How corruption hit civil service – Asiodu

 By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Clifford
Ndujihe & Charles Kumolu
The appointment with Chief Philip Asiodu was fixed
for 12 noon but finding the residence of the
octogenarian retired civil servant and elder-
statesman was another thing that Wednesday. The
reporter who made the
contact had forgotten to note the address when the
appointment was made, so when another call was
made to request the specific address, the fear of the
reporter was realised when the chief gently rebuked
him for being careless. Chief Asiodu is undeniably a
careful man, a fact that progressively unfolded as the
interaction got underway following an hour long wait
for him to end another meeting with an expatriate
Caucasian.
The meticulousness of Asiodu was very visible from
the neat arrangement of the anteroom where the
three Vanguard reporters were received. It was also
seen in the durable materials used in furnishing his
apartment built more than thirty years ago.
The chief’s love for the arts and made-in Nigeria
products was also visible. A number of art works
adorned the anteroom and the lounge room where
the interview was conducted.
Speaking about the house, Asiodu, who urged
Nigerians, especially the elite, to patronise made-in-
Nigeria goods, said the furniture (which are still very
strong) were all sourced locally.
Asiodu was to note that imported furniture, which
many elite are crazy for, don’t last as the ones made
by experienced local producers.
In the interview proper, Asiodu assessed the
Nigerian civil service, pointed out where the country
missed the mark and how to retrace our steps. He
spoke on the state of the nation and why President
Muhammadu Buhari cannot limit his anti-corruption
war to the former President Goodluck
administration. Asiodu was Chief Economic Adviser at
the commencement of the Olusegun Obasanjo
civilian administration in 1999, Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP presidential aspirant ahead of the 1999
election, Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari
on Economic Affairs, and well before then, one of the
country’s foremost civil servants who retired as a
Permanent Secretary in 1975.
AT 80 you look relatively fresh. You could pass off as
a 60-year old man. What is the secret?
It is important to add a little moderation in all you
do. There should also be regular exercises. The
moderation should also include your eating and
drinking habits. More importantly,one should try to
bother less about things of life. Things are not always
a bed of roses but some people take bad things
badly. People are bound to disappoint you. Some
bear it but others don’t.
It is unfortunate that many Nigerians age
prematurely as a result of meaningless stress. In
those days life was better and that accounted for the
low statistics of death rate then. Those who died
then, died probably at infancy. Beyond that, people
lived as long as they want. So, moderation is my
secret. For instance, the ItseThe meticulousness of Asiodu was very visible from
the neat arrangement of the anteroom where the
three Vanguard reporters were received. It was also
seen in the durable materials used in furnishing his
apartment built more than thirty years ago.
The chief’s love for the arts and made-in Nigeria
products was also visible. A number of art works
adorned the anteroom and the lounge room where
the interview was conducted.
Speaking about the house, Asiodu, who urged
Nigerians, especially the elite, to patronise made-in-
Nigeria goods, said the furniture (which are still very
strong) were all sourced locally.
Asiodu was to note that imported furniture, which
many elite are crazy for, don’t last as the ones made
by experienced local producers.
In the interview proper, Asiodu assessed the
Nigerian civil service, pointed out where the country
missed the mark and how to retrace our steps. He
spoke on the state of the nation and why President
Muhammadu Buhari cannot limit his anti-corruption
war to the former President Goodluck
administration. Asiodu was Chief Economic Adviser at
the commencement of the Olusegun Obasanjo
civilian administration in 1999, Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP presidential aspirant ahead of the 1999
election, Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari
on Economic Affairs, and well before then, one of the
country’s foremost civil servants who retired as a
Permanent Secretary in 1975.
AT 80 you look relatively fresh. You could pass off as
a 60-year old man. What is the secret?
It is important to add a little moderation in all you
do. There should also be regular exercises. The
moderation should also include your eating and
drinking habits. More importantly,one should try to
bother less about things of life. Things are not always
a bed of roses but some people take bad things
badly. People are bound to disappoint you. Some
bear it but others don’t.
It is unfortunate that many Nigerians age
prematurely as a result of meaningless stress. In
those days life was better and that accounted for the
low statistics of death rate then. Those who died
then, died probably at infancy. Beyond that, people
lived as long as they want. So, moderation is my
secret. For instance, the Itse