Continued from last week…
“Transformation doctrine”
“We are going to restructure the narrative regarding the way government works and how it does its business. Close to 50 per cent of what government spends is just being wasted – not only within the U.S. but far more excruciating in far flung places all over the world – Germany; Japan; South Korea; Afghanistan; Iraq; Syria etc. and virtually every nook and corner of the world. We can no longer continue to play Father Christmas. We need the money and the jobs in America – for infrastructure and to pay off our debts. At the risk of repeating myself, it is going to be America First and we are going to make America GREAT again!!
Whatever we are doing that is making losses, we shall close down. By the same token, if they are making good profits, we give them more money so that they can make even more money.
All our Embassies are going to be run like business units with clear business plans and business models so that they can be profitable instead of being a drain on the U.S. Treasury.”
Once President Donald Trump got into his stride there was no way to stop him.
‘’The press is hostile and dishonest in reporting my policies. For the avoidance of doubt, I make bold to say (‘’bigly”) that government is all about service which must be provided by government and those who receive the service must pay for it. Otherwise, we shall all end up broke. The system has broken down but I am going to fix it. Trust me (‘’bigly’’). ‘’
It was to no avail that the retired partners of KPMG tried to interject with the observation that ‘’KPMG First’’ was conceived when the firm (then the second largest accountancy firm) wanted to merge with Ernest & Young (then the fourth largest accountancy firm) in 1997 in order to become the number one (the largest) global accountancy firm.
However, the proposed merger was never consummated. It was at the International Conference held in San Francisco in 1998 that the Chairman of KPMG International, Colin Sharman announced that the merger had been aborted but that KPMG would nevertheless remain firmly committed to the “KPMG First” project through organic growth combined with delivery of first class service to its clients worldwide. This would be anchored on consistency of excellence regardless of the geographical location or industry segment.
Consequently, the Chairman of KPMG Nigeria/ Chairman KPMG West Africa/ Chairman of KPMG Africa along with the long list of local champions could no longer lay claim to a seat at the Executive Council of KPMG International which had hitherto striven to reflect the rainbow coalition of the big firms as well as regional spread combined with the diversity which would ensure that the interest of even the small firms was catered for.
To put matters bluntly, the big firms (“The Anchor Practices”) within KPMG would henceforth call the shots.
Furthermore, far more stringent conditions would be imposed on smaller firms that wanted to remain within the KPMG network. They would have to meet minimum thresholds – revenue; clientele (particularly multinationals i.e. “Crown Jewels”); number of partners etc. as well as annual Quality Reviews.
The consequences for KPMG Nigeria and the restitution which Donald Trump has publicly announced will be the subject for another day.
Thankfully, President Trump has hired the services of the retired partners of KPMG as consultants to carry out an independent review of the Federal Government Agencies as well as the Intelligence/Security of the United States of America – a combination of Forensic Audit; Value for money Audit and Enterprise Risk Management.
President Trump was incandescent with rage:
‘’We have 2.1 million on the payroll of the Federal Government. That is ‘’bigly’’. I just want to be sure that the system is working efficiently for the benefit of all Americans. The restoration of stakeholders’ confidence and significant operation efficiency are the goals along with the strengthening of controls (and elimination of abuses especially by illegal immigrants).’’
Donald Trump is 6ft 3 inches tall and weighs 16 stones. He is endowed with boundless energy and is supremely self-confident. He gets by with only three hours sleep a night which leaves him plenty of time for watching television and tweeting fire-crackers at his detractors. He will not let them sleep peacefully!! His favourite sport and pre-occupation in his past life was “The Art of The Deal’’ followed by money, more money, success and women. Now his focus is somewhat different – Donald J. Trump is the main item on his agenda. He insists that boastfulness is not a vice.
In a very candid interview with Fox News he declared:
‘’The word ‘’loser’’ does not exist in my lexicon. I enjoy being a politician. I feel great. I am not like the other politicians who are all over the place, especially Washington D.C. I can say what I really think and I don’t have to keep apologising for it. I’m my own boss. I’m worth upwards of $11 billion (perhaps $20 billion) and nobody can buy me. These Washington D.C. politicians who are all over Capitol Hill are scared of me and so they should be. I don’t have to play by their rules. I have won the election ‘’bigly’’ and I am going to make America great again and also improve on my golf handicap.’’
Trump thrives on taunting the press and lambasting the media especially CNN and The New York Post. On February 17, 2017, he gave his aides only a few hours’ notice to invite the press to the White House for an impromptu press conference ostensibly to introduce ‘’Project XKPMG’’ and introduce the retired partners of KPMG. Instead he launched a nuclear attack on his so-called ‘’dishonest press.’’
His first strike was a denunciation of the way the press had pressurised him to get rid of his errant National Security Adviser General Michael Flynn who was in office for only twenty-four days.
Trump was adamant: “The leaks were real but the news were fake’’
Concluded
