Philip Asiodu, Vincent Ogbuluafor: Where are they now?

They were at different times in the life of Nigeria dominant in their various spheres of influence, but not much has been heard about them again. ELEOJO IDACHABA asks where they are now.

Philip Asiodu

Chief Philip Asiodu is a man of many parts. He is a former diplomat, minister and special adviser at different times. Although he is described as someone of the old order, he is the father of modern board room guru. He joined the public service in 1964 and rose to the position of permanent secretary during Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s regime. As a technocrat, analyst say Chief Asiodu was instrumental to the botched Aburi Accord implementation which eventually led to the avoidable Nigeria Civil War. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) being one of its founding fathers. He once sought the presidential ticket of the party to contest the 1999 election, but failed. One notable area that this Delta state-born technocrat is noted for is his love for the preservation of the environment. This he achieved largely through the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) which he led as its chairman board of trustees for years. Based on this, President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 during the World Environmental Day celebration gave him an award for his role in the sustenance of the environment. Buhari said, “This day reminds us that our world belongs to seven billion others aside from ourselves. And that their habits as people and policies and government determine whether we would treat other fairly. If the environment issues are properly managed, they have the potential to support growth and this you have dedicated your time to achieve for this nation. That is why you deserve this award.” The impact of Chief Asiodu can be felt in many sectors of the economy including as ministers of health, industry petroleum, energy, mines and power at different times. He has also led government organisations such as the Nigeria Economic Society (NES) and Nigerian Committee of the World Energy Council. According to the journal of the Nigeria Academy of Engineering, “Chief Asiodu’s exudes greater knowledge and confidence in playing high profile leadership role in the implementation of Nigeria’s oil and gas policies beginning with the negotiation for Nigeria’s membership of OPEC in 1971. He was also instrumental to the recruitment of many Nigerian graduates for training in oil technology abroad, the decision to establish LNG plants in 1975, the Warri and Kaduna refineries as well as the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI).” For some time now, however, no one has heard anything about this man who is said to be in his 80s.

Vincent Ogbuluafor

Vincent Ogbuluafor is a former chairman and secretary of the PDP. He became its chairman in 2008 and served less than two years before he was forced to resign over allegations on corruption which investigation never saw the light of day. It was, however, gathered that the powers that be never wanted him in that position because of his stand on rotational presidency. However, as party chairman, the Abia state-born politician was noted for controversial statements which irked many Nigerians. For instance, he, like Ahmadu Ali, another chieftain of the party, once said the party would rule the country for 60 years.

 “I have done justice by addressing you on issues and policies of our great party and I expect that all Nigerians in no distant times would all return to PDP. I don’t care if Nigeria becomes a one-party state. If we succeed in bringing all the states of the federation under one umbrella, then it means we are doing a good job,” he once told media executives in Abuja. Political feelers are of the opinion that his removal from office as chairman was connected to his stand in 2010 that after Yar’ Adua, power must return to the north before it comes to the south. Therefore after the death of Yar’ Adua, he was forced to resign on thumped up charges by Good luck Jonathan. In his letter of resignation to Jonathan and Bukola Saraki, then chairman of the all powerful Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), he said, “In view of my recent meetings with President Jonathan and governors of the PDP extraction, I hereby give 30 days’ notice of my intention to resign as the national chairman of PDP. This resignation is informed by the case I have with the ICPC, for it would give me ample opportunity to prepare and face my case frontally in order to prove my innocence.”

Not long after, he was acquitted of the 17 count charges. While reflecting on the misfortunes that befell the party, Ogbuluafor said, “The person who caused the problem of PDP was Jonathan. The party had internal democracy mechanism in place which worked for it in 16 years and we agreed at several meetings that power would stay in the north for eight years before it would return to the south for another eight years, but Jonathan scuttled it.” Following the victory of APC in the 2015 elections, he paid a visit to its chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, where he gleefully felicitated with President Buhari, a move that was misconstrued to his leaving PDP, but he said, “I am still in PDP and I have not discussed with any other person on plans to defect to APC.”

Since then, not much has been heard about him again.

Hassan Adamu

Known as the Wakilin Adamawa, Ambassador Hassan Adamu is also a man of many parts. He is a politician, diplomat, business man, technocrat and administrator who spent the bulk of his time in the boardroom of many financial houses. He is a founding member of the PDP and for many years was the chairman, board of trustees of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC) where he and others played key role in the capital market of the country. During one of his opening remarks in his capacity as board chairman of the organisation, he said, “I am happy to inform you that in response to the development in Nigeria’s financial services industry and global economy, NDIC has taken some incentives to enhance its relevance as a critical component of the financial safety-net. It is my sincere hope that the performance of the corporation would be improved upon in the succeeding years as we brace up for the challenges ahead.”

However, in 2006, he was in and out of court over allegation of re-election slush fund in the tune of N450 million in his custody. The money was meant for Jonathan’s re-election bid which never saw the light of day. After that, nothing seems to have been heard about the case anymore just as nothing much has been heard about the man.

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