When Professionals Play Politics of Hide and Seek

The Coordinating Minister of Economy and Minister of Finance of Nigeria, a one time Vice President of the World Bank, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala during Obasanjo's tenure made being a Professional in politics a joy to behold as she evidently made that administration publicly accountable with the monthly reports on government spending, giving Nigerians a window never before seen into how public officials waste, abuse and denied Nigerians their right to quality living, infrastructures and institutions. We praised her and the Economic team back then that consisted of El-Rufia, Ezekwesili and others who made the entry of Professionals into politics a breath of fresh air.



Fast forward less 10 years later, with more participation in politics and her desire to probably make her way to declare for presidency someday, it would seem Okonjo has allowed Naija politics to rob her off on the wrong side.

Just before the 2015 general elections, when Okonjo-Iweala submitted the budget for 2015 she declared that everything was okay with the economy.



But barely a month after conceding defeat to the opposition, the Jonathan-led government has in the last four months borrowed no less than N473b to fund its recurrent expenditure due to dwindling sources, finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has confessed.

Speaking at the unveiling of the 2015 Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly last week, the minister said, “Out of the N882 billon budgetary provision for borrowing, the government has borrowed N473billion to meet up with recurrent expenditure, including salaries and overheads.”

That amount spent is over 53 per cent of borrowing limit allowed in the 2015 budget within the last four months. If you recall, same Okonjo-Iweala took Nigerians on the path of no more burrowing and the canceling of the Paris Club debt debacle.

She went as far as saying that things have been tough since the beginning of the year and they are likely to remain so till the end of the year.



The only question I ask is: What changed? Was Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala just out to make a political name with first impressions for herself? Is this the woman we've been told could qualify to run the presidency as can be seen from the pedigrees of some of her fellow colleagues who once held the Vice Presidency in World Bank now running as President of their countries?

There is a thin line between the kind of politics one plays and the content of one's character.

With the recent call for her resignation by Dino Melaye and activist groups, the need for professionals not to play the game of political thuggery, wayo-wayo and white-faced fraud that has been the norm cannot be over emphasised.