Reading through my brother, Yushau Shuaib’s article, about some decisions taken by some organizations, I was not too surprised about his motive for the write-up, taken into account his antecedents.
Ordinarily, I shouldn’t have responded to this malevolent and unsubstantiated article knowing full well what the writer represents, but, for the fact that it is a deliberate attempt to drag the reputation of a man that has clearly shown a high level of patriotism, the Vice President of our beloved country, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, into mud. I have mandated myself not to keep quiet, without informing the readers about the truth, hence the reason for this rejoinder.
Before I address the issues raised in his boring article, let me briefly inform Nigerians, that Yushau Shuaib is a known articulate and ready tool, to be hired or sponsored by any blackmailer. Yushau Shuaib’s shady deals earned him compensations from powerful politicians into some Federal MDAs. Among them are Federal Ministries of Information, Finance, Health, as well as the Revenue Mobilization Allocation & Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). The last Federal Government Agency he worked before he was exposed and subsequently fired, was the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), after his sponsorship by some powerful politicians from a particular zone, to attack the former Minister of Finance, Dr. Okonjo Iweala.
Now, let me go to the issues raised in Yushau Shuaib’s disjointed and unintelligent article. In his first paragraph, he ignorantly and stylishly accused the Vice President of being the board Chairman of agencies, according to him, that victimize and destroy the career of innocent and competent Public Officers, through illegal and arbitrary means of political appointees.
May I remind Yushau Shuaib, that history would always be kind to Professor Yemi Osinbajo, for being the first State Attorney General that introduced pro bono to assist innocent and competent Public Officers, from illegal and arbitrariness who could not afford the services of lawyers in Nigeria. Think about it my brother Yashuaib.
Thank God, my brother acknowledged the fact that Vice President has a reputation to protect, and it is that reputation, that is free of ambiguity or doubt, that the Vice President is trying to protect, by refusing to compromise his integrity, a posture that has made it difficult for corrupt officers to strive under the MDAs he chairs.
On the issue of Bolouri Opukin, I expected that the personality of Yashuaib’s status would have done due diligence, by doing thorough investigaton before coming to the public to make unguided comments against a patriotic Vice President, whose interest is about Nigeria’s unity and progress. For your information sir, the case between the lady in question and her organization is about misconduct in service. Her office based its actions on public service rule (PSR) 030407, which defines ‘false claims against government officials’ as a serious misconduct for which an employee should be dismissed as ultimate penalty.
The Public Service Rule is very clear about the penalty for serious misconduct in Public Service. So, it will be unfair and callous for anyone to link the Vice President to petty issues as this.
Although, Yashuaib acknowledged it was a claim, now the question begging for answer is how an experienced and educated character like Yashuaib relies on conjecture to make public comments? It is indeed very unfortunate.
As for Mrs. Mariam Danna Muhammed, I sincerely sympathise with her, but the fact must be told, her case is that of employer and employee relation. The Vice President cannot impose his decisions, or any other person’s for that matter, on a private company that is out to make profit. So, citing the recommendations of the Attorney General of the Federation does not add up, it was just an advisory. The onus is on the company to either re-absorb her or not.
NDPHC is private limited liability company and had the right to hire and fire, they can take a decision to disengage any staff without stating any reason. In Samson Babatunde Olanrewaju V. Afribank Nigeria Plc (2001)13 NWLR (Pt.731) 691, the Appellant’s employment was dismissed by the Respondent in a letter which stated no reason.
The terms of employment gave power to the respondent to dismiss for gross misconduct which was proved at trial. The Supreme Court per Katsina-Alu JSC stated; “the law regarding master and servant is not in doubt. Under this class of employment, there cannot be specific performance of a contract of service. The master has the right to terminate the contract of his servant at any time and for any reason or for none.”
As for the NEMA staff suspended, I expected Yashuaib to have done his findings before embarking on a futile sojourn as this one. The suspension of those officers by the Board of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), came as a result of the recommendation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in order to allow detectives unfettered access to vital document.
It may interest Yasuaib and his sponsors, to note that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita and the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, both appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster preparedness, investigating the activities of NEMA and made some salient clarifications backing the legality of the suspension of the affected officers (link: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/nema-suspension-six-directors-osinbajo-board-order-hos/ ).
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation also made it categorically clear, that the suspension of the affected officers were in order, citing the relevant provisions in the Public Service Rule
As for the needless comparison, let me tell Yashuaib that comparing the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, with other people that held that same position since 1999, is like comparing light with darkness. The Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria before now, was tagged as “spare tyre” office, but the vibrancy and productiveness of Professor Yemi Osinbajo has changed that mind-set!
May I strongly inform my brother Yashuaib, and his sponsors, that the Vice President is known for his diligence and has not disappointed the majority of Nigerians that elected him in 2015. No amount of campaign of calumny and blackmail, can deter the Vice President from continuing with the good job he is doing.
God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria
Wada Yahaya
