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Just
when it seemed that the president had little fight left in him, he
launches a pre-emptive strike against one of his most senior political
appointees. Alhaji Baba Kingibe must still be reeling from the after
effects of the surprise knockout punch dealt to him by the president.
In ordinary circumstances, his dismissal from the government ought not
to have attracted much comment or reaction, since political appointees
in the executive arm of the government serve entirely at the pleasure
of the president. And the right to hire and fire individuals is an
integral, if not routine part of the president’s function.
But
the instance of the dismissal of Alhaji Kingibe from his influential
position leaves one with the impression that there was nothing routine
about it. The surprise of the abruptness of his dismissal is matched
only by the surprise of his appointment to the position in the first
instance. An appointment, which it is understood, the president was
advised against making by his predecessor. As it happens this advice
went unheeded; perhaps because the president was keen to establish a
reputation for independent mindedness and action during the early days
of his tenure. With hindsight it turns out that his predecessor counsel
was correct.
Quite
what Alhaji Kingibe might have done to merit such a decisive kick up
his fundament, is likely be the subject of conjecture for some time to
come. Traditionally, holders of the office of Secretary to the Federal
Government (SFGN) keep their heads down, get on with their job and
avoid controversy; but Alhaji Kingibe is of an entirely different
order.
He
is a fiercely ambitious and intelligent man and one of the genuine big
beasts in the Nigerian political jungle. And so he must have viewed his
position as SFGN and its unfettered access to the seat of power as an
opportunity to mark territory after the manner of big beast.
Ever
since he ran with the late Chief MKO Abiola on the ticket of the
defunct SDP, he seems to have formed the idea that it is his destiny to
one day become president of
Nigeria
.
That much is evident from his political posturings. Posturings which
seem to have distracted him from focusing on his day job as SFGN.
There
is no doubt that he considers himself, in comparison to others and
possibly the president included, an ‘alpha male’ in Nigerian politics.
It is easy to see how he may have arrived at such a conclusion, seeing
that the Nigerian political landscape is one in which political midgets
abound, and over whom he towers with ease. Or at least, in his
estimation he does.
In fairness to Alhaji Kingibe, he is a bright and articulate man. During his stint as the AU’s Special Representative in
Darfur
,
he displayed a mastery of his brief often impressing others with his
presentational skills. And just last year at the ‘This Day’s’ ‘Nigeria
Meets the World’ forum in New York, he gave a good account of himself
as he lectured with erudition, Dr. Henry Kissinger, on some of the key
issues affecting Africa, after the renowned diplomat got himself
muddled on the subject.
However,
in spite of his positive personal traits, he suffers from the twin
defects of a loyalty deficit and an overpowering sense of ambition;
defects of which, make him a difficult man to do business with. But now
that the president has come to see him for what he really is and has
dispensed with his services, maybe the benefits of more productive
governance will percolate through to the people; particularly, if
Alhaji Kingibe was a cog in the wheel of progress.
By
his sacking of Alhaji Kingibe it seems that the president issued an
unequivocal statement of intent and warning to other over ambitious
politicians within his government. The message being, that henceforth,
it is going to have to be the president’s way or the highway for those
who are disloyal.
Alhaji
Kingibe let his ambitions get the better of him. He should have
realised that with the recent retirement of key military chiefs (an
action he must have been privy to) by the president, the president
demonstrated his willingness to wield the axe where and when necessary.
And so he ought to have been more mindful of his actions. In the
present climate, one imagines that there will be more axing and more
heads to roll.
It
is often advocated in politics, that it is advisable to keep one’s
‘enemies’ within sight in order to keep a close eye on them. But in the
case of Alhaji Kingibe it may be best to dispatch him on another
foreign adventure where he can put his proven talents to better use on
behalf of the nation.
That
way at least the president can rest assured that he (Kingibe) is out of
mischief’s way, thereby allowing him (the president) to rest secure in
the knowledge that where Alhaji Kingibe is concerned ‘out of sight is
out of mind’.
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Authors 
Posted by Robot| 11.09.2008 23:10