THE fate of the nominated Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) chairman was hanging in the balance yesterday, after President Goodluck Jonathan failed to administer the oath of office on him.<\/span><\/p>\n Mr Fracis Ugochukwu Elechi was stopped at the gate of the Villa.<\/span><\/p>\n Security operatives told Elechi, a Rivers State nominee, to return to his hotel and await instructions, but other board members were allowed into the Villa. They were inaugurated by President Jonathan.<\/span><\/p>\n The President said he stopped Elechi\u2019s inauguration because people kicked against his appointment.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr Jonathan said: \u201cThe chairman couldn\u2019t follow the oath taking this morning, because from about Wednesday last week, I started receiving disturbing calls and reports and a body like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the President should be very careful about the opinion of people.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cA minister can come in and go the next day, but you cannot gamble with the INEC, EFCC and ICPC and that is why when we were to inaugurate the board of INEC the same thing happened, there were protests that there were some PDP members. To make sure that people had a proper perception of INEC and to make sure that the perception is correct, we dropped those people. I\u2019m not saying we are going to drop the chairman, but we are going to look into the reports we have and reconfirm. But we will not do anything that will bring any stain to any of these bodies no matter how painful it may be to anybody.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo, the chairman is not taking his oath of office today. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) will formally write a letter, but Mr Nta Ekpo will act until we sort out the issue of the chairman. He will get a letter from the Secretary of the Government once we leave here,\u201d the President said.<\/span><\/p>\n The President said: \u201cThe moment you travel out of this country, they will be beaming the searchlight on you. That is the cross all of us have to carry until we leave the board.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI remember after the elections when I travelled out, some of the world leaders who chatted with me said, \u2018Jonathan, we are very happy with the elections you conducted in Nigeria, but the remaining thing is corruption\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, we have done well in elections and until the monster called corruption is dealt with in this country, we will still not get our appropriate place in the comity of nations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jonathan also swore in Amb. Lawrence Nworuku as a Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).<\/span><\/p>\n It was gathered that Elechi and his well-dressed wife had arrived at the gate of the Villa at about 10.30am, in preparation for his inauguration.<\/span><\/p>\n But, he was told to go back to his hotel and await further instruction by 2pm.<\/span><\/p>\n As at 5.30pm, Elechi was still awaiting a directive from the Federal Government.<\/span><\/p>\n A source, who spoke in confidence, said: \u201cbemused chairman that he could not enter the Villa.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAttempts to know the reasons for the turn of events after the chairman has been cleared by the Senate fell on deaf ears.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cI think Elechi and his family deserve the courtesy of knowing before hand that he will not be inaugurated. Neither him nor his state government was informed of this twist.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n A Presidency source said \u201cElechi, who is from Rivers State, may be dropped following security reports\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere were security reports that made the President to shelve plans to administer the oath of office on the new ICPC chairman.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Investigation however confirmed that Elechi might have been dropped following a cold war between the President and Amaechi over the handling of the screening and disqualification of the Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipreye Sylva by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).<\/span><\/p>\n