Of Okpebholo’s appointments, expectations and service
By John Mayaki
When people hear of federal or state government appointment, especially in our clime, the first thing that comes to mind is, ‘it’s our turn to chop’. People don’t seem to understand what it means to be called to serve. Some think you have to be appointed into a government office before you can fulfil your mission on earth, or contribute your quota to your state or country - this is completely wrong. The truth is that, you really don’t need any government appointment to make a difference but if it comes, it simply means one thing - service to motherland.
The second leg is this: some persons even lobby to be appointed and be given a ‘juicy’ office, as if there are some other roles in government that does not add value. This is another misunderstanding in our body polity. Every portfolio, office or designation is as important as the other - they are simply complimentary and no one is superior to the other. What matters is your ability to make use of the little that has been given to us to manage.
But trust human beings, they must complain - ‘the governor did not give my people a juicy portfolio’. ‘The governor removed our man from one position (non cabinet), to become a cabinet member - a commissioner. This is not fair. He should have left him in that commission or board, it’s better for us’. Whereas, the man they are making a case for is not complaining. Whereas, the man who has been promoted, has better potentials that can be harnessed while serving at the cabinet level. Whereas, the ‘appointing officer’, who is also the ‘firing officer’ knows the quality of persons he needed to hire for whatever position but, corrupt minded others are quick to dictate the tune, even when they are not paying the piper.
Infact, there is even a colouration to it. And surprisingly, all the senatorial districts are complaining. Is that not interesting? In a government that is less than three months, complaints are already reaching high heavens. From Edo North, to Edo Central and Edo South, the complains are everywhere. ‘The governor is marginalising our people’, they cried. ‘It’s the government of the Esans’, others lament. And even the Esans are raising their voices even more higher. They say, ‘Our governor has been hijacked, he is not doing anything for us’. And, if you check the identity of these complainants, they are the grumbling PDP who say they want to reclaim a mandate they do not know the colour.
Sometimes, you don’t have to sympathise with some people who would be disappointed if at the end of the day, they are unable to grab a slot for themselves or their cronies in government. It is their making; they simply set themselves up for disappointment and so, don’t sympathise with them. When you support a cause, you do so without expecting a recompense. It is so that you can take care of your mental health. But most importantly, when you support a cause, especially for the progress of the state, it is your own way of adding value and not an avenue to dip your hands in the till.
Even more so, I have never seen a democratic government since 1999 that hasn’t faced complaints and blackmail. Also, no government can solve the entire problem of her people in a fell-swoop - am referring to the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Musa Yar Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari and even the present one of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And, assuming we are to localise it, Lucky Igbinedion couldn’t solve the entire problem in his own Edo South Senatorial District. Not even Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from Edo North or could the coming of Godwin Obaseki repay for deficit of Igbinedion in Edo South.
I have seen former governors, former council chairmen and former National Assembly or State Houses members whose families or themselves are still making efforts to see how their ‘hands can get to their mouths’. And so, the lesson is this, to be in government does not equal to your problems have been erased and this is both as individuals, collectively as a people at the senatorial districts, state or country.
And so, for those who have been favoured and found worthy of these appointments, it is simply a call to service - I mean service to motherland and not service to private pockets. I urge you all in government to do everything humanly possible to shun every temptation to defraud the state because it has a way of coming round to hunt you, family and generations unborn.
For those still expecting, I won’t discourage you to stop lobbying but also keep praying for the governor to succeed. When Governor Okpebholo succeeds, you have gotten your appointment and we have all succeeded. And for those not expecting at all - myself and others, we can simply continue to do our best in our various corners to add value to the government in our own little ways.
One area we can immediately engage ourselves and very meaningfully too is in the area of agriculture. Let us learn to make use of our lands. Both in our compounds, around our vicinity and if possible, our farmlands, if they are safe and without any security threats. Again, we can start small. We do not need to wait for government before commencing a small garden and then grow from there. And when government decides to support by way of loans and grants, it should not be seen as free money or our share of the ‘cake’, this mentality must change, if we must grow and get the best from our government.
In a nutshell, the planting season is almost on us, let us go farming. Not everyone can be appointed into government office. For those who have been appointed, this is your opportunity to contribute to the collective progress of our great state. Congratulations, and may your efforts be fruitful.