WHY I PICKED ANYIM, BY JONATHAN
President seeks sacrifice for Nigeria's greatness
Ohanaeze, others hail ex-Senate President's appointment
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan formally kicked off his new administration yesterday with the swearing-in of former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Jonathan said he opted for Anyim for the choice office because of his experience in public administration, especially in the legislature.
According to him, Anyim is a 'part of a team of champions that we are putting in place to drive our transformation agenda.'
The President said the most urgent task before his government is to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians through job creation, provision of stable electricity and delivery on all electoral promises.
Jonathan also called for sacrifice from all public office holders and the private sector, stating that this is what is needed as 'the time for transformation has begun.'
He told Anyim before the array of top Nigerians at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that the challenge before him is to ensure high integrity, accountability and openness in the conduct of government's business.
Jonathan disclosed that the selection of Anyim 'was anchored on high national expectations,' asserting that he is eminently qualified for the office.
The President paid glowing tributes to the former SGF, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, for his service to Nigeria, saying that he 'is one of the most experienced public officers that the country has produced. He brought that experience to bear to the service of his fatherland.
'Today (yesterday), as Alhaji Yayale bows out, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim is stepping into his shoes after a careful selection process that was anchored on high national expectations. In selecting Senator Anyim, we took into cognisance his records of public service, his career as a senator, his role as the Senate President and his leadership skills that our nation needs at this time. Our nation needs men and women who can match words with action, leaders who are ready to learn and lead at the same time,' he said.
Jonathan continued: 'The Secretary to the Government of the Federation is part of a team of champions that we are putting in place to drive our transformation agenda. He is to co-ordinate government policies, ministries, extra-ministerial departments and agencies, including the Cabinet Office. I, therefore, urge you Senator Anyim to bring these virtues and experience to bear on your service as you co-ordinate the activities of the government. The challenge before you, therefore, is to ensure high integrity, accountability and openness in the conduct of government's business. Nigeria must have a government that truly prides itself in the service of its citizens.
'All of us must together commit ourselves to the entrenchment of good government at all levels. We must live by example in words and deeds. We must show the people that this time around, we are determined. My distinguished senator, you are called to serve at the most challenging time, a time that we are determined to transform Nigeria, a time that we are determined to do things differently, a time that we are calling for sacrifice from all public office holders and the private sector, a time that we are calling on all Nigerians to stop lamenting and join government to transform our country.
'We must alleviate the sufferings of our people, we must create jobs, provide electricity and deliver on our electoral promises. This is the most urgent task before this government. Senator Anyim, the time for transformation has begun, welcome on board.'
Anyim later told journalists that 'within the limits of the responsibilities of my office, I will fit into the vision of Mr. President. I will help to drive his vision to the best of my abilities.'
His appointment is seen as Jonathan's partial fulfilment of the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoning arrangement, where the SGF is allotted to the South-East zone.
Anyim's kinsmen and groups, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, former governor of Anambra State and Senator-elect, Dr. Chris Ngige, yesterday commended Jonathan for settling for Anyim for the esteemed office.
Ngige told The Guardian that Anyim is head and politically taller than those listed for the position from the South-East zone.
'Anyim is very young, energetic, intelligent and above all more politically suave. For me, the post should not be weighted for the zone in the political basket for offices of the nation. With this appointment, we still expect the President to ask his party men to return the stolen position of the PDP national chairman to the rightful owners – the South-East – till March 2012,' Ngige said.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya, described Anyim's appointment as a welcome development and a sign that Ndigbo is getting into the mainstream of the country's politics.
The choice of Anyim among those short-listed means that President Jonathan has seen something in him and the entire South-East zone. 'We know him and his antecedents very well and we are convinced that he will do the zone and country proud in his new assignment,' Eya declared.
The first Republic Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, expressed appreciation to Jonathan for giving the zone the honour to produce the SGF after many years of our country's Independence. He said the South-East preferred the SGF to the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, describing the latter as an office for the personal aggrandisement of the occupant. He emphasised that SGF is closer to the government and can influence the decision-making process.
Also, the first state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State and leader of Ohanaeze, Chief Guy Ikoku, said as far as zoning is concerned, the SGF is better for the Igbo than other offices. He said Anyim's appointment showed that Jonathan meant well for the zone.
'We were not surprised with Anyim's appointment because he is level-headed, less ambitious and very humane. His records are there and he is a true son of Ndigbo that we are proud of at anytime,' Ikoku said.
Ohanaeze had reportedly sent four nominees for the office to the President.
The selection was allegedly based on their order of acceptability to the people of the South-East after wide consultations.
Among the nominees were Prof. Ben Obumselu, Chief Dim Nwala, Chief Emeka Eze of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), and Anyim, who eventually clinched the office.
Eya had said Ohanaeze's decision to nominate four persons for the SGF's office was in the best interest of Ndigbo, adding that it would minimise the rampant quest by individuals in the zone for juicy positions.
'We never wanted someone that when his name was mentioned, people will begin to feel disenchanted. We wanted someone that was the wish of the generality of our people; someone they feel they can trust and rely upon. These were the criteria we followed while making the choice', Eya said.
Also, members of the Senators' Forum yesterday applauded Jonathan's appointment of Anyim as SFG. It said the former Senate President has the experience needed for the country's transformation.
At the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos yesterday, the forum's National Publicity Secretary, Sunday Fajimi, said: 'We are excited that the new SFG is a former Senate President. Nigerians are going to see what quality we have had and still have in the Senate, now that senators are being put in offices to make decisions on broader level, Nigerians will now enjoy the new political climate.'
Meanwhile, the Igbo Youth Alliance (IYA) has asked President Jonathan to evolve a workable blueprint for the nation.
In a statement titled 'State of the Nation Address' and signed by the group's National Co-ordinator Okey Nwokoye, National Secretary, Uwa Uzomah and National Publicity Secretary, Emeka Ikemefuna, urged the President and state governors to immediately begin the process of preparing and implementing blueprints for the nation and their various states to fast-track the economic and socio-political development of the country.
They advised Jonathan to appoint only seasoned technocrats as ministers and to man other government departments and agencies in order to kick-start the development of the nation, especially the energy sector.