Governor Okowa is right – Frank Ofili
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He should have no apologies, or regret, giving his daughter political appointment, though decency, morality and public expectation may dictate otherwise. But these are not Holy Writ. Neither are they laws. Nor unconstitutional.
There is nothing wrong, or unlawful, in my view, in a governor appointing their family member to public office. My caveat though is, provided the said family member is qualified for the job. And is patriotic, as opposed to loyalty.
Okowa won’t be the first to do so. US President John Kennedy, appointed his own brother, Bob, as his Attorney General.
When the American media at the time took him up on the appointment, John Kennedy had five questions for them. He asked:
- Is Bob an American?
- Is he qualified for the job?
- Does he have a right to be appointed to public office?
- Is he patriotic?
- Can I as President of the United States trust him to make decisions in the best interest of America?
All the answers checked out positively. The hullabaloo died as it started. Recently in the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed his brother, John Johnson, to his cabinet. The British people didn’t have an ax to grind with him on that score
So, as did Kennedy of the US, I pose the same questions to those who object to Governor Okowa appointing his daughter as aide. Is Governor Okowa’s daughter a Nigerian? Is she qualified for the job she has been appointed to? Does she have a right to be appointed to public office? Is she patriotic? Can the Governor trust her?
Okowa is not the first to walk this path in our clime. Nor will he be the last. Obasanjo did it. Jonathan also did it. Okorocha, as governor of Imo State, did it. Okorocha in fact raised it a notch higher. He wanted his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, to succeed him.
Governor Wike of Rivers State also did it. Some people say even President Buhari did it with Daura and Abba Kyari, his Chief of Staff.
If you did not object to these, why should you object to Okowa walking the same path?
Please put politics and sentiments aside and be constructive in your criticism. More to the point, be objective. Unless there is a law in this country outlawing appointment of family members to public office, I see nothing wrong. Our concern should be that there should be no abuse of office.
Na so I see am
