Why I chose Anyim – Jonathan
I wanted to be PDP chairman – Anyim

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, OKEY NDIRIBE, DANIEL IDONOR  & GBENGA OKE

ABUJA- FRESH details emerged yesterday on how former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, 50, who wanted to be Peoples Democratic Party, PDP National Chairman,  became the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Shortly after assuming office yesterday, Anyim, said he aspired for the PDP top job but instead got a job he did not lobby for from President Goodluck Jonathan and consequently vowed to key into Jonathan’s vision for the country.

From a list, which included the likes of former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe; former Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Ben Obi; and former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) among others, President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, named Anyim as SGF.

This is coming as Igbo leaders hailed the appointment of Anyim and President Jonathan saluted the out-gone SGF, Yayale Ahmed, for a job well done and well-wishers invaded Anyim’s Maitama, Abuja residence to felicitate with him.

Factors that favoured Anyim

Presidential sources said yesterday that Anyim emerged ahead of Maduekwe, who enjoyed the backing of former President Olusegun Obasanjo because Jonathan put his foot down and insisted on a non-controversial loyalist for the post. “It was strictly the decision of the President to make Senator Anyim Pius Anyim the Secretary to the Government,” the source said.

From right: Vice President Namadi Sambo (right); former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and new SGF, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, after his swearing-in, in Abuja, yesterday.

Other factors that weighed in favour of Anyim, who is said to have rejected ministerial appointment twice,  include the “endorsement” of the five South-East governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other stakeholders as well as a groundswell of opposition against Maduekwe.

It would be recalled that President Olusegun Obasanjo and Pius Anyim fell out before the expiration of Obasanjo’s first term in 2003. Sources said that Obasanjo made efforts to stop Anyim from being appointed but President Jonathan stood his ground.

It was gathered that Anyim had remained a stronger backer of President Jonathan even before the PDP primaries and remained committed to the Jonathan presidency.

Indeed, President Jonathan said yesterday that he chose Anyim because of Anyim’s track record over the years, adding that the new SGF was to form part of a critical team being packaged to champion and drive the transformation agenda of his government.

At exactly 12.20 pm, Anyim, the new SGF took his oath of office and thereafter took his seat at the Council Chambers at 12.24 p.m. which was immediately vacated by the former SGF, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.

Anyim steps into Yayale’s shoes

According to Jonathan, after a careful selection process that was anchored on high national expectations, Anyim was stepping into Yayale’s shoes  based on “his records of public service, his career as a senator, his role as the President of the Senate and his leadership skills that our nation need at this time. Our nation needs men and women who can match words with action, leaders who are ready to learn and lead at the same time.”

Besides, he disclosed that “the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is part of a team of champions that we are putting in place to drive our transformation agenda. He is to coordinate government policies, ministries, extra-ministerial departments and agencies including the Cabinet Office.”

Jonathan charges Anyim

He charged Anyim: “I therefore, urge you Senator Anyim to bring these virtues and experience to bear on the service of Nigeria as you coordinate the activities of the government. The challenge before you therefore, is to ensure high integrity, accountability and openness in the conduct of government’s business. Nigeria must have a government that truly places itself in the service of its citizens. All of us must together commit ourselves to the entrenched of
good government at all levels. We must live by example in words and deeds.

We must show the people that this time around, we are determined.”

Jonathan told the  new SGF,  “you are called to serve at the most challenging time, a time that we are determined to transform Nigeria, a time that we are determined to do things differently, a time that we are calling for sacrifice from all public office holders and the private sector, a time that we are calling on all Nigerians to stop lamenting and join government to transform our country.”

He urged the new team to change the lives of Nigerians for the better, saying “we must alleviate the sufferings of our people; we must create jobs, provide electricity and deliver on our electoral promises. This is the most urgent task before this government. Senator Anyim, the time for transformation has begun, welcome on board.”

Jonathan salutes Yayale

Jonathan praised Yayale Ahmed, saying:  “Yayale Ahmed served our country in many capacities including, Federal Permanent Secretary, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Minister of Defence and finally as Secretary to the Government of the Federation. He is one of the most experienced public officers that Nigeria has produced. He brought that experience to bear to the service of his fatherland.”

Uwechue, Ikokwu, Wabara, others hail appointment

Igbo leaders hailed the appointment, saying if properly harnessed was better than the speakership that some sections of South-East clamoured for after the 2011 polls.

President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Ralph Uwuchue, said “the position of the SGF is one, if well managed, can be of great benefit to both the whole of Nigeria and also to relations of the manager himself.  We consulted heavily among ourselves and the governors and several meetings were held with other people. And we contacted the president that if we are having this position, it is important that we help to suggest the names of people he could work with.

That was how the list submitted by Ohanaeze came out. And the person on top of that list has just been sworn-in by the president himself.”

He disclosed that “the position is a very important one not only for the Ndigbo but for the whole of Nigeria. Pius Anyim is young, for somebody of his age to have quickly risen to the position of the Senate President shows that the young man has something in him and we believe that thing in him is going to flower more and more when he becomes the SGF for the benefit of the whole of Nigeria and the community where he comes from.

“It is the sign of a new beginning for Ndigbo. People said Igbo have no king, but the truth of the matter is that the Igbo are the easiest people to govern.

They are not led like sheep, rather they follow leaders they believe in. That was why when we appealed to them to support President Jonathan, they willingly followed. They did it en-masse and it was total. We believe strongly that a new beginning is coming when the Igbos are realising that they can come together to build a more solid and stable Nigeria politically.”

Appointment well-deserves -Ikokwu
Also speaking, Second Republic politician and one of the founders of the PDP, Chief Guy Ikokwu, said: “Anyim’s appointment was well  received. The choice of Anyim is the best that happen to South East. He is humble, a good listener, a good follower and he is a team player. He distinguished himself as Senate President. He was one of those who carefully avoided the banana peels which Enwerem, Okadigbo, Wabara and etc could not avoid.

“He is a consensus builder, which is good for the South-East and the country.

He will serve President Jonathan and the country well in identifying areas of priority and advice him properly.”
Noting that the SGF would augur well for the South-East, Ikokwu said the speakership would have been a disaster for the South-East because every member that was re-elected wants to be the Speaker.

Urges Jonathan to cut recurrent expenditure

To do a good job, he urged the president to cut recurrent expenditure from 70 per cent to 30 per cent and do away with sycophants “who will be the first to abandon him after misleading him.”

In like manner, a former member of the House of Representatives, Nze Chidi Duru, simply said: “Anyim’s appointment is a great stuff. Anyim is a democrat and true Igbo man.”

For Mr Osita Okechukwu of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, “Anyim is highly, if not over qualified for the office. Senator Anyim is a gentleman, intelligent and an organiser to handle the office of SGF. We hope that a powerful or imperial Chief of Staff is not appointed to distract or subvert him.”

His emergence divine-Wabara

On his part, Anyim’s successor in the Senate, Senator Adolphus Wabara said: “One thing I admire so much in Senator Anyim Pius Anyim is his patience and I recall when he lost his father, he patiently left his remains in the morgue for almost a year and buried him only when he became the President of the Senate. What you cannot take from him is that he is indeed a true child of God that clings tenaciously to his Bible. He envies or destroys nobody in the name of politics but waited on the Lord and indeed waited for eight years after several shots at the National Chairmanship position of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

His emergence is therefore divine and God will lend him his speed and wisdom to excel. I believe Senator Anyim is yet to complete his cycle because he was number one in the Legislature, number three in the nation and today he is again number three in the Executive. Who knows,  as a patient man of God, he may complete his cycle as number one in the executive arm of government whenever it will be the turn of the South-East. I truly wish him well.”

 I”ll fit into Jonathan’s vision – Anyim

Fielding questions from State House correspondents after the ceremony, Anyim said within the limits of the responsibilities of his office, he would fit into the vision of President Jonathan. “I will help to drive his vision to the best of my abilities.”

On whether the position of SGF would affect South East’s chance of producing the Speaker, he replied: “I don’t know about that but the party has zoned the position of SGF to the South-East and as a loyal party member, I am bound by the decision of the party. Every loyal member of the party should be bound by the decision of the party.”

Asked if he saw his new appointment coming, the new SGF replied: “No, but God has His own plans.”

I wanted to be PDP chairman

Indeed, Anyim said he actually aspired to be the next  Chairman of the PDP but  instead got a job he did not apply for from President Gooluck Jonathan.

Anyim assured the nation that he would throw in everything he had into the job in order to meet the expectation of President Jonathan, adding that  the appointment was God’s plan for him.

He made these remarks at a short ceremony  while assuming office yesterday at the SGF Complex located within the Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

Thanks Jonathan, calls for cooperation

He further expressed appreciation to the President  for  his  appointment into the position adding that it  was an honour done to him.

“I am delighted to be considered worthy for this appointment by President Jonathan,” he said.

He called for cooperation from the Permanent Secretaries and Directors serving under him, adding: “Where necessary we shall call on our mentor (Yayale Ahmed) for advice and guidance.”

He further declared that he hoped to become a fulfilled man like the out-going SGF at the end of his own tenure in the office.

Said he: “I am not intimidated by the challenges ahead of me. This is because you (Ahmed) assured me you will stand by me.”

He showered praises on his predecessor, adding that his handling of the hand-over  ceremony had indicated that he was a statesman with a fine spirit adding that his speech was a lecture.

SGF duties very challenging

Earlier on the out-going SGF had described duties of the SGF as very challenging. 

He said he had looked forward to his last day in office right from the day he took over the position from his own predecessor, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe.

He recalled that before he was appointed SGF, he was the Minister of Defence and was committed to transforming the Nigerian military to become comparable with its counterparts anywhere in the world.

He was full of praises for the late President Umar Yar’Adua for appointing him,  and President Jonathan retaining him, adding that both men  reposed  trust  in him by appointing him into  exalted positions in  their  administrations.

At the end of the ceremony  Ahmed  introduced  the senior staff of the office to the in-coming SGF. They included Mr. A.S. Olayisade, Permanent Secretary (General Services Office); Mrs R.S. Jimeta, Special Duties Office; Mrs Esther Gonda Permanent Secretary, Special Services Office and Mr Taye Haruna Permanent Secretary – Political Affairs Office.  Others were Dr. M. Nwaobiala- Permanent Secretary  Cabinet Secretariat  Office; Mrs ibukun Odusote- Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund Office and Dr. Benjamin Ibe Permanent Secretary,  Economic Affairs Office.