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Is Arunma Oteh the new Dora Akunyili?

By on March 16, 2012

When it comes to integrity in public service, Nigerian women seem to be leading the way. Well that is with the exception of Patricia Etteh, the former Speaker of the House and an ex-hair dresser who approved well over half-a-billion Naira for the renovation of her official residence.

Also one must exclude the Office of the First Lady as the allegations of corruption trailing her are considerable. Yet Nigerians find solace in the fact that the Dame isn’t officially a public servant, but really just a glorified empress similar to the medieveal Queen of France.

Now that all exceptions have been made, let us return to public servants of the softer gender and their immense contributions to integrity and the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

Is Aruma Oteh a new champion in that cause? Only yesterday, she exposed an honourable lawmaker for the bribe seeker that he is. Herman Hembe, she said, asked her for a bribe of 44 million for a soft landing in the House Committee on Capital Markets investigation on the market collapse.

Not that Aruma caused the collapse, yet neither did she do anything in particular to resuscitate the market to recover. Nigerians were simply told she has the answer to the problem because she possesses a Harvard MBA and some financial institution experience. Also she got a 1st class result from the university and has a photo showing her sitted next to Bill Gates, so she was the one to march our capital markets out of the troubled waters.

Aruma got appointed and moved into a ritzy hotel, where she began her crusade to tidy up the market and restore investor confidence from a glitzy hotel room. Her food purchases were astronomical but in all fairness, women need their comfort food. And when the ASI is -15% yTD, then that need becomes accelerated. So let’s pardon the huge tab for food.

What should interest Nigerian’s more are her allegations against the committee, particularly its leadership. Herman Hembe who has been calling for MTN, Globacom, Shell etc to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, did he solicit bribes from them too?

Fact is Nigerians should look at this whole thing more in-depth rather than stopping at the DG’s voracious appetite.

Fact is the woman is not exactly a patron saint of integrity, after all her honesty button was only activated after she was embarrassed by Hembe’s committee.

Fact is she did not think it expedient to divulge the details of the lawmaker’s avarice and corruption until her food consumption bill was disclosed. She got emotional, that’s why she talked.
It was her primal need for revenge that blew the whole thing open.

Fact is to trust in an emotional public servant’s emotions may be suicidal. Was it not the tears Diezani Maduekwe shed on the Lagos-Benin expressway in her capacity as Minister for Works that caused Nigerians to later think it safe to ply that road falsely believing that repairs must have occured?

Fact is Aruma Oteh should tender her resignation with immediate effect, she is not the sort we need running an institution as sensitive as the SEC. With the public sector rotten with corruption, the private sector needs to be some sort of a refuge and Nigerians doubt her integrity to provide that sort of shelter.

Fact is we should see her replaced before she eats us out of house and home.

8 Comments

  1. Geologist Ugwokeh Nnaemeka

    March 16, 2012 at 10:13 am

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  2. Geologist Ugwokeh Nnaemeka

    March 16, 2012 at 10:14 am

    BECOME A

    CERTIFIED IMPORT COMPLIANCE MANAGER (CICM)

    OPPORTUNITY PROVIDED BY

    MULTIMIX ACADEMY (www.multimix-academy.com)

    &

    AFRICA CENTRE FOR SUPPLY CHAIN (www.supplychain-africa.org)

    The CICM programme
    provides an opportunity to strengthen import, procurement, shipping and supply
    chain management functions of participating organizations. It is imperative to
    note that government is taking the initiatives on trade compliance backed by a
    strong legal disposition that metes severe penalties with dire
    committals/sentence for non-compliances.

    FOR WHOM: Management
    & staffs of Trade/Import Regulatory Bodies, Agencies & the Organized
    private Sector involved in Purchasing, Logistics, Shipping, Banking, Contract
    Administration, Customs Brokerage, Freight Forwarding, Haulage, etc.

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    Degree/HND with Five Years
    Working Experience

    Mature Candidates without
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    (1 week) programme,

    ·        
    Part time
    (8 weekends) programme.

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    Abuja: April, 23-28, 2012

    Port Harcourt: May, 7-12, 2012

     

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    Surulere, Lagos. 08166201992

     

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    Abuja
    Office: Aisha House, Plot 2087, 9, Ndande Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja

    08064563066,
    08023237118

     

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    Port
    Harcourt Office: 12, Wokogoloma Street, Oroworukwo Town, Off St. John B/Stop,
    Aba Road, Port Harcourt. 07068572338, 08033420474.

     

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  3. Lyteforlife

    March 16, 2012 at 10:56 am

    Is business day now Herman Hembe’s mouthpiece? I wonder how you wanted her to comment when she was not given the opportunity to speak? This is a biased reportage and I am disappointed

  4. Cool

    March 16, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    Because she was alleged †☺ Ɨƚɑ̤̥̈̊vє over-stayed ¶n an hotel accomodation which was indeed stated ¶n her terms of employment she should resign….. ‘aa sha jeun n Co.’ Reporters (hungry reporters). Sorry ƑƠ̴͡Ʀ the dissapointment, she refused †☺ grease palms ℓ☺ℓ

  5. baba agba

    March 16, 2012 at 10:02 pm

    I see Arunma’s underlings are in the building… welcome minions. Perhaps you were the few she broke N 850,000 bread with or are u also seconded from Access Bank to advise her on brand and communications. Make una go sleep and abeg advise oga to resign

  6. Daniel

    March 24, 2012 at 1:24 am

    *Who are the ones sending lists to parastals and ministries for employment for their candidates?
    *Admission reguest to Universities with low scores?
    *For a medical student to do House man ship in FCT Hospitals, a letter must come from them- and not on merit?
    * Allocation of stores and lands?
    * Killing investigations at EFCC?
    *Perverting justice?
    We know them, just that we dont want to call a spsade a spade, rather we smear great brains that God has sent to salvage this nation.

  7. Ndidiamaka

    March 24, 2012 at 2:02 am

    The meal at villa is not for President Jonathan and the household alone but for all that entered the villa; that goes for the N83,000.00 at Hilton when DG SEC gave launch to investors from across the globe. One can perceive that “Hon” Herman Hembe is used to eating in millions so any attempt to stop him will be resisted by everything in his powers, that’s the reason for the campaign of calumny against DG SEC. Even a new born baby can discern that Arunma Oteh is being smeared. However, like the proverbial Haman and Mordecai, Herman’s cup is full and that’s why he became senseless at his questioning the certificate of a first class material; and like Haman, the gallow he built for Mordecai will be used in hanging him. Let “Hon” Hembe’s assets be looked into too, you will discover that it is running in trillions. Oteh exploded at the appointed time. She did not talk earlier because her time has not come. There is a season for everything. We need many Otehs in this country. DG, keep it up, it is well with you. Like Dora Akunyele, no fiery dart of the evil ones will touch you, it will pass over you and will by no means hurt you. 

  8. Ochiora Patience

    March 24, 2012 at 2:26 am

    Business news, why are you refusing to post my comment? I can see you are also not free from the canker worm of corruption. I agree with the earlier comment that you are taking sides. Post my comment and stop protecting “Hon” Hembe. Is he a director in your establishment. You know that my comment is the trump card. Let the word know the truth; for only truth can set Nigeria free.