Jonathan Sacks Joy Emodi For Giving Lawmakers "Poor" Bribe

Indications emerged last night that President Goodluck Jonathan is uncomfortable with his dwindling political fortunes in the National Assembly despite the control of the two chambers of the legislature by his party.

A fat sum of money, which was meant to be disbursed to sympathetic lawmakers was not distributed as was expected, thereby infuriating President Jonathan's camp. Some lawmakers allegedly got just $25,000 (about N3.5m) instead of $100,000 (N15m) said to have been earmarked for them to work for Jonathan.

A source said Jonathan was compelled to fire Joy Emordi, Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, due to her weakness and inability to influence House of Reps members in his favour.

The wrong application of the money is said to have been partly responsible for the free-for-all on the floor of the House of Representatives during the week.

Presidential sources hinted Vanguard that Jonathan was particularly irked by the show of shame that erupted on the floor of the House earlier in the week as a result of the face off between his supporters and opponents in the New PDP.

Presidency agents complained that Joy Emordi had not been able to exert her position on the legislature and attract respect and support from members for Jonathan since her appointment about two years ago.

Presidential strategists pondered why the ‘opponents’ of the President appeared to be gaining more attention in the National Assembly despite all the money at Joy Emordi's disposal to spend.

"It is clear to Mr. President that Emordi’s presence has not earned him the needed leverage in the legislature as many members continue to work against his interest despite the fact that they are from PDP.

“She (Emordi) has clearly demonstrated through a lack-lustre perforce that she cannot build bridge between the President and the lawmakers and she had to go,” said a presidency source.

we also gathered that Jonathan is set to appoint a "bold man" to replace Joy Emordi who can help him convince a good number of Senators and House of Reps members to support him for 2015.