Professor Barth Nnaji in EPOH's hall of fame

Prof. Barth Nnaji, former Nigeria power minister

Professor Barth Nnaji the former power minister has just joined my list of Elite Public Office Holders (EPOH) in Naija.

EPOH might not make any sense to you now but let me analysis it maybe after my explanation it will be clearer.

E pronounce as erh in Yoruba language is used as first person singular YOU. It a word used for an elderly person and to show respect, POH is a street language that has somehow found its way into Yoruba lexicon and it is used to describe people with class and swaggering attitude. EPOH in Yoruba literarily means “You are swaggering”.



Prof. Jaja Wachukwu

Dr. Jaja Wachukwu the then aviation minister was the first minister to resign in Nigeria under Sir Tafawa Balewa after sacking Mr. Blankson who by pass his authority. He was asked to recall Blankson but he tendered his resignation letter.

Dr. Rilwan Lukman also resigned his appointment as petroleum minister under President Jonathan due to his frosty relationship with the president because some quarters believe he was one of  late president Umar Yar'dua loyalists.

Prof. Okonjo Iweala also resigned as a finance minister under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo regime

Dr.Adenike Grange a former health minister also resigned following an allegation of corruption on her in 2008.

Now in 2012, it's Prof Barth .Nnaji. This is the afthermath following the recent crisis that enveloped the ministry of power due to the ongoing privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) which the staff said that their interests were not well protected in  the exercise and it's also ot transparent. Oh, this is could be one of the gains of democracy. Power of freedom of expression and rejection (mywish).

Resignation of public office holders is not a common thing in Nigeria, public officers see public services as stay-till- die attitude until they're pushed out by authorities above or by natural death.

Scandals and public agitations against their policies and ideas are most times not enough reasons for them to toll this path of honour, at least we all saw the former attorney general of the federation Mr. Michael Aondoakaa.

I did not want to put any emphasis on the cause of his resignation but with this new development, this has shown that there is hope for our great nation.

I join our president Mr. Jonathan to thank the former minister for his services to the country and wished him well in his future endeavour.

But if there is any need for the EEFC or ICPC to call him in the future, I hope he will honour them.