Just Before the commissioners settle down

JUST BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS AND SPECIAL ADVISERS SETTLE DOWN TO WORK.

By Teryila Ibn Apine

Today is a day of celebration, how about tomorrow?

This questions kept beating my imagination and punching my thoughts.

I kept wondering that today we are celebrating the choice of our kinsmen and women, parents, brothers, Aunties and uncles into these offices.

Today there is serious winning and dining at their various houses as we join them in celebrating this appointments.

My concern is very simple

Are these people aware of the enormity of the task the offices they are called to serve in demand?

Are they aware of what it takes to work in a government that the masses labored to put in place?

The demands of working in this kind of government that preaches a different way of going about Governance is enormous.

These commissioners and special Advisers must know that there is a growing interest by the Benue People of Benue to not just know how they are governed, but how well they are governed. Atleast I can assure you that such interest is displayed on the social media here.

I have scrutinized the Resume of all the commissioner and Special Advisers nominees with approval. You are men and women of worth. This worth will be tested in few months as you handle the call of duty.

Let me reiterate what I always say, our expectations on you might be petty, aggressive and some times unreasonable. We might criticize you Objectively, constructively and maliciously. But you must know and understand our passion to see a greater Benue.

If President Buhari without a cabinet of ministers will make the nation to begin to appreciate the dividends of voting him into office. Our demands is gentlemanly, that Governor Ortom with his team of Commissioners and special Advisers should make Benue work.

Just as we demand the best from you. We must also be good followers to demand for good leadership.

The idea of moving from office to office in the name of courtesy calls should be redduced to the barest minimum or better still stopped. Let these commissioners and Special Adviser concentrate and deliver.

Having said that our political office holders should desist from running away from people. The idea of always using the back door to abscond when people sit waiting for you is unreasonable. There should be a relationship between the leaders and the governed.

We will be willing to point out any one of you whose ministry or portfolio will paint this administration in bad light. Your decision, action or inaction will certainly tell the quality of government you are serving under.

The Governor must also make a clear and definite policy statement. The commissioners and Advisers will sit up the moment the Governor gives and leads a clear direction of what he wants. If the Governor is paying lip service to good governance, it will be shown in the manner his commissioners and Advisers will carry on with the business of state.

Its simple, all commissioners must make a resolve that it will not be my ministry or portfolio that will make people cast aspersion on the Government of Samuel Ortom.

For us on the social media we are prepared to sing and dance in commendation of your strengths and virulently lampoon your weaknesses. We shall put you under pressure but it will not be undue. Ours will not be based on selfishness to share public funds but principally on our desire to see our state develop Rapidly .

There is a pomposity and a spirit of looking down on every body and every thing that moves around public office holders. Watch out.

There is also a spirit of ' it is my time to chop'. A friend to this spirit is the wizardry to cut corners and become stupendously rich within a blink on an eye. When this spirit invades you. Public office becomes a place for looting and a short cut to amassing of wealth rather than for service.

Please do not be a Makurdi based Commissioner or Special Adviser. Relate with your constituencies and explain Government policies to them. Ignorance thrives so much in this rural areas.
Our voters are very sensitive, when you go to the villages do not drive pass and allow the dust settle on the people. You might need them to help deliver your constituencies. Remember the PVC's are in their custody.

I pray the Almighty God bestow on you the wisdom, strength and focus to contribute to the development of Benue.

Today the people celebrate you,

Today you have received a triumphant entry into the biblical Jerusalem,

Today you have been sworn in as Commissioners and Special Advisers.

In the course or after your stewardship as commissioner of Special Adviser will the People of Benue still celebrate you?...

Today is a day of celebration, how about tomorrow? ..