Efio-Ita Nyok|14 December 2015|5:49am
The Honourable Commissioners, Special Advisers, Executive Secretaries & Community Representative Officers
Sirs & Mesdames,
Permit me to begin this piece with an expression of my congratulations to you on your recent successful appointment to the Executive Council of Cross River State Government (CRSG).
In deed, three weeks ago or thereabout do represent a milestone in the administration of His Excellency Prof. Benedict Ayade, the Governor of Cross River State in that tried, tested and proven technocrats were selected for service to the over three million CrossRiverians. Through your activities in the anticipated four years, that is, 2015 to 2019, the perceived goodwill of Governor Ayade in varied ramifications is expected to be devolved to the masses or at least, the majority of the citizenry of the state. Again, the social contract that was entered between the Cross River electorates and Ayade during the previously conducted general elections is expected to be executed.
It is in view of these realities that it has become apposite to address a letter of this nature and magnitude to you all being incumbent public officers in the state.
Firstly, I wish to bring to the notice of all public officers highlighted above that your appointment to the various offices is not an elevation to overlordship but a promotion to service. Remember, it is more noble to give than to receive. In service, your time, energy and skill is invested to toward the direct benefit and happiness of Cross River and indirect personal benefit of the recipients of public office. Put differently, in service selflessness is sacrosanct.
Secondly, in investing your time and energy in selflessly serving your state, I advice that you make bold and immediate attempts to fashion out an official policy template via which the campaign promises of your principal, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, will be made concrete. It has become important that I draw your attention to this because as it stands now, the Prof. Ben Ayade led state administration is devoid of an expressly stated policy framework. And because of this dearth, both HE and the masses are paying dearly for it.
Thirdly, as public office holders directly close to HE I will suggest that you demonstrate the true worth of your professional/technocratic leaning. By this I mean to say that you should not allow yourself to be degraded to mere 'yes men/women' of the present administration but office holders who would be held morally accountable for the anticipated successes or failures of the Ben Ayade administration. Skillfully tell your principal the truth on a given policy approach adopted by HE especially when your professional orientation suggest otherwise. Don't just give thumbs up to every idea emanating from HE. Ayade is a human not a god. He can err. Today, it may interest you to know that HE has the worst public rating in the history of Cross River politics and probably Nigeria with just six months into office. It's bizarre!
Fourthly, let the rule of law always prevail in your official dealings as public office holders. Let personal, ethnic or even filial sentiments, and the like shouldn't be the yardstick according to which designated official considerations should be charted. Put differently, let principles and policies, and not persons and sentiments, direct your official transactions.
Finally, always remember that Cross River's economy is gravely debt-ridden: therefore, let's be prudent in spending. Let ostensible lifestyle borne by public funds be in check. And because no one, including the present author, is an island of things knowable, I will advice that you all be open to criticisms whether perceived to be destructive or constructive.
In conclusion, on behalf of the management and staff of Negroidhaven.com do receive the assurance of my best wishes.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Writer, Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.com
