Grandiose Parlor

Good governance demands an impeccably transparent public sector; it simply calls for administrators that are responsible, responsive and respectful of the rule of law. If one needs any indicator to assess the level of governance in Nigeria, the inquiry of the National House of Representatives into the failed National Integrated Power Project offers plenty.

The inquiry reveals some 34 firms were award up to N6 billion despite not having licenses to operate as business entities as required by Nigerian business laws. The contracts were awarded during the Obasanjo tenure.

Yet, it was the same man - the former president Obasanjo - that introduced the “Due Process” and public bidding for federal contracts to ensure transparency and rule of law. The “due process” was much celebrated as one of the cornerstone of his administration’s anti-corruption reforms.

To add injury to the insult, when questioned, the response of Dr Agagu, the Minister under whose watch those companies were awarded contracts reeked of blatant arrogance, or ignorance. “It is possible. This is how companies get jobs when tenders are advertised“, he stated in report published by ThisDay newspaper.

The minister is not a member of the tenders’ board. The tenders’ board recommends and I approve. No minister would have the time to look into the registration of companies. I don’t think any minister would be dutiful enough to do that. There are technical people who do that. The bureaucracy does that. Our bureaucracy should be looked into. Even in season of crisis the bureaucracy drives government and drives it well.

For Agagu to have totally shifted the blame on some faceless bureaucracy, one can only wonder what manner of administrator he is. As the Minister in charge then, and the current Governor of Ondo state, isn’t he part and parcel of the Nigerian bureaucracy? The buck ends on his table, and he knows!!!

Agagu has a PhD in geology, he was a college professor before he became a politician. He has a brilliant mind and studied on scholarship. He’s more than familiar with standard business practices having worked several years as top-level technocrat with Chevron.

In addition, Agagu is a very close ally of the former president. He served under Obasanjo as Aviation minster prior to being the Minster in charge of Power and Steel. While at the former, it was alleged Agagu got his hand really dirty. Even though the case never made it to the EFCC as expected, the police criminal unit that was commissioned to investigate eventually cleared his name shortly before he contested the gubernatorial election in Ondo state.

No one can say Agagu is a novice, but what everyone knows now is that he’s bona fide member of the club of corrupt elements that have found ways to dominate the Nigerian political terrain, and he shares part of the blame for the electricity problems in Nigeria.