...So He Sacked Kingibe

I have been trying to analyze the reason behind Kingibe the Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria sack from President Yardua’s cabinet. Usually when an appointed government is found wanting, he/she is given the opportunity to resign to save face. Rarely do we hear of a top government official as high as an SGF is sacked or even resigned (which our public office holders never do). That is what makes Kingibe’s sack rather curious. President Yardua brought in Kingibe into his cabinet in my own opinion, to draw from his ocean of political knowledge as a brother and ally. He must have trusted Kingibe to get his back in the mist of political sharks.

Recent events regarding President Yardua’s state of health had a strong connection with the sack of Kingibe. He was believed to be nursing a presidential ambition, in the face of Yardua’s declaration that he would not stand for another election should the Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal nullify his election as President, which however ruled in his favor.

A similar feeling was said to have pervaded the Presidency, while President Yardua was under Doctors observation for two weeks in the Arabian Nation. Rumors emanating from the Presidency has it that while the President was recuperating in far away Saudi Arabia, our SGF Kingibe was playing god, probably feeling that the President would not recover from his ailment or rather be fit enough to continue as President. To make matters worst the Vice president, who is supposed to hold forte in the absence of the President was relegated to the background in the running of affairs (no thanks to his humility).

To confirm these rumors, newspapers reports has it that, during the decoration of the newly appointed service chiefs, President Yardua did not recognize Kingibe as the SGF during his introductory remarks before his speech at the event. Kingibe apparently unaware of his removal was seated at his normal position in the capacity as SGF beside the Vice president (haba! Presido you would have told him that his services were longer required behind closed doors rather than embarrassing your friend in front of cameras). Anyway, after a short while, to Kingibe’s amazement Alhaji Ahmed Yayale was announced as the new SGF. To rub it in Kingibe was excluded from the group photograph.

Vice president Goodluck Jonathan also showed his disgust to Kingibe when he introduced Ahmed Yayale as SGF at the beginning of the inauguration ceremony for the Niger Delta Technical Committee, which caused a stir. Kingibe was later driven away from the Presidential Villa minutes after emerging from the President’s Office.

In conclusion, I believe that President Yardua should begin to realize he is been surrounded by wolves. If his own ally could try to stab him in the back what more can he expect from the many Obasanjo’s stooges in his Government. He should begin to build his own political block of progressives, which he is, if he truly desires to achieve is seven point agenda. This move should also reflect in his proposed cabinet shake up.

Lastly, should someone kindly tell Kingibe “The Traitor” to quit the publicity stunt of claiming all is well between him and the President, Oga! The man sacked you! Spare us the sermon.