NEMA Spokesman Loses His Job For Criticising Okonjo-Iweala

Minister of Finance - Okonjo Iweala

 

National Emergency Management Agency NEMA Public Relations Officer, Yushau Shuaibu, has been removed from office for reportedly publishing an article that was critical of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Shuaibu’s removal, it was gathered, took place last Thursday.

Besides, there are fears that he might face further sanction from the authorities for daring to raise issues on Okonjo-Iweala’s alleged involvement in the appointment of her relatives to top positions.

Shuaibu in a newspaper article had said, 

“Dr. Okonjo-Iweala should also note that blatant disregard for the sensitivities and sensibilities of others while arrogantly promoting only people from her tribe may expose them to hatred with potentially explosive consequences such as those experienced in the 1960s when most federal positions were occupied by a particular tribal group.

“For those of us who still respect the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, we strongly believe she should dissociate herself from current allegations of ‘biafranisation’ of top public offices in Nigeria. We are in democratic government where policy issues should not be done in dictatorial manner of ‘we-are-now-in-power’.”

Okonjo-Iweala had complained about the article to Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who conveyed the minister’s dissatisfaction to the NEMA Director-General, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi.

It was learnt on Thursday that the finance minister called Shuaibu and reprimanded the NEMA image-maker over the article and even insisted that he should write a rebuttal in some dailies.