STILL ON NITEL AND NAHUCHE’S EXIT
http://www.naijaviewpoints.com/articles/297/1/STILL-ON-NITEL-AND-NAHUCHES-EXIT/Page1.html
By Naija ViewPoints
Published on 04/14/2008
Following the mixed reactions that have trailed the acquisition and management of NITEL/Mtel by Transcorp in the recent past, Nigerians are yet to be fully informed on the position even as the media attempt to unravel the circumstances in the deal, especially as events unfold in a dramatic scenario. Remember, since the acquisition of NITEL/Mtel in 2006,Transcorp has been besieged by numerous problems starting from lack of funds for the resuscitation of its billing system which has gone obsolete
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STILL ON NITEL AND NAHUCHE'S EXIT
By Prince Nwaokugha Ikeokwu
Following the mixed reactions that have trailed the acquisition and management of NITEL/Mtel by Transcorp in the recent past, Nigerians are yet to be fully informed on the position even as the media attempt to unravel the circumstances in the deal, especially as events unfold in a dramatic scenario.
Remember, since the acquisition of NITEL/Mtel in 2006,Transcorp has been besieged by numerous problems starting from lack of funds for the resuscitation of its billing system which has gone obsolete, the expansion of network under the CDMA project, the unresolved interconnect indebtedness to other telecom companies, inability to fix the optic backbone and the micro-wave radio system.
Base on these facts, it is important to ask pertinent questions: How did Transcorp acquire these companies? What are the yardsticks adopted during the bidding process? Who are the people that handled it? These questions may sound rhetorical, but they are not, giving answers to them would uncover more facts propounded by the incessant change in the leadership of the company since the acquisition.
Why have things fallen apart in Transcorp? It is no longer news that the 261-sacked casual staff of NITEL has decided to seek their fate in Abuja High Court, demanding the payment of their salaries and allowances.
The latest (as reported by the media) is the resignation of the Chief Executive Officer of NITEL/Mtel, Engineer Ahmed Nahuche that came suddenly like the Hiroshima bomb and further compounded the firm's dilemma.
Some critics believe that Engr. Nahuche has not fair well in the helm of affaire as a captain of a sinking ship. They argued that he could have waited to rescue it before jumping out to complement the saying that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
While others have a contrary view by believing that a good visitor is he who knows when to live. No matter the school of thought you belong to, one is entitle to one's opinion. But the truth of the matter is that Nahuche acted wisely to save his face as a man of integrity, a man that has conscience with a name to protect, and who believes in giving what he has.
Since the acquisition of NITEL/Mtel by Transcorp in 2006, Nahuche was the fourth persons to serve in the capacity of the Chief Executive Officer. First, was Mr. Steve Brookman, a British Telecom Consultant who resigned his position after Transcorp fell-out with the British Telecom Partnership Agreement, preceded by Ms Funke Opeke, a formal Chief Technical Officer of MTN who resigned as a result of poor funding of the company, followed by Mr. Nicholas Okoye, an Executive Director of Transcorp, before the appointment of Engr Nahuche on June 21, 2007.
These and many more may have been the sole-reason for the resignation of Engr. Nahuche, as he prefers to toe the path of honour, just like his predecessors, without letting his name to be dragged in the mud. His resignation will go a long way in telling Nigerians the true position of Transcorp in the management of NITEL/Mtel. How sure are we that Transcorp can give what they claim to have had?
It is high time we learnt our lessons by making wise decision instead of embracing a sit-tight syndrome that is peculiar to African Leaders. Nahuche may have envisaged a gloomy future, which compelled him to take a right step in a right direction. His bold step may have sent a wrong signal to those who prefer to be Judges of their own cases. Many of such abound in public and private sectors but at the end they are shown the way out when they could of leave the stage when the ovation is loudest.
For every decent man, there is need to toe the path of honour. For Nahuche, "there is no end in the road", but for Nigerians, we are beginning to see the end to the problem bedeviling our NITEL/Mtel as presently being managed by Transcorp.
Prince Nwaokugha Ikeokwu
princenwaoku@yahoo.com
National Press Centre
Abuja