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Jonathan forced Power Minister to resign

#Prof Nnaji resign or be sacked#
President Goodluck Jonathan pushed Nnaji to throw in the towel, following an alleged conflict of interest between his office and the ongoing privatisation of the power sector – the government’s antidote to the epileptic supply that has held Nigeria down, industrially.
The alleged abuse of office was in conflict with the Performance Contract Agreement which ministers signed last Wednesday  and the Oath of Office to which they swore at inauguration.
Nnaji, a professor of Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Robotics, is the first victim of the Agreement.
A company, Geometric Power, in which the former Minister allegedly has interest was involved in the bids for the privatisation of Afam Generation Company Limited and Enugu Distribution Company Limited.
Geometric Power is said to have a minority stake in the Eastern Electric Nigeria Limited, which submitted technical and  financial bids for Enugu Distribution Company on July 31.
Also, one of the consortia bidding for Afam Power Plant, O and M Solutions of Pakistan, was once Geometric Power’s contractor.
It was also learnt that security reports allegedly implicated Nnaji, who sat transfixed in office as at 9.40pm when our correspondent visited .
According to a source, the ex-minister was in the middle of a meeting at about 4pm when he was summoned to the Presidential Villa by the President who told him to resign.
The source, a senior government official, said: “The ex-Minister and his officials in the Ministry of Power were holding a meeting at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity with labour leaders on the exit package of disengaged PHCN workers when he   was summoned to the Villa.
“Oblivious of what fate that was awaiting him, Nnaji left instructions on how the negotiation should go. 
“But when he got to the Villa, the President told him that reports of the National Council on Privatisation(NCP) and security agencies indicated that he could not divorce his personal interest from official matters.”
The source claimed that the President wasted no time to tell Nnaji, “Go and turn in your letter of resignation.  I wish you the best.”
Another source said: “All attempts by Nnaji to justify the fact that he had left the board of Geometric proved abortive.”
Apparently, overwhelmed by the manner  - sudden and shocking - of his resignation, Nnaji could  not immediately break the news to the key directors in the ministry.
Another source added: “He remained in his office to tidy up his desk. We later went to him when we heard the news. He simply said: “it is true but I did my best. I had divorced myself from Geometric Power to serve this nation. My interest was put in a blind trust.”
Although Nnaji, who felt much concerned about his integrity, had wanted to address the media,  the session was called off last night.
As at 9.40pm, he was still in the office, preparing his handover note.
It was in line with the resignation soft landing given to Nnaji that the Presidency issued a statement that he had resigned.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Nnaji’s  resignation has been accepted.
The statement said: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has accepted the resignation with immediate effect of the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji.
“President Jonathan thanks Prof. Nnaji for his services to the nation under the present administration and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”
The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has cancelled  the technical bid evaluation process conducted for both companies.
The cancellation was to allow for transparency in the process.
The evaluation of the Enugu Disco, which is still ongoing, has been stopped. The evaluation team may be disbanded, it was learnt last night.

  culled from:THE NATION

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