A shout-out to Sullivan (4): Final phase
An open memo to the next Governor of Enugu State
M. O. EnE
New Jersey, USA
egbedaa@aol.com
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Brother Sullivan:
Four
days to go, and we will move on to bigger and better
things. This is the final phase of my serial shout-outs to you. I delayed its
release until today, your day. Happy birthday to you, and many more years! By
next year, if political permutations pan out, you can enjoy an elaborate
“Governor’s Birthday Bash”—the Big 50! Governors should work and play; besides,
it will afford you a big venue to socialize with friends under one roof, for one
evening in one calendar year. The money raised will go to support good causes,
such as the Oji River veterans’ center -- a cause very dear to my heart. Yes,
nothing wrong with an evening of relaxation, an evening to chill and reenergize
for the long road ahead. But I digress.
So far, all reports and photos point to a decent campaign. It has been more like a carnival. As I have written, your emergence may yet be one of the greatest achievement of Brother Chima (Governor Chimaroke Nnanami, MD); and, if you perform as is hoped, your name Iheanacho (from “ihe anyi na-acho”) will be “what we want” indeed. Think about it. I did not read any attention-grabbing debates on issues raised in my many memos, and I am not surprised. I know that Enugu people are more focused on a successful civil-to-civil transition and also that structures, not issues, are driving the campaigns. It is all good for now; by next elections, issues will definitely be the focus. As long as the elections are fair and as free as possible, we will all live with outcomes.
After April 14… and then April 21, if the national elections hold, the real work will begin. Transition is a difficult process. Getting used to power, to so much executive elixir, can be overwhelming at first, even to someone who has been in the corridors of power for seven-to-eight years. With so much power comes so much responsibility -- the welfare of over four million in-state citizens and another million outside. I expect the honeymoon period to last until December. Thereafter, as the cold winds of Harmattan signal the annual madness called “Xmas,” either the celebration of success will commence or, if no real changes occur, the fireworks of criticisms from an impatient population will ensue.
PROMISE TO NOTE
As far as many of your nonpartisan supporters are concerned (and they are many), the promise to bring diverse individuals and groups on board will be the first major test. Note the following statement to which you have appended your cyber-signature:
"My desire and dedication are to serve my people with the fear of God ...
"I believe that we have in Enugu State, persons with the knowledge, commitment, and conscience to make our 4-Point Agenda a reality; and I am keen on reaching out to you all, individually and in groups, for your active support and participation...."
Sullivan I. Chime
This is a cardinal commitment, a promise to transcend politics and reach out for the best. It worked for President Obasanjo; it will work for Governor Chime. I will tell you why: Many technocrats are people with cavernous convictions, and they have an eye on bigger things and on posterity. They will look you in the face and tell you how you negotiated a bad bend. They do so easily because they can afford to pack up and step aside. They know that servant leadership means a warden of wealth, not a master of money. Sincerely speaking, we must do things differently; only fools do the same thing repeatedly and expect different results. Nonetheless, even with political patronage at its preeminence, the important thing is to do the job and do it well. The emerging Nigerian open society will test the transparency you promise with rough-edged knives.
LOCAL POLITICS
“Village politics” can be a pain. Until now, you could turn a blind eye to it; not any more! One thing I am sure is that concerted efforts in rural development will take the aroma out of so-called “traditional power” struggles polluting our village streams. It is sad that people who have been on the scene since the time of your father and mine, who have held responsible positions, have nothing to show for the opportunities. There is a solution: people-oriented programs that make these characters irrelevant. As they say: “ala adighi mma bu uru ndinze.” Once there is a level field of peace sustained by a prosperous polity, these “agamevu” agnates become less important on the path of progress.
Local politics at any level is problematic. However, this much I must repeat: We need organized town union governments, not pseudo-monarchies. Unbelievably, we also need a focused and organized opposition to sustain a decent democracy. An undisciplined polity where every pigheaded politician is running amuck with a bloated sense of self-worth is a prescription for gratuitous distractions. My point is that you can endear politics without bitterness, politics without pettiness, a polity where an educated electorate is able to see that black is black and white, white. No one can go it alone; he who buries himself will have one hand sticking out, and a snake that swallows another has two tails. Trust me on this one: I know firsthand that reality check is indispensable.
CONTINUITY
So much has been said about continuity of policies, now that we are done with continuity of persons. You have a lot of work to do in this respect. The famous Ebeano projects will be completed and or maintained. Which reminds me, when I met with the incumbent on Wednesday, September 14, 2005, I marveled at the gigantic projects he was executing. The first question I asked him was, “Where is the money coming from?” [See MOE meets... Chimaroke Nnamani (1).] I explained the surprising question. By the time we were through with the debate, I succumbed to his persistent optimism; but “I cautioned that his published promises might not hold because the projects were just not deliverable in months.” I was right.
As an aside note, my discussions with the Governor dragged on for far longer than the impromptu visited warranted. I guess the talk was that productive; anyways, I walked out of the session and there you were at the reception waiting to go in! I hope the significance will not be lost; that is, I left the incumbent for the next governor to go in! Why the story? Simple: an open-door policy has never hurt anyone.
LASTING LEGACY
You will recall my
major focus on penning these serial shout-outs: Improving the quality of life.
You will take over some big infrastructural developments at different stages of
completion, very visible achievements. However, without posturing of any kind, I
will tell you what you can do: Before December 7, the minimum expected of your
administration is steady supply of water in ALL major towns of the state from
Enugu and environs to Eha Amufu, from Adaada to Awgu, from Oji River to Obolo
Afor, and from Ugwuoba to Ugwuaji. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise; it is
doable. The state will not lose a dime. Water tankers must stop plying these
towns and selling germ-infested and contaminated water to an unsuspecting
public.
I have written so much about the ease with which certain social services can be provided without stretching state resources, without owing civil servant a second of pay. I have written so much about it I am beginning to sound like a broken record – to me! Take water: The cost of a tank of water is reportedly 2,000 naira on the average. For an average family, the monthly water bill could be as high as $50.00, and this excludes drinkable "pure water" -- for those that can afford it at now #5.00 a sachet. If a million families could cough up half this amount monthly on water bills, a dedicated company can supply all the state's water needs. It will only take the will to break the profiteering cartel killing our people on an installment basis with dirty water.
EXCUSES NO MORE
Growing up in Enugu, there was water everywhere. The only problem was the burst of asbestos pipes due to unregulated pressures. With the introduction steel pipes and water cistern in every home – something they said could never be done, and the explosion in population density, this will no longer be a problem. The steady supply of water will lead to a drastic reduction in unnecessary diseases. Only God knows how our people manage to survive the dust and dirt that plague urban centers.
I used water distribution as an example. I used it because individuals have managed to contain their water needs by sinking boreholes, and communities have followed suit. The major problem is quality control and distribution. It is so sad that in this day and age, some communities are still littered with asbestos pipes taking water to unsuspecting victims of the dangerous, once-magic mineral.
The generation and distribution of electricity are yet another issue. I will not even bother with the intractable national electric power authority. Why anyone expects the deadwood setup to perform miracles beats me hollow. The amount of electric power generated in one village for one night during the Xmas season is enough to power an entire town for one week! In a country where every nuclear family has the best Chinese “gen set” (electric generator) don’t we wonder why no one is thinking of supplying the same energy cleanly, cheaply, and profitably? This is a question for your administration to answer.
These two issues are symptomatic of our unorganized society. We can take the argument to roads, education, healthcare delivery, agriculture, and, of course, security. Government must stop pretending to be the father of the family; it is not -- it is the servant, and it should serve. Where there are basic amenities, opportunities crop up and occupy the army of unemployed youths. Investors are attracted; jobs are generated; and the society evolves decently. The people become masters of their destinies, dutifully paying their taxes for services provided by servant leaders who safeguard their sweet sweat of success.
CONCLUSION
There are great expectations in the eyes of every Enuguite. You cannot afford not to succeed. Nigeria is changing before our eyes. You will be a part of the change, hopefully; or, tufiakwa, a part of the problem that will change… must be changed. In six months, you should record visible changes in the life of our people. Oh yes, it is expected; that way, you will not have to depend on sycophants singing sentimental praises because “ahia di mma na-ere onwe ya.” I believe that when next I revisit your administration, it will be to sing sensible praises to you on the pages of Daily Star and on its Internet websites… in preparation for your second coming or even higher office. Anything less will be deplorable and disappointing. I promise you: I will say so. For now, I am done with political memos.
Thank you for reading, good luck on Saturday, and God bless Enugu State.
CONCLUDED
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The shout-out series and related pieces are a labor of love for my native Enugu State. They are not designed to praise or to put anyone down; this is about issues, not individuals. If they contribute in any way to the success of Elections 2007, to God be the glory. I thank all my critics for the concerns raised and my readers for the appreciations, even where they disagree. For the photos and for up-to-date materials covering Enugu State, I give special thanks to the crew at www.ebeano.org and www.ebeano2007.org, especially Dan Nwomeh, for all the good work and dedication to duty. Of course, kudos to www.kwenu.com.
Ani chebe anyi niile! Chineke gozie anyi.
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Decongesting Enugu gubernatorial field
A shout-out to Sullivan: (4): An open memo to the next Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime (FINAL PHASE)
A shout-out to Sullivan: (3): An open memo the next Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime
A shout-out to Sullivan: (2): An open memo the next Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime
A shout-out to Sullivan: (1): An open memo the next Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime