Contrary to the impression created by the presidency that the Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji, resigned from office on his own volition, highly placed sources familiar with the matter have told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Nnaji was actually forced to resign Tuesday following a gale of allegations linking him with attempts to subvert the bidding process for the sale of Afam Power plant.
Aso Rock spokesperson, Reuben Abati, had released a statement this evening saying President Goodluck Jonathan had accepted the power minister’s resignation and wished him well in his future endeavours.
But presidency sources have told us the minister was compelled by Mr. Jonathan to resign after allegations of conflict of interest in the privatisation of the power plant was confirmed .
Reports earlier this week had linked Mr. Nnaji with direct interests in one of the firms shortlisted to bid for the 776 megawatts (MW) capacity Afam power plant, already slated for privatisation by the Federal Government.
The plant, consisting about 18 gas turbines, is considered the most viable of the power plants slated for privatization by the Federal government, particularly with the recent approval of about N500 million for its rehabilitation.
Apart from his interest in acquiring the plant, Mr Nnaji reportedly used his privileged position to influence the emergence of one of the firms in pole position to be selected winner, an effort that reportedly earned him a gratification of a brand new Prado jeep and cash reward in excess of N89million. Mr. Nnaji could not be reached Tuesday night to respond to these allegations.
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has, since the commencement of the process of privatising the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) subsidiary firms, engaged the minister in a running battle, accusing him of pursuing a hidden selfish agenda.
NUEE General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, had, on behalf of the PHCN workers that have already been served sack letters, queried the decision to give them only 25 per cent of their entitlement for Pension and Gratuity, pointing out that the arrangement confirmed their fears that Mr. Nnaji’s reform was aimed at strangulating workers.
Prior to his appointment, Mr Nnaji was the chairman, Geometrics Power, one of the 18 private companies that were granted operational licenses by the Federal Government to undertake the generation of electricity to compliment the effort to boost the country’s available supply capacity.
It was gathered that the decision to ask Mr. Nnaji to turn in his resignation letter may have followed the confirmation by the Presidency of some of the allegations levelled against him.
President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have decision to ask his minister to resign his appointment rather than sack him, to save his administration the monumental embarrassment such an action could have generated.
Presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, could not be reached for comments as he did not answer calls to his mobile telephones.
via PremiumTimes
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Nothing impossible, but Abati’s words is not enough, I’m sure there is more to it, why only Nnaji but not include Deisani & aviation minister too, anyway we are waiting for more.
if GEJ and Abati want nigerians to believe Nnaji’s resignation/sack is a fight against corruption, then I think daziani should also go.
As they wasted our money and those people who doesn’t want Nigeria ??? have stable electricity God will surely destroy them and their family
Mr President u r not been sincere,what is Diezani still doing? What of Aruma Otteh,she was asked to begin a compulsory leave and you brought her back.
I hate to be branded a tribalist.
But is there some type of obsession by Ndigbo with money?
I cant but recall the Fabian Osujis, Wabaras, etc, etc, and now Barth Nnaji who were entrusted with political office but fell due to greed and financial avarice.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
“[1] Bids for PHCN Generating companies from Dangote Group was REJECTED because Dangote Group submitted late! #HeSteppedOnTOES #ReasonsWhyBarthNnajiWasForcedOut”
“[2] Bids for PHCN from Professor Jerry Gana’s Supertek Limited was REJECTED. #HeSteppedOnTOES #ReasonsWhyBarthNnajiWasForcedOut”
“[3] Bids for PHCN from Chief Arumeni-Johnson’s Rockson Engineering was REJECTED! #HeSteppedOnTOES #ReasonsWhyBarthNnajiWasForcedOut”
“[4] Bids for PHCN from Marubeni of Japan, for Kainji generating station was REJECTED. #HeSteppedOnTOES #ReasonsWhyBarthNnajiWasForcedOut”
“[5] Many other powerful bidders [who breached various rules] for PHCN were REJECTED. #HeSteppedOnTOES #ReasonsWhyBarthNnajiWasForcedOut”
“[6] Finally, #BarthNnaji was forced out because he stepped on TOES, forget the striking unions, don’t fall for the AFAM power plant scam! #ReasonsWhyBarthNnajiWasForcedOut”
Prof Bartholomew Nnaji was fully engaged in the private sector before he was offered the ministerial job, andd the FG is/was damn aware of this, was GEJ expecting him to close down his private career just to serve as a minister? In the law, all he had to do was to have a blind trustee to manage his interest in the private sector while he is away on *sabbatical* in the Ministry of Power, which he did!
Apparently, the presidency has shot itself in the foot again, accepting/forcing #BarthNnaji to resign at this moment is RETROGRESSIVE!”
1 minister down, 40 more to go, except, perhaps, the Agriculture Minister!
This is why I love GEJ. He is a nice man and decided to save him the disgrace of sacking him. Buh too bad, we know the truth.
A blind trust, is a trust in which the fiduciaries, namely the trustees or those who have been given power of attorney, have full discretion over the assets, and the trust beneficiaries have no knowledge of the holdings of the trust and no right to intervene in their handling. Blind trusts are generally used when a settlor (sometimes called a trustor or donor) wishes to keep the beneficiary unaware of the specific assets in the trust, such as to avoid conflict of interest between the beneficiary and the investments
If this story is true and the Minister had a blind trust representing his interest, then i dont see his wrong doing here.
If all the bidding rules were followed to the latter and his company wins the bid, what is wrong with that?
I believe in playing by the rules of the game and in this instance, i dont think any rule has been broken..THAT IS IF THIS STORY IS TRUE
Prof Barth Nnaji did a splendid and thorough job in the Power Ministry, yes, he has his shortcomings, but I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that HE WAS FORCED TO RESIGN BECAUSE, TO THEM, HE HAD STEP ON BIG TOES!
@Parrot,face it I tink u’re just being tribalistic! Is Okupe not corrupt? Bode George,Tafa Balogun,Demeji Bankole,Arisekola etc does dat mean Yorubas are corrupt?@Parrot,pls don’t call Igbos corrupt,I won’t take dat! More over,all d allegations are just speculations nothing has been proved,so stop pointing accusing fingers without prove! He has been d best Power minister if u ask me!
If there is a corruption allegation against Berth Nnaji and truely our dear president is out to fight corruption then the presidency should come out in stong term and tell us the offence he committed. I believe there is more to what has meet the eye. Yes he may be corrupt and it is possible he step on some “govt pikin” toes.
A step in the right direction.Diesani should honourably resign her appointment as well
Inaji should b arrested to answer to all d allegations