John Nnia Nwodo (jnr.),Two-time Minister, has turned down his appointment as a member of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka.
Nwodo was among Nigerians whose names made the list of chairmen and members of the Governing Councils of Federal Government-owned universities, approved by President Goodluck Jonathan.
As Aviation Minister he was the youngest member of the Federal Executive Council in the Second Republic under President Shehu Shagari and was later appointed Minister of Information in the military regime of Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar (rtd), which laid the foundation for the country’s current democratic dispensation.
Nwodo, who is known for his eloquence and oratory prowess, was also a presidential aspirant in the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2003.
However, Saturday Independent reliably gathered from sources close to the former minister that he has turned down the appointment, for reasons that were not made public.
The composition of the Governing Councils has been criticised by many Nigerians, following the alleged inclusion of some questionable characters in the list approved by the President.
One of such persons was former Speaker of House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari, who was impeached for certificate forgery. Buhari was appointed as a member of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
When he was contacted on phone, Nwodo confirmed that he was not interested in the federal board appointment.
“How can you give somebody appointment by publishing his name on the pages of newspapers? I was not issued any letter of appointment. If I received an appointment letter, I would have formally rejected it. I don’t want to join all these people. I prefer the quiet life I am living here. I am enjoying this quietude. I do not wish to join all these people,” the former Minister said.
0 comments:
Post a Comment