The Minister of Power, Mr. Sale Mamman, has said there is no confusion on the removal and re-instatement of former Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Managing Director, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi, so she could formally resign and take up a United Nations (UN) job.
He spoke as news filtered in that the Presidency has again reversed him on the removal of Marylyn Amobi as the Managing Director of the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) Amobi is to resume her seat.
It was gathered that the reversal in NBET happened because the Minister overstepped his mandate because NBET, though trading in electricity, is under the Ministry of Finance.
One of the spokesmen to the Minister, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, told Nigeria Everyday in response to our story over the seeming confusion over Ogunbiyi’s pligh on Wednesday: “The honorable minister had suspended her based on clear cut reasons before him and those were marshalled out well. Yet, if the reversal was designed to aid her in her new calling and to help a fellow citizen advance for the benefit of all, so be it. It was a demonstration of goodwill and magnanimity for which the government should be commended, considering the humanity in it. After all, even a government can temper justice with mercy.
https://everyday.ng/confusion-nigeria-writes-un-cites-lack-of-due-process-for-rea-mds-removal/
Nigeria Everyday reports that an apparently embarrassed Federal Government had last Monday written the UN, citing a lack of due process for the indefinite suspension of Ogunbiyi by the Minister of Power.
Recall that on the day government was explaining its position to the UN, the minister disclosed that Ogunbiyi and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET), Marylyn Amobi, were sent packing for forming a cabal that was strangulating power delivery to Nigerians.
Many are at a loss how this is, and why such a statement should be issued at about the same time President Muhammadu Buhari was countermanding the Minister, and the Federal Government was writing to the UN, in a bid to make amends for the embarrassing suspension of Ogunbiyi.
Explaining their sack, the minister in a statement by his Special Assistant, Aaron Artimas, said the women were sent home for being part of a group that held the power ministry hostage and made power delivery to Nigerians difficult.
Curiously, on the same day, a permanent secretary in the SGF’s office, another woman, Dr. Habiba Lawal, was signing a letter to the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, another Nigerian woman, Ms. Amina Mohammed, appearing to apologise for the clumsiness of Ms. Ogunbiyi’s predicament.
“Mamman knows full well she was to take a UN job this year, after securing the appointment last October,” a source said, adding that Ogunbiyi was simply running her course until she resumed at the world stage as a Nigerian.
Apparently to fend off an international embarassment, the Presidency caused a release to be issued that the President had reversed her suspension, accepting her resignation letter so she could resume at the UN.
“Preesident Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the suspension of Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi from her role as Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency be reversed.
“Her resignation effective 31 December 2019 has been accepted to enable her take up her new UN appointment.”
The minister’s Monday statement reads:
“Many Nigerians are not unaware of the squabbling and unfortunate infighting affecting the two agencies as well as other alleged infractions.
“This obviously affected their performance in impacting the entire industry. No responsible leadership will tolerate such chaotic situation and expect success on the ultimate goal of improving power in the country.”
“As early as November last year, this cabal began to sponsor insidious reports using some faceless groups in Lagos, claiming that ‘the Ministry of Power was failing under the new minister.’
“It is the same ‘untouchables’ who want to perpetuate themselves in power that are now resisting any form of reorganisation meant to reposition the ministry for optimum performance.
“The ministry should not be tied down by individuals whose only concern is the retention of power at the expense of service delivery.”