A human rights coalition has defended the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over allegation that she has favoured persons from her Igbo nationality with federal appointments in agencies under her watch.
The group under the aegis of Good Governance and Transparency Coalition (GGTC), described the allegation as “phantom, puerile and a huge fallacy” that should be disregarded by Nigerians.
A statement by the Coalition’s Chief of Operations Mr. Muhammadu Umar Farouk, noted that the Minister of Finance is a reputable global academic and financial expert who attained one of the highest international professional status when she served as the Managing Director of the World Bank.
“For several weeks now, there has been an orchestrated media campaign against the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala by groups and individuals who claim that they are fighting for their ethnic groups but who are actually fighting for their own very selfish interest.
“The main part of the campaign is the claim that the minister is pursuing an Igbo agenda because she has appointed many Igbos as heads of agencies under her ministry. To support this false thesis, they cite as examples the following South Easterners in such positions: Mustapha Chike Obi- DG AMCON; Arunma Oteh- DG, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Abraham Nwankwo- DG, Debt Management Office and Osita Onyema- DG Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
“What is curious about the false charges is that all these persons and others who have also been cited were already in office by the time Okonjo-Iweala returned as Minister in September 2011. In fact, one of them had been in office for almost five years before she came back.
“This ridiculous accusation proves one thing: the people making such accusations against this hardworking nationalist are mischievous, ignorant or more likely both. Now the campaigners are widening their net of lies. They are now fishing everywhere to find names of Igbos that they will claim were influenced by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. They are ready to do anything, spend any amount to tarnish her reputation as a patriot.
“The question that we must ask is: why are these people so afraid of excellence? Why are they so much against giving a chance for brilliant and qualified young Nigerians from all parts of the country and the diaspora to contribute their quota to national development? Why do they want to draw Nigeria back?”.
“It is very clear that they are working for themselves not for Nigeria. Nigerians want the best for their country. They are clearly working against the interests of this country. But they will not be different from the many others who tried but failed to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians”, the Coalition submitted.
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