FNJ’s name is preeminent on the list those who God used to reveal the extent of my endowment. FNJ drove me crazy when he appointed me as his Special Media Advisor in February 2006. He was Nigeria’s Minister for Information and Communication (hitherto, Information and National Orientation). By the time his tenure was over and I looked back in self-evaluation of our outing, I realised he had nudged me to perform tasks that qualified me to be his successor. I have heard stories of mentors and mentees but my historical meeting with FNJ in May 2004 became seminal and a critical juncture in my life.
We met a month after I defended my MA Dissertation at the University of Ibadan. It was at the National Youth Summit, I was part of the team of about 200 students and youth leaders that were ‘assembled’ at the National Women Development Centre, Abuja to review the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS). FNJ was Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, Special Duties and Youth Development. After my comment on the document, he ‘searched’ for me. Some of my friends had advised I disappear because they thought I might be arrested. I thought as much too because I considered my comment as the most critical and possibly destabilising to the forum. Everybody had spoken glowingly about the NEEDS document and same for me but I proceeded to list seven issues that made the document so defective. So many people were uncomfortable but I was constructive (at the risk of immodesty). From that moment other participants became emboldened. I had changed the direction of the debate. But while the ‘search’ for me continued even though I was at the venue, fate made FNJ to locate me during the syndicate sessions.
He took my mobile number. He did not give me his and I didn’t ask for it. The programme ended and I returned to Ibadan to pack my books. Two days after, Frank rang and courteously requested I return to Abuja. He had set up a 7-Man Committee to craft a youth policy. In that team is my friend and brother, Dr. Umar Tanko Yakasai. By the time our assignment was completed I was again in the group of 5 young persons sent to the Arab Republic of Egypt to represent Nigeria at the International Youth Summit that took place that year. I don’t know how other people made the list but I was FNJ’s nominee.
We continued to interact thereafter. Then I had to make a presentation at the International Students Festival in Norway in 2004, based on a proposal I had sent to the organisers. Frank personally picked the bill.
Our relationship was on until January 2006 when I visited him at Radio House, he had been appointed Minister of Information and National Orientation and I was teaching at the International Institute of Journalism. I visited him in company of my brother and comrade, Ezenwa Nwagwu. In February 2006, there was a challenge in the polity ( I am not going to discuss it here). So, I sent a message to FNJ and we had a discussion thereafter. He insisted I must come on board as SA Media. As soon as he said it, he sent for his Secretary and request him to send a letter to Mr. President through SGF Ekaette on my matter. I requested for time to consult, he refused. He then recalled my contribution at the Women Centre in 2004 and said his offer had provided a platform for me to make my views to reflect in government policies.
So I stepped out of his office with his permission and quickly rang 3 people – Dapo Olorunyomi (one of my mentors who particularly shaped my material and intellectual disposition); the late Prof. Alfred Opubor (Nigeria’s, possibly West Africa’s first professor of Mass Communication); and Dr. Jide Ibietan (Associate Professor and my first consanguinous brother). I went back to FNJ’s office and accepted the offer. When I asked when to resume, FNJ said ‘yesterday’. That day I resigned my appointment at IIJ and I resumed the following day at Radio House.
God willing I will capture details of what transpired at Radio House in my memoirs. I have done the above narrative to show how God can manifest His power using people to shape the destiny of others. Importantly, I owe Nigeria a duty to do this today because of our nation’s rapid descent to atavism, grovelling bigotry, clannishness and nepotism.
I owe Nigeria a duty to chronicle the fact of history that one man stood (and still stands) out as a great exemplar of leadership and national spirit. FNJ and I have no blood relationship. The last time I checked, I remain a Yoruba from North Central Nigeria whereas FNJ is Igbo from South East Nigeria. He had 3 Special Assistants while he was Minister of Information, not even one is Igbo. As understandably the most visible of the Special Assistants, there were times people walked into my office and spoke Igbo. I would respond with the little proficiency I had acquired but would politely inform my visitors I do not speak Igbo beyond basic greeting sociolects. Of course I noticed whiffs of shock in their countenances. The unasked question was: How could an Igbo guy appoint a non-Igbo to such a strategic desk?
As I write, when you reflect on the nature of appointments officials of government at several levels have made between 2007 and now, you would easily see that many of our so-called leaders do not have faith in the Nigerian nation, in its stead they put their faith in some narrow, divisive and primitive realities. It is mainly the reason our nation continually failed – because leaders refused to emulate higher values as FNJ has consistently displayed. So, decades after independence, we remain a country. We refused to build a nation.
But that’s the Frank Nweke spirit. Very national, very ecumenical. FNJ speaks the Nigeria’s 3 major languages and he is at home everywhere. Very humble. Hardworking. Pragmatic. Patriotic. He was an uncommon Minister and quintessential national reputation manager.
I will recall a few incidents to illustrate how FNJ acted in a manner that left imprints of Nigeria’s culture and pride, and repudiated some of the perceptions people had about Nigeria. The first was at the House of Lords in the UK in 2007. Myself, FNJ and Dr. Christopher Kolade were going to the gallery to observe a proceeding about Nigeria. Several times, FNJ offered to open the door and would actually hold the door for all to go, including me, and he would come last. It also happened a number of times in many places we visited. I recall one day the guy who used to chauffeur us around London whenever we visited (Nasir, an Egyptian Orthodox Christian), asked me on two occasions whether FNJ was truly a Minister in Nigeria. To which I responded in the affirmative. Then, Nasir said “Nigerian Ministers do not act like this in London”. Nasir went on and on to describe the behaviour of Nigerian Ministers citing large delegations, unusually long convoy of cars, grandeur, ostentation, unnecessary noise etc as signposts of Nigerian Ministers visit.
Secondly, in 2006, FNJ was offered American citizenship by the state of Georgia during one of our visits but he politely declined stating that Nigerian citizenship sufficed. I remember he added that Nigeria held so much promise that people around the world should seek Nigerian citizenship quickly. It was during the launch of NIGERIA: THE HEART OF AFRICA project.
Today, we have community radio stations in Nigeria because FNJ instituted its policy drafting processes when he was Minister of Information and Communication. We would have retained our status as the only West African (possibly African country) without community radio culture. It was that draft policy that became a central advocacy tool for us in the Nigeria Community Radio Coalition until President Jonathan approved 17 community radio licenses in 2015. The foregoing partly explains why I cannot stop to celebrate Frank Nweke II, A BROTHER, LEADER AND PATRIOT, and plausibly Nigeria’s most vibrant and introspective Minister of Information.
Be the first to comment