Over the years, the report cards of these individuals while in office have not ceased to amaze many, but long after their exit, it’s not clear where they could be now; ELEOJO IDACHABA wonders.
Idris Waziri
Ambassador Idris Waziri is Nigeria’s former ambassador to Pakistan with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Maldives and Afghanistan. He was also the minister of commerce during the second tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was appointed minister in 2003 and removed in 2006. A member of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under his tenure, the cassava revolution that later metamorphosed into cassava bread during the tenure of Dr Goodluck Jonathan started.
Waziri, who was originally from Gongola state, now the present day Taraba state, started his career in the public service as administrative officer until he rose to the position of permanent secretary. In an interview while in office, he talked about generating revenue for the government through non-oil export. He said, “Agricultural products and solid minerals are our main focus, but we want to ensure that we encourage the export of non-oil products; this is very important for us. We want to increase the capacity of our factories and make them able to compete as well as to produce what we want. Nigeria is a very big economy with more than 125 million people; it represents a huge market. Currently our economy is dependent on oil and gas; 90% of our foreign exchange comes from oil, only this sector of the economy is fully developed, not even our gas sector is properly developed. So, when we realised that Nigeria was becoming a mono-economy with all the dangers, we came to the conclusion that the only way we could make our economy move and grow is through the diversification of the economy. The main sectors we have to look at are first of all agriculture which employs 60 to 70% of our population.”
In 2012, he declared his intention to contest for the chairmanship position of PDP although unsuccessfully. According to him, “The vision of the party’s founding fathers and President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda which are in tandem with my dream of restoring the party to the path of unity, peace and progress are the reasons I want to vie for the position of the national chairman of the party.” He made a lot of contributions to the success of the party since its formation. This earned him the award of grand patron of the party’s youth vanguard which is an attestation of the contribution he has made to the progress of the party.
A citation in the Eminent Leaders publication indicated that, “Waziri is someone who has exemplified the genuine attitude of a true leader. A prefect, head prefect, president and secretary to many clubs and associations of students. He is also a traditional title holder because of his contributions towards the development of his community. He also received letters of commendation from the secretary to the military government and head of civil service, former Gongola State Executive Council and military governor, Group Captain David Jonah Jang. He is an ambassador, a minister and recipient of the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).”
Since he left office however, not much has been heard about him again.
Dapo Sarumi
Chief Dapo Sarumi is from Lagos state. He was the minister of information under former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former governorship aspirant in Lagos state on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), but he was later disqualified. In 2014, this former minister who was also alleged to be eyeing the governorship seat of Lagos was rumoured to have developed stroke, a rumour he denied, saying, “Those peddling the rumour of the ailment have a dirty mind and sinister motive for such a rumour. The person who told you that I am sick lied in every way. Is he a doctor? Even if I have a stroke, how does that stop me from contesting? Is that one of the criteria or qualifications to contest? I was in Aso Rock Villa recently where I spoke with many prominent people. As you are speaking with me, do I sound like someone who is sick?”
Chief Dapo Sarumi came into the national consciousness of Nigerians in the defunct Third Republic when he and his compatriot from Epe town, the late Dr. Femi Agbalajobi, contested for Lagos Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship ticket in 1991. Both were disqualified when none was willing to step down for the other. It is not clear where this former minister is now and what he is doing.
Jerry Ugokwe
He was a lawmaker who represented the Idemili North and South federal constituency of Anambra state in the House of Representatives in 1999, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was very vocal while in the House and was also noted for the passage of many bills, especially for the award of the contract of Onitsha/Owerri road which was in a complete state of disrepair and a death trap to many road users then. He was also very outspoken about the government’s poverty eradication programme which, he noted, was the only way to improve the welfare of the masses.
A bold and courageous lawmaker, he always stood for whatever he believed in. Despite his robust contribution as a lawmaker, he could not return to the House after 2003. In 2008, former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Austria at a time that the rating of Nigerians in that country was so bad. He was able to turn the situation around only a few years after he assumed that position.
Writing on the personality of Ugokwe as an ambassador, Uzoma Ahamefule, a Nigerian based in Austria, said, “Before the coming of Dr Jerry Ugokwe as Nigerian Ambassador to Austria in 2008, the image of Africans particularly Nigerians was so bad that every black person on the street was suspected to be a criminal or a drug dealer and would be the first to be arrested within the scene of any crime. That Dr Ugokwe has been overwhelmingly acknowledged by many as a good leader in Austria cannot be a mistake or by accident because people are judged and remembered in life for two things: the problem they solved and the problem they created. Across ethnic lines, political affiliation and religion, Dr Ugokwe helped over 30 Nigerians to sustainable working positions in the UN, a feat many people in his status may not have bothered to use their positions to influence. He was a dynamic and a selfless leader. With his good deeds boldly printed in the heart of many Nigerians in Austria, history will be fair to him and we will never forget him.”
Although he was removed as the ambassador to that country, it is on record that this architect-turned politician made impressionable marks in Austria such that the negative stigma which was a burden on Nigerians in that country was removed.