first won the tournament on home soil in 1980.
Amuneke, who was then playing for top Egyptian side Zamalek, would subsequently move to Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon and eventually Barcelona.
“I hope I can also get a deal in Europe after what I achieved at the Nations Cup,” said the former Nigeria U17 star, who was also the match winner against star-studded Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the competition.
His exploits have already sparked off interest from top German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
In 2008, he was close to teaming up with Spanish lower league side Elche, but the deal collapsed after his local club, Enugu Rangers, demanded too much money.
“A transfer abroad is the next step for his career after his decisive goals capped a very decent tournament for him,” said Nigerian football agent Vincent Alumona, who was behind the player’s move to Spain five years ago.
“However, this could be tricky. The window in western Europe is shut, but there are still opportunities in places like Ukraine and Russia. And that is where the dilemma for Mba lies. To move now or wait till the next window in Germany, Spain or France opens in July?
“He will need good advisers to make a decision about this. And whatever he chooses would surely shape his career for the next two, three years.”
What would a European club be getting if they sign Mba?
He is a skillful, hard working player who could play deep in midfield, as a second striker or even as the top striker.
He shot to national prominence early last year when he scored twice for the Eagles in an international friendly in Liberia.
He took his chance in South Africa when the highly-rated Nosa Igiebor from La Liga outfit Real Betis struggled.
The former Enyimba star would go on to play a very deep role in the middle, using his big engine to graft for Chelsea star Mikel Obi and also having enough strength to move forward to score his two tournament-defining goals.
But the only drawback for Mba is that at 24, he is a little too long in the tooth for a big breakthrough in Europe.
Naij.com
Keshi’s Plot To Attract Attention, Green’s Interference – Inside Story Of Big Boss’ Resignation
Stephen
Keshi‘s resignation and eventual U-turn, has sparked a series of
reactions, counter-reactions and of course, a revealing of secrets.
It
has been made to understand, that the 51-year-old deliberately took the
action to step down, so he could draw the attention of those in
authority, to the unfair treatment he has been getting from the Nigeria
Football Federation.
Related Article: “I Have Decided To Continue With My Job” – Keshi Releases Statement After Withdrawing Resignation
Sources claim that Chris Green, the head of NFF‘s technical committee, has especially been on Keshi’s neck and the coach has had to put up with his interference all the while.
“Green sees himself as coach of the Eagles,” an anonymouse source said. “He dictates to Keshi on players to select and he is always of the view that Keshi is not good enough. He is an advocate of hiring a European coach. In fact during the Nations Cup, he was discussing with many coaches, especially the coach of Zambia to take over from Keshi.”
The source continued: “The bad media is not good for Nigeria, he would have love to resolve the issue without the media attention.”
“He is not comfortable with the way they run the place. The minister wants the NFF guys sent home, just like he sent home the NPL (Nigerian Premier League) guys. He almost did last year, but he was stopped by Ayim Pius Ayim (Secretary to the government).”
Having brought the attention of the president and indeed the entire footballing circle to the matter, the source stated that Keshi now wants to be completely in charge of team affairs.
“He wants direct access to the president and also he wants the NFF off his back. The kind of politics Westerhof played in 1990s.”
Naij.com
It
has been made to understand, that the 51-year-old deliberately took the
action to step down, so he could draw the attention of those in
authority, to the unfair treatment he has been getting from the Nigeria
Football Federation.Related Article: “I Have Decided To Continue With My Job” – Keshi Releases Statement After Withdrawing Resignation
Sources claim that Chris Green, the head of NFF‘s technical committee, has especially been on Keshi’s neck and the coach has had to put up with his interference all the while.
“Green sees himself as coach of the Eagles,” an anonymouse source said. “He dictates to Keshi on players to select and he is always of the view that Keshi is not good enough. He is an advocate of hiring a European coach. In fact during the Nations Cup, he was discussing with many coaches, especially the coach of Zambia to take over from Keshi.”
“Green and Maigari has been a pain in
Keshi neck. Keshi believed that by resigning, the president will call
him and tell him all these and get the guys off his back.”
Keshi
withdrew his resignation, after a meeting with Sports Minister, Bolaji
Abdullahi, who is reportedly unhappy with how the NFF have treated the
former Mali and Togo boss.The source continued: “The bad media is not good for Nigeria, he would have love to resolve the issue without the media attention.”
“He is not comfortable with the way they run the place. The minister wants the NFF guys sent home, just like he sent home the NPL (Nigerian Premier League) guys. He almost did last year, but he was stopped by Ayim Pius Ayim (Secretary to the government).”
Having brought the attention of the president and indeed the entire footballing circle to the matter, the source stated that Keshi now wants to be completely in charge of team affairs.
“He wants direct access to the president and also he wants the NFF off his back. The kind of politics Westerhof played in 1990s.”
Naij.com
"Eagles' Victory Shouldn't Deceive Nigerians"
Former chairman of the Nigeria
Football Association (NFA), Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima has said even as
Nigerians are still basking in the euphoria of Super Eagles victory in
the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, nobody should be deceived that all is
well with Nigerian football.
The astute football administrator joined other Nigerians in congratulating the Eagles on their marvellous performance in South Africa as he said the players deserve to be commended.
Galadima, however, said despite the victory, Nigerians should not be deceived into believing that all is well with the country's number one sport as he maintained that the problems which hindered the progress of the game have not been solved.
He said after the celebration, those saddled with the responsibility of administering football in the country must sit down and try to find lasting solutions to the problems or else the victory in South Africa will be a flash in the pan.
Galadima also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to vigorously pursue his earlier plans to rejuvenate sports in the country noting that it is only when there is sufficient support from the government that sports would get the enabling environment to thrive.
His words: "I want to congratulate the Super Eagles for this victory. Even though nobody gave them a chance, by the special grace of God, they were able to win the trophy. They have brought joy to the hearts of millions of Nigerians.
"Even as we celebrate this important victory, nobody should be deceived that all is well with Nigerian football. The problems that have bedevilled our football are still there and unless those responsible for running the game find lasting solutions, our achievement in South Africa will take us nowhere.
"It is in this regard that I want to call on Mr. President to take pragmatic steps towards rejuvenating sports as he promised. If you remember, immediately after our woeful performance at the 2012 London Olympics, President Jonathan convened a national summit on sports. He will do well, if sports is given priority attention in his transformation agenda," Galadima advised.
Naij.com
The astute football administrator joined other Nigerians in congratulating the Eagles on their marvellous performance in South Africa as he said the players deserve to be commended.
Galadima, however, said despite the victory, Nigerians should not be deceived into believing that all is well with the country's number one sport as he maintained that the problems which hindered the progress of the game have not been solved.
He said after the celebration, those saddled with the responsibility of administering football in the country must sit down and try to find lasting solutions to the problems or else the victory in South Africa will be a flash in the pan.
Galadima also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to vigorously pursue his earlier plans to rejuvenate sports in the country noting that it is only when there is sufficient support from the government that sports would get the enabling environment to thrive.
His words: "I want to congratulate the Super Eagles for this victory. Even though nobody gave them a chance, by the special grace of God, they were able to win the trophy. They have brought joy to the hearts of millions of Nigerians.
"Even as we celebrate this important victory, nobody should be deceived that all is well with Nigerian football. The problems that have bedevilled our football are still there and unless those responsible for running the game find lasting solutions, our achievement in South Africa will take us nowhere.
"It is in this regard that I want to call on Mr. President to take pragmatic steps towards rejuvenating sports as he promised. If you remember, immediately after our woeful performance at the 2012 London Olympics, President Jonathan convened a national summit on sports. He will do well, if sports is given priority attention in his transformation agenda," Galadima advised.
Naij.com
APGA Is Dead – Sen Okonkwo
Senator Annie Okonkwo, who represented
the All Progressive Grand Alliance at last Wednesday’s conference where
the new opposition party was revealed, has pronounced APGA as dead.
Reacting
to comments by some national executive members of APGA disassociating
the party from the merger, Okonkwo said that they have the option to
join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, or any other party of their
choice as the decision to join the mega party had become a concluded
one.
He cited as his proof the fact that Governor Okorocha who he described as a leader of the party had endorsed the involvement of the party with three other parties last Monday.
“When the governor of the party has come up to say openly that he is part of the merger, who has the party? Do you know that the truth of the matter is that a lot of PDP people are going to be involved here?
“It is a mega party being formed, it is a merger, don’t be surprised that you will see some ACN people trying to say that they don’t want to be involved and they want to join another party or the PDP. This is the way the leadership of the party moves.
‘’If some people are saying that they will join the PDP what will you do? Will you go and force them? With this merger, all the parties involved have ceased to be. Is APGA bigger than ACN, or is it bigger than CPC or ANPP,” he rhetorically asked.
He said that the APC will give the country purposeful leadership where people will be proud to say that they are Nigerians.
Senator Okonkwo also said that it was certain that the PDP will give President Goodluck Jonathan the ticket to contest the 2015 presidential election and that it is only in the APC that the people from the South East will realize their ambition of producing a president of Igbo extraction.
Naij.com
 |
He cited as his proof the fact that Governor Okorocha who he described as a leader of the party had endorsed the involvement of the party with three other parties last Monday.
“When the governor of the party has come up to say openly that he is part of the merger, who has the party? Do you know that the truth of the matter is that a lot of PDP people are going to be involved here?
“It is a mega party being formed, it is a merger, don’t be surprised that you will see some ACN people trying to say that they don’t want to be involved and they want to join another party or the PDP. This is the way the leadership of the party moves.
‘’If some people are saying that they will join the PDP what will you do? Will you go and force them? With this merger, all the parties involved have ceased to be. Is APGA bigger than ACN, or is it bigger than CPC or ANPP,” he rhetorically asked.
He said that the APC will give the country purposeful leadership where people will be proud to say that they are Nigerians.
Senator Okonkwo also said that it was certain that the PDP will give President Goodluck Jonathan the ticket to contest the 2015 presidential election and that it is only in the APC that the people from the South East will realize their ambition of producing a president of Igbo extraction.
Naij.com
"Why Okonjo-Iweala Quit Obasanjo Govt"
Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
parted ways with former President Olusegun Obasanjo because of her
removal as the Chairman of the Economic Team of the government while she
was in London negotiating with London Club. Former Minister of the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, made this
disclosure in his memoir, 'The Accidental Public Servant,' where he
narrated his experiences while in government and private practice.
Being a key member of the powerful and influential Economic Team of the Obasanjo years, El-Rufai recalled how the team was assembled, and it included Okonjo-Iweala, the minister of state for finance Nenadi Usman [now a senator], FCT minister el-Rufai, the Economic Adviser to the President and later the Central Bank Governor Charles Soludo, the EFCC boss Nuhu Ribadu, and the Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement [Due Process] Mrs. Oby Ezekwezili. Okonjo-Iweala was the chairman.
According to El-Rufai's account, trouble began when Obasanjo decided to redeploy Okonjo-Iweala as the minister of Foreign Affairs and Ezekwezili, the Education Minister from the Solid Minerals,with Nenadi Usman becoming the Finance Minister without seeking their input or consent.
"One morning, in May of 2006, shortly after the third term effort collapsed, Obasanjo called me aside after the economic management team meeting, and said he was going to reshuffle the cabinet that day. The plan he had, he confided in me, was to move Ngozi to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to fix some persistent problems in our international relations, Oby to the ministry of education and Nenadi Usman as full cabinet minister of finance. Obasanjo said he needed me to help manage the emotions and reactions of those affected."
More
According to El-Rufai's account, Obasanjo brought him in to forestall a situation where the duo of Okonjo-Iweala and Ezekwezili would embarrass him by quitting his government as a reaction. He said calming down the two was a herculean task when he broke the news of the impending cabinet reshuffle to them.
Although the two burst into tears, Ngozi quickly adjusted and asked who would then be the chairman of the Economic Team.
"I did not have an answer so I went back to Obasanjo and asked. He said that Nenadi as minister of finance must chair the economic team, unless she was unwilling to do so. I then went up to Nenadi who seemed to have a foreknowledge of the reshuffle and looked like she knew she was going to replace Ngozi, and talked to her," El-Rufai writes.
"I confirmed to her that Obasanjo had just told me about it and we needed to meet to agree a few housekeeping issues. She followed me to the location outside the Council Chambers where Ngozi and Oby were tearfully talking in inaudible tones. We then had a four-person meeting where Nenadi agreed that Ngozi should not only continue to chair the economic team, but maintain the interface with international financial institutions until she felt ready to take that over. I reported our consultations and decision to a reluctant Obasanjo, who agreed to the arrangement but only as 'interim measure'. This would be the beginning of our team tensions."
The former Minister further revealed that both arrangements did not go down well with both Okonjo-Iweala, who is painted as 'a pragmatic student of power', and Usman, but both pretended as if they were satisfied. According to him, "Ngozi never ceased to think of herself as finance minister to the exclusion of Nenadi, and Nenadi resented the suggestion that she could not chair the economic team."
To buttress his point, El-Rufai disclosed how Oknojo-Iweala were playing host to the IMF and World Bank teams in her new office instead of Finance Ministry. He said he had to caution her to stop doing so else: "It will cause unnecessary problems."
The bubble burst when Oknojo-Iweala went to meet the London Club to negotiate the write-off of Nigeria’s modest London Club debts without the knowledge of Mrs Usman although she sought and got the approval of Obasanjo. But when the matter was brought before the President, "on the spot, Obasanjo decided to remove Ngozi as chair of the economic team, right away, without any discussion, consultation or notice, as Ngozi was in the middle of the crucial negotiations. All of the major newswires carried news of the firing of Ngozi from chairing the economic team and in the midst of meeting with her European counterparts; everyone was looking at their Blackberries and asking her if she was still authorized to continue the negotiations. It was no doubt a totally humiliating moment for Ngozi…
"She called Obasanjo from London and informed him of her decision to resign. He did nothing to dissuade her. She returned to Nigeria, submitted her resignation, packed her things, and just left, at first for Lagos, then went abroad. She was very angry at the President, at the situation, and at all of us. She expected all of us to also resign as part of our pact, but she forgot the part of the agreement that required us to consult, to talk, to discuss, and agree together."
According to El-Rufai's account, it was the then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, SAN that introduced Nuhu Ribadu to Obasanjo, and it was his appointment as the EFCC chairman that brought the two together especially as he was instrumental to the N100m the take-off money for the commission. It was a mutual friend that introduced Okonjo-Iweala to him while on six month assignment for the administration and how he was part of the catalyst that facilitated her appointment as the Finance Minister. It was both the Finance Minister and Ezekwezili with General Mohammed Abdullahi, the Chief of Staff to Obasanjo that in-turn facilitated his emergence as a Minister.
Naij.com
Being a key member of the powerful and influential Economic Team of the Obasanjo years, El-Rufai recalled how the team was assembled, and it included Okonjo-Iweala, the minister of state for finance Nenadi Usman [now a senator], FCT minister el-Rufai, the Economic Adviser to the President and later the Central Bank Governor Charles Soludo, the EFCC boss Nuhu Ribadu, and the Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement [Due Process] Mrs. Oby Ezekwezili. Okonjo-Iweala was the chairman.
According to El-Rufai's account, trouble began when Obasanjo decided to redeploy Okonjo-Iweala as the minister of Foreign Affairs and Ezekwezili, the Education Minister from the Solid Minerals,with Nenadi Usman becoming the Finance Minister without seeking their input or consent.
"One morning, in May of 2006, shortly after the third term effort collapsed, Obasanjo called me aside after the economic management team meeting, and said he was going to reshuffle the cabinet that day. The plan he had, he confided in me, was to move Ngozi to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to fix some persistent problems in our international relations, Oby to the ministry of education and Nenadi Usman as full cabinet minister of finance. Obasanjo said he needed me to help manage the emotions and reactions of those affected."
More
According to El-Rufai's account, Obasanjo brought him in to forestall a situation where the duo of Okonjo-Iweala and Ezekwezili would embarrass him by quitting his government as a reaction. He said calming down the two was a herculean task when he broke the news of the impending cabinet reshuffle to them.
Although the two burst into tears, Ngozi quickly adjusted and asked who would then be the chairman of the Economic Team.
"I did not have an answer so I went back to Obasanjo and asked. He said that Nenadi as minister of finance must chair the economic team, unless she was unwilling to do so. I then went up to Nenadi who seemed to have a foreknowledge of the reshuffle and looked like she knew she was going to replace Ngozi, and talked to her," El-Rufai writes.
"I confirmed to her that Obasanjo had just told me about it and we needed to meet to agree a few housekeeping issues. She followed me to the location outside the Council Chambers where Ngozi and Oby were tearfully talking in inaudible tones. We then had a four-person meeting where Nenadi agreed that Ngozi should not only continue to chair the economic team, but maintain the interface with international financial institutions until she felt ready to take that over. I reported our consultations and decision to a reluctant Obasanjo, who agreed to the arrangement but only as 'interim measure'. This would be the beginning of our team tensions."
The former Minister further revealed that both arrangements did not go down well with both Okonjo-Iweala, who is painted as 'a pragmatic student of power', and Usman, but both pretended as if they were satisfied. According to him, "Ngozi never ceased to think of herself as finance minister to the exclusion of Nenadi, and Nenadi resented the suggestion that she could not chair the economic team."
To buttress his point, El-Rufai disclosed how Oknojo-Iweala were playing host to the IMF and World Bank teams in her new office instead of Finance Ministry. He said he had to caution her to stop doing so else: "It will cause unnecessary problems."
The bubble burst when Oknojo-Iweala went to meet the London Club to negotiate the write-off of Nigeria’s modest London Club debts without the knowledge of Mrs Usman although she sought and got the approval of Obasanjo. But when the matter was brought before the President, "on the spot, Obasanjo decided to remove Ngozi as chair of the economic team, right away, without any discussion, consultation or notice, as Ngozi was in the middle of the crucial negotiations. All of the major newswires carried news of the firing of Ngozi from chairing the economic team and in the midst of meeting with her European counterparts; everyone was looking at their Blackberries and asking her if she was still authorized to continue the negotiations. It was no doubt a totally humiliating moment for Ngozi…
"She called Obasanjo from London and informed him of her decision to resign. He did nothing to dissuade her. She returned to Nigeria, submitted her resignation, packed her things, and just left, at first for Lagos, then went abroad. She was very angry at the President, at the situation, and at all of us. She expected all of us to also resign as part of our pact, but she forgot the part of the agreement that required us to consult, to talk, to discuss, and agree together."
According to El-Rufai's account, it was the then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, SAN that introduced Nuhu Ribadu to Obasanjo, and it was his appointment as the EFCC chairman that brought the two together especially as he was instrumental to the N100m the take-off money for the commission. It was a mutual friend that introduced Okonjo-Iweala to him while on six month assignment for the administration and how he was part of the catalyst that facilitated her appointment as the Finance Minister. It was both the Finance Minister and Ezekwezili with General Mohammed Abdullahi, the Chief of Staff to Obasanjo that in-turn facilitated his emergence as a Minister.
Naij.com
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