The appointment was made known in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Sam Nwaobasi.
Goverrnment insiders said it was Mr. Jonathan who directed the population commission’s boss to resign to avoid being disgraced from office.
According to the statement, Mr. Odimegwu’s resignation would take effect from Thursday, 17 October.
The former Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc has been embroiled in controversy over the nation’s census history, with northern politicians calling for his removal.
Mr. Odimegwu was criticised for reports credited to him, claiming that the country has not had any credible census since 1816. He had blamed the irregularity on the distortion and falsification of figures for selfish and political reasons.
“No census has been credible in Nigeria since 1816. Even the one conducted in 2006 is not credible. I have the records and evidence produced by scholars and professors of repute; this is not my report. If the current laws are not amended, the planned 2016 census will not succeed,” Mr. Odimegwu was reported to have said.
The Presidency reportedly queried Mr. Odimegwu over the statements after the Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankanso, at a meeting with President Jonathan, faulted Mr. Odimegwu’s appointment as the NPC boss.
“I also raised the issue of the Chairman of the National Population Commission headed by one Festus Odimegwu. We are not happy about that appointment, and think that it was a mistake,” Mr. Kwankanso said in an interview with State House correspondents.
“He had only one thing in alcoholic industry (sic), all his life. And my guess is that he’s taking a lot of his products and that is why we feel that his appointment is a mistake because he cannot be the Chairman of NPC and at the same time attack what his predecessors have done,” the governor said.
President Jonathan, our sources in the administration said, subsequently directed Mr. Odimegwu to resign or be fired.
Anya replaces Nwabueze
The statement also announced the appointment of Anya. O. Anya, as a member of the Advisory Committee on National Dialogue.
He is to replace elder statesmen, Ben Nwabueze, who, according to the statement, is abroad on health grounds.
Mr. Nwabueze, earlier on Thursday, blasted President Jonathan for inappropriately appointing him, an old man, into the committee instead of a younger person.
The President also appointed Pius Osunyikanmi as Director General/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Technical Aids Corps.
It seems here that GEJ does not want the identified cheatings of the past to be corrected. It is no news to Nigerians that no credible census has been conducted in this country. The results have always been falsified to favour the North. To have been bold to uncover this and made it known to Jonathan should be applauded and deserves recommendation. And not to sacked because a northern Gov'nor and entire north who has benefitted so much from this fraud against other Nigerians asked him to sack odimegwu. This is rediculous and laughable, and one wonders what actually does this man Jonathan is up to. Is he sacrifying and rediculing Ibos to achieve his second term in office by all means. Such that Odimegwu came up with reports of falsified census result, made by other independents and professional bodies since 1816 showing the results falsified to favour the north against their counterparts in the south which he GEJ is one of them. Instead of requesting for further verification and validation of such important reports and subsequently implement the corrective actions, rather he asked Odimegwu to resign. This correction has been the yearnings and aspiration of the south to correct this anomaly in population. It has never been anywhere in the world where deserts of north is more populated than the riverine and vegetative south. GEJ has the opportunity to correct all this misnorms and anomalies that have long been going on. Posterity will not forgive him. I found it so ironical to see Jonathan easily attack or fire a south easterners who have been given him the highest support, even in this his most trying times just because of an instruction from one of his arch enemies Kwakwanso. It is a pity he is deceiving us. Or these victims are used as political pawns. We are yet to come to terms of his last statement of plan to give NASS the outcome of National Conference for ratification, which will eventaully take us to square one. God help desperate President caving under the pressure of the North against South. South Easterners should stop taking appointments from Jonathan, it appears he is only using them as political pawns.
ReplyDeleteWHAT MORE CAN BE EXPECTED FROM A CLUELESS, BALL-LESS & WEAKEST PSUEDO-Phd Holder PRESIDENT THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN! IT IS AN ABOMINATION UNDER THE SUN FOR A SERVANT TO BE ON THE THRONE WHILE THE NOBLE MEN ARE TURNED TO SERVANTS!
ReplyDeleteThese southerners never cease to amaze me with this issue of population size. Is human population like plants, grass and trees that grow after a heavy downpour?!
ReplyDeleteWhat factors determine population size? We marry early (both women and men), we marry as many as four, we do not control birth and yet you want our population to remain like hundred years ago? how stupidly you guys think!
Or you think our population should remain like yours even when you marry late, nay, very late ( both your women and men), you marry only once, you control birth, average of 3-4 kids for a family? grow up dude, you cant eat your cake and have it at the same tym.
Weather its good to have plenty of children even when you cant cater for them is another topic for discussion, but on the issue of population size, you should have a broad mind.