Prof Anwukah Has Been Screened By The SSS, Why The Character Assassination Now?

In the world of internet news especially on Nigeria matters, talking and writing all sorts of stories has become all too common.

President Muhammadu Buhari as required by law has nominated, a ministerial nominee, Professor Anthony Anwukah of Imo State, a former Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University and a previous Imo State Secretary to Government.

He has since been screened by the State Security Service (SSS), also known as the Department of State Services; as such it is now left for the Senate to fully complete his certification, as one of the appointed Ministers.

But suddenly some in the media and within the public arena are calling the former Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University a criminal.

This story reminds one of George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election in America. Unlike Prof Anwukah who was reportedly found wanting in a suit for “administrative racketeering,” former President Bush was actually arrested for criminal offences which included possession of cocaine , and for driving while drunk, and he even entered a guilty plea for driving under the influence of alcohol.

His criminal record was later expunged by a judge as we all make mistakes from time to time. He went on to become a two-term U.S. President with some great success in the area of national security and some failings in the area of economy.

Here in this discourse, it is essential to know that this Psychologist has never met professor Anwukah personally and professionally, as such, this writing is purely from the point of educational and commonsense discourse.

As to Anwukah , even if we all agree he was once legally liable in an offence, the question now should be, is he a man of worthy academic qualifications, and administrative wit that could soundly be put to use for the nation’s growth and progress?

And could it be possible that he has learned from issues surrounding honesty in service, transparency in matters of governance, and administrative propriety, of course it is possible he has as such is the nature of humanity.

The court has since be cleared him of wrongdoing over the case as it is now known that the former ruling of misdeed is no more at least legally, as noted in the following manner; “set aside/annul the entire proceedings leading to the Judgment in default entered by the Honorable Court in the Suit on 29th January, 2013.”

What the Nigeria media and the public need to learn about civil and criminal accusations is that when it is judicially proven that a person has been cleared of case or there is a reversal in a previous judgement, by law that individual is as free as the air.

Therefore, such legal realities are taking into considerations by investigative bodies like the SSS, and by those involve in the vetting process such as the Senate, and that is how it should be in a normal thinking society.

We must stop trying to disqualify persons on the basis of sentiments as that is not how the Constitution and democracy work.

There is nowhere in the universe where everything has to be right with a person but what we all hope for is that a nominee like Anwukah should engage his public office with a display of knowledge, competence, proficiency and dexterity.

While our nation remains an emerging society and a developing democracy that should not be an excuse for the media to base its stories on innuendo or deliberate misinformation on persons as it relates to the subject's morals, integrity, and reputation.

Our media stories should attempt to contain information that are generally not misleading, not out of context and not defined by character assassination.

Regardless of the media frenzy and sensation, professor Anwukah by the media’s own admission has the established qualifications and experience to serve in the federal executive branch of government and that is what really count at this time.

Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi is a Florida based Forensic/Clinical Psychologist, a specialist in Police/Prison/Mental disability matters and a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association. [email protected], drjohneoshodi.com