By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
There was, yesterday, a hoax over the resignation of the
Coordinating Minister of the Economy and the Minister Finance,
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who was sworn-in by President
Goodluck Jonathan just on Wednesday.
Text messages conveying the rumoured resignation of the
minister were passed round at about noon, yesterday
precipitating several frantic calls to officials of the presidency as
well as, those of the Ministry of Finance to confirm the story
which also appeared on an online news site.
But the office of the minister dismissed the story, saying that it
was the handiwork of evil and corrupt people who were afraid of
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s position against corruption.
Her Special Adviser, on Information and Communication, Mr.
Paul Nwabuikwu, said in a swift reaction that the information
was completely false and a calculated attempt to distract the
minister but that the objective would not be achieved.
His words, “it has been brought to our notice that an online
website is alleging that Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the
Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance,
has resigned her position.
“The information is completely false and without foundation.
“We are aware that the baseless falsehood is part of the ongoing
orchestrated campaign by entrenched interests and corrupt
groups working against more transparent and improved
governance in the country.
“The obvious intention is to distract Dr Okonjo-Iweala from
contributing to the realisation of the vision of President
Goodluck Jonathan and his administration for sustainable
economic growth in Nigeria.
“This intention will not be achieved because Dr Okonjo-Iweala
will not be distracted”.
Some interests, indeed, appeared to be bent on discouraging Dr.
Okonjo-Iweala from serving in the Jonathan administration as
they have been sponsoring publications that she would not
return to Nigeria.
Even before the Senate clearing session, there were stories that
the woman wouldn’t return on the ground that she had turned
down the offer of Mr. President to serve in the cabinet.
By Thursday, there was a rumoured clash between her and the
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido
Sanusi over the nationalization of the three banks only a week
before her arrival.
Besides, when she returned to the Washington, United States of
America, after the clearing by the Senate, another story broke
out to the effect that she had made up her mind not to serve
because she demanded to be paid in dollar and requested to be
given a free hand to pick members of her National Economic
Management Team.more transparent and improved
governance in the country.
“The obvious intention is to distract Dr Okonjo-Iweala from
contributing to the realisation of the vision of President
Goodluck Jonathan and his administration for sustainable
economic growth in Nigeria.
“This intention will not be achieved because Dr Okonjo-Iweala
will not be distracted”.
Some interests, indeed, appeared to be bent on discouraging Dr.
Okonjo-Iweala from serving in the Jonathan administration as
they have been sponsoring publications that she would not
return to Nigeria.
Even before the Senate clearing session, there were stories that
the woman wouldn’t return on the ground that she had turned
down the offer of Mr. President to serve in the cabinet.
By Thursday, there was a rumoured clash between her and the
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido
Sanusi over the nationalization of the three banks only a week
before her arrival.
Besides, when she returned to the Washington, United States of
America, after the clearing by the Senate, another story broke
out to the effect that she had made up her mind not to serve
because she demanded to be paid in dollar and requested to be
given a free hand to pick members of her National Economic
Management Team.

i hope our idiots in the sss and FG will not start to harass wazobiareporters

i can see the gej dunce brigade defending them if they do

What kind of country is this where so called educated officials don't understand satire. Even when the writer and publisher clearly stated it. I tire for una o. What are they teaching in those universities these days? Aristorism and twitterring abi na BBing?

Do they still require Logic and comprehension courses for undergraduates? Abi na electives now?

It's time they start encouraging more reading and better literacy in this country. Africa Magic and Blackberry don injure una brains  finish

See them blaming "detractors" and "enemies" of progress. SMH

Is it WAZOBIAreporter's fault that most of us are borderline illiterates with no sense of humor or finesse to grasp the essence of satire and the nuances of finer writings.

Even my fellow Okadamen got the joke