Jonathan Woos Opposition States With Scholarship Scheme

Presidential Scholarship for Innovation and Development

President Goodluck Jonathan may have began an under-ground moves to woo some of the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled states in the South-West with the Presidential Scholarship Scheme in the build up to 2015 general elections.

This much came to the fore through the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, who flagged-off the 2014 Presidential Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development (PRESSID) in Abuja, on Monday.

Wike who spoke glowingly about the President at the ceremony where 104 first class students have been selected nationwide to study in the top 25 universities around the world up to Masters and Ph.D. level, said Jonathan showed he was a detribalised politician from the scholarship selection process.

He said the home state of Jonathan,Bayelsa,that of the Vice President,Namadi Sambo, Kaduna and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, Ebonyi, were deliberately left out in the scholarship slots while more slots were allotted to some states controlled by the opposition parties, particularly Ogun and Osun states.

According to the Supervising Minister of Education, the Presidency also ignored the federal character principle, preferring to stand on individual merit alone.

He said, "I have to let people know that this is the kind of leadership that we are talking about. How many Nigerians today will be seating in his position as the President of this country, how many Nigerians today will be sitting as the Vice President and will see that funds will be allocated to students from other states without their own states benefiting?

"For the sake of transparency I want to tell you that some of the opposition states got the highest allotment, states like Ogun got 17, Osun got 15.

"It is easy to sit down here and criticise, but this has shown a man that uses practical example to show his kind of leadership.

"It is not playing politics on the pages of newspaper without even going to verify whether what they are saying is true or not.

"Some of the states and the number they got will tell you that this kind of President is not the type that will lead because you are not a member of his political party, therefore, you are not entitled to have it.

"In the course of our search for qualified candidates that will benefit from the scholarship for this year, we looked out for candidate that obtained first class honours degree from any recognised and approved university in the country.

"In Bayelsa State none; in Ebonyi State none; and in Kaduna State none.

"This programme wouldn't have taken place, there was pressure to make sure that we dump this ceremony and we say no! Time has come when this country has to move forward. It doesn't matter whether I benefit from it or not.

"In fact, I drew the President's attention; I said your Excellency, look at the list, I did not see Bayelsa here and he said that it doesn't matter; he said that is not the issue that we have other scholarships that we can do federal character.

"You know what can happen in this country, some people will not allow that to happen, they will sit down and make sure 50% or 60% goes to their relation, but you have seen the difference in leadership".

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Julius Okojie, in an earlier remark, said the aim behind the scheme was to raise efficient manpower who will draw from the intellectual resources of other countries and come back to help in developing Nigeria.

Okojie said: "What this whole scheme is about is to develop a critical mass of professionals who would come back to serve as a catalyst of change to our nation, especially in scientific and technological advancement, as well as sustained economic development".

The programme would however be funded jointly by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and a host of other Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs).