Gentlemen of the Press!
Having followed events in the Nigerian media in recent times, especially with regards to the activities of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, we join millions of Nigerians in condemning the recent and prevailing unwarranted attacks on the present leadership of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
It is disheartening and most worrisome that at a crucial time such as this, in the history of our dear nation, when the best of hands are needed to push Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, some very unpatriotic Nigerians are still cultivating ethnic sentiments for their selfish pursuits. It is even more unfortunate that some sections of the Nigerian media are being influenced to engage in guerrilla tactics in their usual practice of money-propelled yellow journalism.
Arc Sonny Togo Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFUND, is a man internally and globally respected as being of undisputable integrity, unequalled innovative tendencies, and a detribalized patriotic Nigerian who has always devoted his time and energy to ventures towards elevating the Nigerian spirit. It was for these qualities, and more, that former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him to his new position after serving the nation most meritoriously throughout his thirty five years in the civil service. Much literature exist to demonstrate his exceptional achievements in all the sectors he worked, especially the innovations he introduced in the Ministries of Agriculture, Communications, and Education where his positive exploits are still talk of the places. Is this a person who should be sacrificed on the alter of ethnic chauvinism riding on some unfounded accusations? Certainly not.
The lot of Arc Sonny Echono unfortunately, but understandably, started with his style of administering the Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFUND)upon resumption. Having spent some years as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education before retirement from civil service, he obviously had the opportunity to understudy TETFUND. It was in his avowed posture to make the place a better performing organ that he stepped on the enemies that have since then been bent on making sure that he is either removed or made permanently uncomfortable in the performance of his work.
Upon resumption at TETFUND, Arc Sonny Echono identified and sacked non-performing contractors; closed down or reduced the sizes of some departments for uptimum performance; streamlined the administration to block financial leakages and save costs; and gave marching orders to underperforming departments. All these were aimed at fighting corruption. And, in the Nigerian context, corruption has been fighting back ever since. A manifestation of this was the frivolous accusations brought against Echono by an amorphous group of so-called lawyers who threatened brimstone and thunder if the Executive Secretary did not resign within a week. However, they ended up shamelessly retracting their virulent media vituperations after confessing that they were fed with wrong information.
It is not surprising that another round of falsehood is being orchestrated against the ever pragmatic Arc Echono. Corruption never gives up! And some willing media, who survive only from proceeds of mischief and blackmail, are always available for use. The present altercation is no different. Some people who have been sour that the ES cut off their corruption laden means are fighting back. Others who feel, rightly or wrongly, intimidated by the ever rising profile of the former Permanent Secretary are also fighting back. And those who feel that Echono is sitting on billions which should be looted, instead of being deployed for the betterment of our Tertiary institutions as he is doing now, are seeking to remove him. The blockade infront of all the groups seeking Echono’s head is, however, that the man has been so versed in administrative competence, procurement integrity, and innovative foresight that, while they waste long periods sleeplessly plotting against him, he is daily reaching newer heights and securing greater accolades both within and outside the country. How do you seek the removal of a man who has so balanced the distribution of interventions in Nigeria’s educational sector that almost on a daily basis State Governors, Legislators, and heads of organisations visit him to express their desire for collaborative strategies? How should anyone think of removing an ES whom the Arewa Youths Association has held responsible for the unprecedented upliftment of education in Northern Nigeria through an unparalleled remarkable shift? Is it a man who has been roundly applauded by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) for the excellent job TETFUND is presently doing in the Universities that you seek his removal? Ask Prof Emmanuel Osodeke and Prof Yakubu Ochefu of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.
There is a saying that you do not change a winning team. Right now TETFUND Executive Secretary, Arc Sonny Echono, constitutes a winning team. This is why we agree with the assertion of the Peoples Development Network that TETFUND is under siege by desperate office seekers. There is no doubt that the attacks are deliberate and nepotic in nature too, and must be resisted. The ethnic agenda to replace Echono, who has been tested and a known performer, with an unknown Professor of South Western extraction, on very malicious and unscrupulous allegations, must never be allowed as it can only deepen ethnic distrust and fan the embers of disunity. It is not for nothing that Arc Sonny Echono was recently bestowed with an Award of Excellence at the 5th Delegates Conference of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) at University of Abuja. It is instructive that the NAAT National President, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, comes from Eastern Nigeria.
The present allegations against Arc Sonny Echono, which border on his awarding a job order in the absence of a Board, raises some pertinent questions: should an organisation stand still simply because there is no Board?; in the absence of a Board, is there no institutional laid down rule?; were such rules not followed?
The tone of the media outburst indicates that in their hurry to cause public outcry and disaffection against Echono, the reporter failed to do a thorough investigation. And even when TETFUND graciously responded to their frivolous inquiries, they went ahead with their already written report, just to justify the paymasters’ financial investment in promoting corruption. They did not even bother to find out anything from the Ministry of Education which supervises TETFUND.
Arc Sonny Echono should be left alone to continue advancing the horizons of our educational development by rejuvenating dilapidated facilities and infrastructure in tertiary institutions, for which he is already being applauded. The enemies of progress should let him continue invigorating the spirit of research and publications which he has successfully reactivated after many years in the doldrums. Research and publications form the bedrock of all serious societal progress. Echono must be left to continue to enhance the morale of educators and foster conditions conducive for effective teaching and learning, an area very dear to his heart.
More instructive is the vote of confidence recently passed on the TETFUND Executive Secretary by the Arewa Youth Association and numerous Civil Society Organisations across Nigeria, who described Arc Sonny Echono’s strides as “unparalleled “.
In conclusion, Gentlemen of the Press, we call on all well intentioned patriotic Nigerians to rise up against the pull-him-down syndrome masquerading in frivolous allegations against a respected performer, a man who has rightly been described as a Progressive Innovator by the President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina.
We call on the Hon Minister of Education to protect the future of our tertiary institutions.
We call on the President and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to disregard these ethnic based attemp to rubbish his Renewed Hope Agenda epitomised in the workings of the present TETFUND, especially its Executive Secretary, Arc Sonny Togo Echono.
Thank you all.
Signed:
1. Ojoko Dave Ekwo, Chairman.
2. Ojoko Adeyi Odaudu, Secretary.
3. Ojoko Maj. Gen Harrison Adoga(rtd).
4. Ojoko Prof Idris Amali.
5. Ojoko Prof Ediga Agbo.
6. Ojoko Prof Okwoli Amali.
7. Ojoko Aloga Ogbogo.
8. Ojoko Omochi Onche.
9. Ojoko Emmanuel Ogwuche.
10. Ojoko Dan Ogale.
11. Ojoko Godwin Ewaoche Iyoko.
12. Ojoko Sam Ochekwu Onobe.
13. Ojoko Odeh Okpe.
14. Ojoko Adams Oklakwu.
15. Ojoko Steve Anyebe.
Dated this day 3rd May 2024.
