News

‘Accidental Public Servant’ … Book For Every Nigerian –Amaechi

Published

13 years ago

February 8, 2013

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, says “The Accidental Public Servant”, a new book written by former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mallam Nasir el Rufai, is a book every Nigerian needs.

Governor Amaechi said this yesterday during the launching of the book at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Represented by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, Governor Amaechi, who is also the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, lauded the intellectual prowess of the author, pointing out that “this is one book every Nigerian needs. It will help us avoid the mistakes of the past and do the right things.” He congratulated the former Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) for the successful publication of the book.

Former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, eulogised Mallam el Rufai for being forthright; noting that “the book is a product of so much courage and intellectualism,” urging political office holders to justify the confidence reposed in them by performing well while in office.

Governors of Lagos, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Ekiti, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Niger, Dr Babangida Aliyu, and Gombe, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, all commended the intellectual sagacity of the author, describing him as “a deeply family man, quintessential public servant” and “a man who has made us proud to be Nigerians.” They noted that the book “is a welcome book, a book about projects that failed and projects that succeeded,” while lamenting corruption in the nation’s public service.

Chairman of the occasion and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Masari, noted that “Nasir is a man that is difficult to describe, given his many parts,” praising his intelligence, radicalism and non-conformist approach to issues, advising public office holders to write and keep records of their activities while in office for posterity.

Speaking, the book reviewer and Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, stated that “in writing the book, Nasir has made a transition from a political activist to a statesman,” observing that “the book is about faces, cases and places, telling the story of the unforgettable years.” He pointed out that the book makes a case for equal application of laws to everyone, regretting that “impunity has become the bane of Nigeria’s socio-political development,” noting, however, that the book contains factual errors.

In her welcome address, Chairperson of the Book Presentation Committee, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, said “Nasir is a quintessential non-conformist,” stating that “his fearlessness to withstand opposition defines his personality,” noting that the author deployed intellectual rigour in writing the book, pointing out that the book traverses the nation’s public sector.

Before then, eL-Rufai had explained, “My hope is that you people will elicit on some of the things we did in government that were right and many of the things that we did that were mistakes.

“I think that lessons are learnt when additional memories are protected, when people learn from what works and what doesn’t work and personal mistakes and errors of leaders.

“That is how to build a nation; that is how future generations learn and this is why I wrote the book, I don’t think we should have the conspiracy of silence about how our government is being run, I think we should talk openly about it, celebrate what we did right and admit where we made mistakes and name names so that people will know that when you are in leadership position, history will judge you, that is what is my biggest motive here,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday picked holes in the books Accidental Public Servant by former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, stressing that the book could be described as a fiction for self-glorification at the expense of truth.

According to Atiku Abubakar, what the former minister requires at the moment was prayer rather than anger. The attack is coming barely twenty four hours after the book was formally presented to the public at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

The former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dismissed the book, just as he said that it was a collection of fiction, half-truths, exaggeration and reflection of selective memory.

In a statement from his media office yesterday, ‘’Atiku Abubakar was particularly piqued by the claim of el-Rufai that he had almost resigned as the former Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) because of alleged persistent pressure and interference by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was then the Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation.

‘’Atiku’s Media Office expressed disbelief that the former FCT minister forgot soon what he said at the Senate public hearing on BPE on August 8-13, 2011. That adhoc committee was headed by Senator Ahmed Lawan.

‘’It recalled el-Rufai as saying that he had special relationship with former President Obasanjo, which gave him direct access and the discretion to bypass the Council on Privatisation headed by Atiku in order to get the approval of the President.

‘’The Media Office wondered how el-Rufai could reconcile his threat of resignation with the accounts he told the Senate about the latitude of freedom he enjoyed at BPE because of his closeness to former President Obasanjo.

News

NELFUND Warns Students Against Fake Loan Portal

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2025

The Tide

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has alerted the public to a fraudulent message circulating online, claiming that the NELFUND Student Loan Registration Portal is open.

The message directs applicants to a third-party link (http://gvly.xyz/Nelfund-Student-Loan, which NELFUND confirms is unauthorised and fraudulent.

In a post obtained from its X handle, yesterday, NELFUND urged students and the general public not to click on the link or provide any personal information, emphasising that the official loan registration portal is only accessible through the Fund’s verified channels.

The agency reminded applicants to exercise caution online and to report any suspicious links or communications claiming to be from NELFUND.

“Applicants are encouraged to always verify official announcements via NELFUND’s official website and social media channels,” NELFUND said.

This advisory comes as part of NELFUND’s ongoing efforts to safeguard students and ensure the integrity of the student loan application process.

News

Eastern Port Police Boss Promises On Crime-Free Operations

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2025

The Tide

The new Commissioner of Police Eastern, Ports Command, Mr Tijani Fatai has promised to ensure a crime- free ports operations in the zone.
He said effective policing will be mounted across the ports in the zone in tackling the high rate of community unrest, activities of port rats and other social vices.
Fatai while speaking to newsmen shortly after taking over as the 17th commissioner said he wants to be remembered as a peace maker during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in the Eastern Ports Command.
According to him,’’the community policing is the sure way of addressing most conflicts and other social vices bedeviling our society today and I will explore it to its fullest” .
The Commissioner also assured officers of the rank and file of improved welfare whoch he described as a cardinal objective of the present efforts of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
He said,” the Inspector General of Police has sent me to assure you all of welfare, promotions as and when due,no officers particular rank and file will be left behind in the coming months.
Fatai before his recent posting was an operational officer,who spent most of his years with the Police Mobile Force (PMF) where he served as Unit Commander (UC) and Commander, PMF.
Before his redeployment as a Commissioner of Police,(CP), he was the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP, Operations, Lagos State Command.

News

Kalabaris Celebrate New Year Amid Fanfare

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2025

The Tide

Thousands of Kalabari indigenes from Akuku- Toru, Asari-Toru, Degema and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas last Sunday gathered at Elem Kalabari in Degema Local Government Area to celebrate what they said is the Kalabari new year amidst pomp and pageantry
According to stakeholders, the event which started over 200 years ago normally falls on the 16th of November every year.
The of this year’s celebration which was organised by Kalabari Renaissance Foundation was “Our Heritage, Honouring Our Waters and Renewing Our Spirit.”
Stakeholders said this year’s celebration was symbolic as it was holding at Elem Kalabari which is the home of the Kalabari people.
The event also featured various masquerade displays from cultural troupes within Kalabari and beyond.
Speaking on the significance of the event, the Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari (The Source), HRH Mujahid Asari Dokubo, said the celebration signaled a return to the traditional values of the Kalabari people and the need for self-recreation.
“It’s not just about celebration, It’s about recreating ourselves, bringing us back from death.
“The organisation that has come to take over this celebration – Renaissance – really fits the description of what ought to happen to us as a people.
“It’s not just Kalabari; it’s about all of us and our values. We have to look at ourselves and our values,” he said.
Dokubo called on all Kalabari citizens to join hands together to revive their traditional values and heritage in order not to lose their cultural identity and spiritual trajectory.
Also speaking, Harry Awolayeofori MacMorrison, Chief Administrator and Chairman of Kalabari Renaissance Foundation, organizsers of the Kalabari new year festival, said the event marks the beginning of a new calendar year for the Kalabari people, after November 15 of every year when the tide cleanses the pollution from the Sombreiro River inflows, describing it as a renewal of the Kalabari people.
“It’s the renewal of the people. Kalabari area is saline environment and at a time, the Sombreiro River comes in and pollutes the river.
“On the 15th November, across Kalabari, the tide turns and takes all the fresh water that polluted the saline river back to the Sombreiro River
. “On the 15th is the end of the year. Normally when there is an end, there is a new beginning. On the 16th (November) is the beginning of the Kalabari calendar,” he said.
Awolayeofori Mac Morrison said the Kalabari communities had been holding the new year festival separately in the past until the Renaissance Foundation decided to champion a unified celebration to enable them forge a common front of trado-cultural and socio-economic development across the entire territory.
He said last year’s event held at Abalama while they decided to bring this year’s celebration to Elem Kalabari because of it significance to the Kalabari nation.
Also speaking, a member of the planning committee and media lead, Journalist Ibiba Don Pedro, said there was need to reawaken the consciousness of their people on the need to embrace their traditional values without reservations, noting that there was nothing fetish about the festival.
She said the celebration was to unite the Kalabaris as well as project the cultural heritage of the people.
Don Pedro said time has come for Africa to go back to their root , adding that development will continue to elude African countries until the people rediscover themselves.