Ganduje: Why are they resigning?

By Bola BOLAWOLE

Three highbrow resignations of recent are those of the presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale; the NNPC Limited spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, and now the chairman of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. If you asked, you would most likely be told by a cross-section of our people that the reasons given by the threesome for their resignation were suspect!

Public officers - and these include politicians - be they elected or appointed - hardly resign here on their own volition. Whenever they quit office, it is most likely they were forced to do so. Many get fired just like that! They get to hear the announcement on the radio while at home cuddling their wife; on the way to or from office, while on international assignments abroad - just name it!

Announcing his resignation on 7 September, 2024. Ngelale said he did so to address medical issues affecting his immediate family. Grapevine sources, however, said he lost out in the power-play that ensued amongst the top media minders of Mr. President. His aloofness from his professional colleagues, leading to his inability to rally his constituency, was said to have rendered him impotent in the eyes of his bosses.

A few weeks after a clean sweep of the top Management positions in the NNPCL by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the appointment on 2 April, 2025 of Bashir Ojulari as the new sheriff in town, the spokesperson of the octopus oil company, Olufemi Soneye, tendered his letter of resignation, precisely on 21 June, 2025. His reason was that he needed more time to devote to his family as well as attend to personal responsibilities that require his closer attention.

Reading his reasons for resigning his post, I laughed! I am sure the majority of Nigerians will do likewise! Pardon those of us who think or act that way! As it is said, a man is the sum total of his experience; and our experience here is that people hardly resign their positions, even when it is crystal clear they should. Someone said a silent house-cleaning exercise is ongoing at the NNPCL. The oil company must be given a thorough shake-up if it is to fulfill its mandate and live up to expectations.

Ganduje’s resignation took many unawares. What is cooking? Next was the rumour that the Secretary to the Federal Government, George Akume, was also on his way out, before that rumour was debunked. But Ganduje’s resignation was real. The man is out in the cold already and someone else has started acting in his place.

The interesting thing about Ganduje’s resignation is the kite being flown by his supporters to hide the actual reasons why he resigned: That he was leaving because his former boss turned arch-rival, Rabiu Kwankwaso, was coming into the party! The reasons advanced at the other end are quite different, though; giving an impression that the resignation was nothing but a generous, face-saving softlanding.

The leopard cannot change its skin. The official statement, however, is that Ganduje resigned on health grounds!

Why do people hide the reasons behind their resignation? Most of the time, it is because they have not done well. Another reason is that spilling the beans can be dangerous. If you know too much, you are not allowed to talk that much. The Third Republic ex-governor of Oyo state, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, who died recently, told an interviewer that there are secrets people necessarily must take to their grave. Ex-governor of Osun State and first chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, also said a similar thing.

The disadvantage, however, is that vital information is lost to the system as well as to the generality of our people. The system does not get better, and the institutions of state do not get stronger when there are no consequences for bad behaviour.

The worst aspect of it is that those concerned will always be looked at with suspicion and whispers will trail them everywhere they go. Did he, did he not? Maybe, maybe not! They will forever have to cast curious glances about them everywhere they go. Why men prefer such discomfort instead of speaking the truth and putting the devil to shame gives food for thought.

But in the likelihood of the reasons given by the resignees being truthful, then, it means a new template is being established and we must congratulate and wish them the very best in their new endeavours.