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Ambassador Jerry Sonny Ugokwe Remains Nigerian Envoy to Austria
New York—News reports going around the world that Nigeria’s triple Ambassador, Jerry Sonny Ugokwe (1. Nigerian Ambassador to Austria, 2. Nigerian Representative to the UN in Vienna and 3. Nigerian Representative in Slovakia) had been sacked may not be true, after all, based on our interim investigation. News of Amb. Ugokwe’s purported sack hit the internet on October 23, 2009 and by October 26, 2009, a major Nigerian newspaper (Punch) carried the news, as well. According to one of the internet news reports, “Although no official announcement has been made with regards to Ugokwe’s removal but sources say President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who approved the removal is already shopping for a replacement”. However, our investigation reveals that the reported sack may be false since neither Ambassador Ugokwe, nor anyone in the Nigerian Ministry of External Affairs seem to have any knowledge of it. “The news report on the internet and in Nigerian newspaper about my sack are not true; I will return to Vienna very soon”, said Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe who speaks from Nigeria where he is currently on a visit. A highly-level official in the Nigerian Ministry of External Affairs that spoke to us on condition of anonymity stated that the news report was false unless the reporters know something that Ministry of External Affairs does not know. Our investigation reveals that though Ambassador Ugokwe is still in Nigeria, following his unsuccessful campaign for Anambra State Governor’s office, and he is reportedly scheduled to depart Nigeria for Austria any moment from now. “Ambassador Ugokwe will go back to Austria in couple of days; the news report of his sack is handiwork of political enemies”, said a source very close to the Ambassador. However, our effort to clear the air by getting clarity from the Office of the President of Nigeria was futile. People with authority to speak on the matter were not available by the time of publishing this report, thereby fueling the speculation that all may not be well, after all. Meanwhile, many internet bloggers are having fun and jokingly reacting to the reported news of the sack of the ambitious young ambassador. Some bloggers joke that President Yar’Adua had murdered sleep and may have bit more than he could chew by sacking the Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe. Some bloggers joke that Ambassador Ugokwe may take the President Yar’Adua to through High Courts to the Supreme Court of Nigeria to challenge his sack. Some further joke that if Amb. Ugokwe does not get favorable judgment from Nigerian courts, he may take President Yar’Adua to ECOWAS Court, AU Court and ICC to enforce due process and his fundamental human right to keep his job. “Yar'Adua and PDP may be charged for 'crime against humanity' for sacking him as Ambassador after losing out in the PDP selection process! Trouble de sleep, iyanga go wake am”, said a blogger on AnambraForum@yahooGroups.com. “Ha ha. PDP is in trouble. This man will take them to ECOWAS or AU or ICC. Yar'Adua better brief his lawyers!!!”, said another blogger. “Till we see a termination letter on FGN letterhead signed by either the secretary to the Federal government, or the President we should stop discussing this topic. Jerry Ugokwe is STILL OUR AMBASSADOR”, said one of the bloggers. “Folks: Even if the above news is true, it should not call for any celebration by any serious minded Igbo man or woman. We should stop celebrating for the fall of any Igbo man or woman who has gotten to the National level if he/she has been performing his/her duties diligently …….”, commented another blogger.. If it eventually becomes true that Amb. Ugokwe had been sacked by President Yar’Adua and the sack was leaked to news media before the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ambassador are informed, then it could be a major breach of protocol and due process which may actually give the ambassador ample ground to challenge the process of his removal. Only time shall tell. |
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