YORUBA YOUTH CHIDES TOURISM CORPORATION CHAIRMAN OVER RUSEWE’S “SUSPENSION”

By Gbenga Babawibe

The reported suspension of the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba Olusegun Rusewe by chairman of the board chairman, Mr. Uche Anya without recourse to the presidency has been described as an insult on the President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Yoruba Youths Consultative Forum (YYCF) in a statement signed by its Director of Communications, Mr. Ayo Olorunsola, commended the president for promptly quashing the purported suspension, saying; “By the swiftness in which Mr. President acted on the matter, he has once again demonstrated his avowed commitment to due process and rule of law.”

The youths forum, which described Otunba Runsewe as not only a pride to the tourism industry in Nigeria, also noted that “it would amount to killing the tourism industry if result-oriented people are sacrificed on the altar of personal gains.”

“Not only because Otunba Rusewe is a Yoruba leader that we are very proud of, but the suspension of an appointee of Mr. President by a part-time chairman of a Board without any recourse to the president is an insult on the person and office of the President.

“Therefore, it is highly commendable that President Goodluck Jonathan promptly quashed the directive, which in all intent and purposes could have negative effect on the tourism transformation vision of the government,” YYCF said.

While urging the Tourism Corporation Board Chairman to foster harmonious relationship with the management, YYCF said; “The Uche Anya-led board should work with the Otunba Rusewe-led management so that the vision and mission of President Jonathan for the tourism industry can be achieved.

“This is what is needed instead of taking steps that are capable of destroying all that has been achieved in the corporation since Otunba Rusewe became the director general.”