TheCable

Sam Amadi, a former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has rejected a role as director of research in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council.

In a letter dated October 10 and addressed to Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto and director-general of the campaign council, Amadi said he belongs to a number of organisations that are non-partisan.

While appreciating Tambuwal for the offer, the former NERC chairman said his rejection is not a vote of no confidence on the country’s major opposition party.

“I humbly want to decline the appointment, and hereby abstain from participating in such a role,” he said.

“The decision to decline the offer has stemmed from the conflicts of interest emanating from various responsibilities in which I act as a leader of different platforms where political neutrality and objectivity are required of me. These platforms are as follows: The Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts (ASSPT).

“As director of the school, I bear the responsibility to lead a group of intellectuals and scholars of diverse political and ideological stripes with a commitment to rethink the nature of the social, political, and economic crises of statehood in Africa, and to develop new ideas and policies to transform Nigeria and other African societies.

“For some years I have been an analyst on Arise News, which I consider one of the most strategic institutions for national development and sane deliberative democracy through analytical news reporting.

“My role in that reputable media platform also requires non-partisanship, even as I am free to express my opinions.”