Ex-Minister Shamsudeen Usman Reveals Political Pressure to Join Party Before Appointment
Former Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman, has disclosed that he was compelled to join a political party before being confirmed as a minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Usman shared his experience navigating Nigeria’s political landscape as a technocrat trying to effect change. He revealed that the political system posed significant challenges, making it difficult for ministers to achieve their objectives without aligning with political interests.
“If you enter as a technocrat or economist, there are many things you want to implement, but the political structure makes it very hard to get things done properly,” Usman explained.
He emphasized how personal interests often overshadow the public interest among public servants, who are meant to act as custodians for the public.
“Public servants should be agents of the people, but many times, their own interests take precedence,” Usman said, lamenting the disconnect between public duty and personal gain.
Usman also recounted his experience when he was first appointed as a minister, explaining that he was informed he would need to be a registered member of a political party to secure confirmation.
“The day I was appointed, someone warned me that for you to get confirmed as a minister, you must join a political party. At that time, I wasn’t affiliated with any party, so I had to quickly travel to Kano to register,” he recalled.
His path to confirmation was further complicated by political opposition from senators in his home state, who, for political reasons, were poised to block his appointment.
“Some senators from my state were set up to oppose me, and I was on the verge of facing serious embarrassment,” he added.
