KENNETH O. EZE
The Chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc and former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Mustafa Chike-Obi, has identified four reasons why people jostle for government positions in Nigeria.
During an exclusive with The Point, in Lagos, he opined that the desire to help the government; desire to help the individual’s constituency; self-enrichment and paraphernalia of office were the major driving forces for many who sought government positions.
He described as unfortunate, a situation where people went into government position for the wrong reasons such as self-enrichment and paraphernalia of office.
Distancing himself from such group, he said, “I don’t like the paraphernalia of office.”
Chike-Obi said he would never be tempted with money, because he would be happy with his basic needs met and contented with such wealth that he could honestly explain to his family.
“Looking at money, once my basic needs are met, I am happy. So, money doesn’t attract me,” he said.
He narrated that he already inculcated this virtue in his immediate family. He recalled an interesting story where his daughter would not accept a cash gift from him, unless he explained the source of such money.
He said, “I remember when my daughter was moving from London to Hong Kong; she was giving up her job to follow her husband. I said to her, ‘I don’t want you irritating your husband by always asking him for money till you get a job, let me give you $50,000 so that you can have your own money until you get a job, so that you don’t ask him every day for money. It irritates men.’
“She didn’t answer me. The next day, her mother called me and said my daughter was very worried about where I got $50,000 to offer her just like that. So, I called her and explained to her how I was able to afford it. I let her know what my earning was. Then she said, alright, and told me; that she would take $10,000, and I gave it to her. This is a true story. So, I always tell people; I only want the kind of money that I can explain to my children. Whatever I cannot explain to my children, I don’t want. So, money does not tempt me.”
