David Edevbie is the new Principal Secretary to the Nigerian President. If one goes by his qualifications and achievements alone, David will be value-added to the presidency.
David is a Harvard-trained economist, with extensive and impressive exposure in both public and private sectors. According to news report, Edevbie – a development, economic and finance management expert – “began his career with Barclays Bank London where he became Manager’s Assistant, Corporate Lending, over-seeing multi-million pounds investments in Oil and Mineral sectors of emerging markets.”
But his impressive professional career appears blotched by his association with the same former Delta state governor James Ibori, whom he served under as Commissioner of Finance (2003 -2005) and Economic Adviser (2006-2006).
In December 2007, Ibori was arrested over allegations of corruption and money-laundering. Shortly before his arrest, A UK court froze his assets in the UK, allegedly worth $35m. Ibori’s official salary while in office was less than $25,000 a year. Ibori had to spend the 2007 Christmas in prison and has his case pending in court.
As Ibori’s ‘money man’ and Economic Advisor, can one say David Edevbie was not in the know, and totally oblivious of how his boss was pocketing Delta state’s money?
Given James Ibori’s influence within the PDP political machinery; is it far-fetched to assume Ibori was an active player in the appointment of his close associate as the Principal Secretary to the President?
Note: Ibori was a major financier of the party during the last elections, and it was believed that even the president used his personal plane during the campaign runs.
As an observer far removed from the mystery within Aso Rock, it is really perplexing that the President – who appears keen on creating a corruption-free government – would be comfortable having a close associate and confidant of a man whose tenure as a state governor was heavily tarnished by corruption.
Nothing ever surprises me when it comes to Nigeria. All the shakeups and shuffling that are going on in Nigeria simply reinforce the perception amongst many that things will never change in Nigeria and corruption will never end.
Thanks for this post.
August 21, 2008 at 10:08 am
Nigeria will change and this is going to happen for ridding Nigeria of corruption and all these absolute power corrupt leaders is now a matter of “do or die” at this rate. Watch out for this space. One day we will together decry this sad situation and together scream “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”
August 21, 2008 at 1:45 pm
[...] public links >> barclays Grandiose Parlor: Nigeria: James Ibori and the New Principal… First saved by neousi | 2 days [...]
August 27, 2008 at 2:00 am
strong point. I doubt the integrity of the current president. There are so many examples I would rather not sight. In fact I know a very close friend to his ADC – the guy is a bloody 419er from Katsina.
Great blog you have here.
September 20, 2008 at 3:13 pm
time will come when the scar of the brave and shameful Nigeians (absolute thieves of corruption) will be put to scorn.we will infact see this changes due to the challenges we have meet in present live!!!!.surly this is shameful for you who call yourself leaders, and not ashame of not paying the taxs of dignity to our fathers land. This I predict that you and your generations will regret your wrong doing for misleading the future of our unborn kids.But if you need change start doing it now.
March 2, 2009 at 7:03 am
The change is coming and started already. Ondo State landmark victory against Olusegun Agagu, a frontrunner in looting and corruption is agood example I can cite. Now we want to see Agagu prosecuted and indicted.
March 2, 2009 at 11:49 am
“As Ibori’s ‘money man’ and Economic Advisor, can one say David Edevbie was not in the know, and totally oblivious of how his boss was pocketing Delta state’s money?” – Where is David these days, does anybody know?
March 15, 2012 at 2:56 pm