Tunji Adedeji
As the Imo Governor -Elect, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha begins his compilation of list of would-be commissioner, heads and members of board of agencies and parastatals, some Imolites who see getting the plum jobs as a matter of life and death are getting more desperate.
A host of them are exploiting all avenues to claw their way into the incoming governor’s cabinet, as a visit to the Civic Centre residence of the governor elect yesterday gave credence to this claim.
Trumpeta gathered that Leading politicians, their godfathers or lobbyists are in a rat race to get one appointment or the other from the former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.
The jostling for appointments has led to the emergence of syndicates and lobby groups whose vocation is to help appointment-desirous politicians to get jobs.
A similar jostle for leadership positions in the Imo State House of Assembly is playing out as a sore point in the opposition All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA, Action Alliance, AA. A host of Members-elect have vowed to move against party zoning formula, which favours the people of Okigwe zone that has three returning members to produce the Speaker.
Trumpeta finding revealed that anything can happen at any time to dim or enhance one’s chances, and so, many lobbyists are not leaving anything to providence.
According to one of those bidding for appointment, “you have to be a fool to think that your skills, strength of character, education and intelligence alone will get you anywhere in Nigeria. Perhaps, for smaller and inconsequential positions, but for Commissioner, chair of a board, you’ll need far more than the content of your curriculum vitae or resume.”
The appointment syndicates and lobby groups usually operate from corner shops and target nocturnal political meetings.
They claim to have some kind of relationship either with the governor elect or his wife. In some cases they drop the names of powerful PDP leaders like BOT members and acting chairman and Senators among others.
