Goodluck Jonathan assembled “Nigeria’s finest brains” to run his govt – Can Tinubu learn?

By Obiasogu David

You say Jonathan ran a very corrupt government…I won’t argue.

You allege that he was a hopeless drunk…I no sabi.

You say he’s promiscuous and a cheat…I don’t care

But…

Will you question Jonathan’s genuine intention for Nigeria – especially by assembling the “best brains” to run the major sectors of the economy.

In fact, his cabinet was fondly called a “star-studded” cabinet.

A majority of them became most sought-after, upon leaving office in 2015, to head top positions across the globe – largely because of the wealth of knowledge, experience, and capacity they’re blessed with.

No 1:

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy/Finance Minister. She initially rejected an offer to join Yar’Adua government. But Atedo Peterside and a few others persuaded her to join Jonathan’s government.

In her book, she revealed how Jonathan, although not knowledgeable in economics, was willing to listen and act when necessary.

Her words, “We had a good discussion on the economy, and even though he kept saying he did not know economics, he was clear on the direction he wanted to take the country.”

Of course, Madam Ngozi’s expertise and dogged dedication, collaborating with her team of experts saw Nigeria move up to become Africa’s Biggest economy.

One special thing she did was to set up a dedicated “economic team” and “smaller economic implementation team.”

The economic team would meet regularly – once a month and at intervals – to oversee broader economic policies. While the implementation team would meet once a week to coordinate between economic portfolios and get things done.”

Madam Ngozi would go on to become Word Trade Organization (WTO) Director General (DG).

Today, she sits on the board of Twitter and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Even more, she serves as the Senior Adviser at Lazard and a Director at Standard Chartered Plc in the United Kingdom, etc.

No 2.

Akinwunmi Adesina – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

He was one of Jonathan’s most visible ministers because of the innovative programmes he regularly launched in the Agricultural sector.

This included implementing an innovative electronic wallet system that provided farmers with subsidised farm inputs using their mobile phones.

This would eventually end the 40 years of corruption that bedeviled the fertiliser sector.

At least, we can recall the N122million grant his Ministry disbursed to 27 Nagropreneurs in each of the six geo-political zones.

Adesina once narrated how Obasanjo and a few other prominent Nigerians convinced him to work with Jonathan. And when he eventually accepted to work under him, Jonathan gave him the best support – as President.

Adesina would go on to become the President of African Development Bank Group (ADB).

No 3.

Dr. Muhammed Ali Pate – Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare.

Mr Ali’s bold and revolutionary vision for Nigeria’s health sector and his resolve to bring into reality that vision were clear and visible.

He would go on to become the Chief Executive Officer of the Global Vaccine Alliance – which remains world’s largest global health fund, worth about $21 billion.

The organization was able to cover more than 100 countries through the pandemic period from its base in Geneva, Switzerland.

He proceeded to work as an Associate Professor at America’s Duke University where he taught comparative health systems for a two-year period

Since he left, as Minister, he’s engaged in international development projects (particularly in the health sector) across the United States, the East Asian Pacific, South Pacific, East Asia, and East and Southern Africa.

Needless to mention that he’s the Senior Adviser to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation based in Washington DC.

No 4.

Dr. Omobola Johnson – Minister of Communication Technology.

She is often referred to as one of Nigeria’s “boardroom gurus” for her unrivaled wealth of knowledge and experience.

On 30 May 2013, she presented the Nigerian National Broadband Plan for 2013 to 2018 to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan – a catalyst for innovation in the ICT sector.

Recall how she launched the NigComSat-IR Satellite – which improve on our fibre connectivity and provide greater bandwidth.

She currently chairs the Board of Guinness Nigeria. She’s also the Chairperson of Custodian and Allied Insurance Limited as well as the Global Alliance for Affordable Internet.

No 5.

Ms Arunma Oteh – Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The story of her dogged f!ght in cleaning the mess in the sector and bringing about innovative change is known to every Nigerian who has followed conversations in the polity.

It wasn’t surprising that Nigeria’s equity grew in geometric proportions, and by the time Jonathan’s government departed in 2015, the market had tripled in size to $10bn in value.

Just two months after she left office, she was appointed the Vice President and Treasurer at the World Bank.”

No 6

Amina Mohammed – Ms. Mohammed served as Minister of Environment. She was also a Senior Adviser to the president on Millennium Development Goals.

Of course, her story still reverberates amongst Nigerians. She spent over 30 years, as a technocrat, creating impacts on the global scene.

Many Nigerians became aware of and interested in climate action and efforts to protect the natural environment because of the efforts of her ministry.

Her milestone achievements and soaring profile earned her an appointment as the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General in 2016.

Of course, it’s a long and overwhelming list of “intellectual stars” – technocrats who didn’t emerge from and were not tainted by the stinking, muddy waters of Nigeria’s politics.

They stand in sharp contrast to the “clique of quacks” Buhari appointed, by virtue of favouritism, tribalism, and affiliation in kleptocracy.

Buhari gave Tinubu a template to jumpstart his “Presidential career,” and in just a year, he overtook Buhari by merely assembling surrogates who only pay allegiance to his “mafia system”

– square pegs in round holes who can best be defined by their level of cluelessness and ineptitude.

Today, they’ve utterly rubbished every single progress Nigeria, destroyed the economy, and sent the country to dark, primitive ages.

Will Tinubu learn from Goodluck Jonathan? – NO. He doesn’t have the impulse for learning “good governance.”

Confiance News culled this article from David Obiasogu’s official X handle.

Please follow and like us: