Delta State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze has written to congratulate the 25 newly elected and sworn-in Local Government Council Chairmen in the state.
Izeze in an open letter titled “DISCOURSE: TO OUR BRAND NEW LGA CHAIRMEN!!! “May you be born in interesting times..” A Chinese CURSE. posted on his Facebook page on Friday advised the Chairmen to work hard to earn the people’s trust.
According to him, winners and losers have emerged and we all know our respective LGA COUNCIL Chairmen across the 25 LGAs of our very dear State.
A word of unsolicited advice is, therefore not out of place to our brand new Chairmen at this point in time.
1). THE 2ND TERMERS:
You alone can best tell your stories and experiences considering that you had served and been temporarily out of office while you sought re-election. I am sure you all witnessed and suffered some form of backstabbing and “Brutusism” from presumed friends/political allies. That you survived and emerged is therefore a testament of GOD’S MERCY and the commitment of a select die hard supporters,NEVER FORGET THEM.
How you run thereafter should likely be your business but NEVER, EVER FORGET this: THERE IS A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN.
H.E. Rt. Hon Sheriff Francis Orowhedor Oborevwori is the “numero uno” and LEADER OF THE PARTY & GOVERNMENT OF DELTA STATE. No need to say more.
2). THE FIRST TERMERS:
A). DISCARD ALL PRE-HELD NOTIONS:
You are a product of GOD’S GRACE & His Excellency Rt.Hon.Elder Sheriff Francis Orowhedor Oborevwori’s magnanimous favour.
You must therfore quickly key into his MORE AGENDA in whatsoever you do at the grassroots level.
Should you do your job well,be rest assured that he would be solidly behind you throughout your tenure.
B).DISCARD ALL SYCOPHANTIC FRIENDS FROM YOUR COURT FORTHWITH:
These are the quintessential “yes men” who emerge from GOD knows where and suddenly tell you that you are now above mortals and as such must change your lifestyle/authenticity.They are NOT your friends bro; They are but FRIENDS OF THE OFFICE & IT’S BENEFITS.
They justify everything you say or do simply because their private nests is likely to be richly feathered.
History has shown us that these vermins permeate the corridors of power by subtle blackmail and chicanery.They isolate leaders from their true friends/soldiers through their expertise in petty gossip and white lies,but yet,they are never there in the TORRENTIAL DAYS OF TRAVAILS.
The story is told of the late Professor Ambrose Alli who was Civilian Governor of defunct Bendel State between 1979 and 1983.
Ambrose Alli was a simple man.A spartan and an academician who had no money to his name before he became the Governor of Bendel State.
He had this childhood friend with whom he grew up in Ekpoma and they had both gone through life together as best of friends.Each was successful in their own right and as such the friendship blossomed on a symbiotic basis until Professor became a Governor.
Prof was quickly hijacked by his “new friends” and for the four years he was Governor,his bosom friend could not reach him(not even when he had vital Intel to relay).All his attempts at booking an appointment was met with rejection by the Protocols department.
Well, Professor lost his re-election bid to the Federal might of the NPN,was kicked out of Government House and while he was still at the elections petition tribunal,the Military Struck.
Fast forward to Professor Ambrose Alli being found “guilty” of corruption by the Military Tribunal of BUHARI and sentenced to over 100 years in Prison.
All through his travails from trial (persecution actually) to prison,NOT one of his “new friends”(friends of the office) showed up for him.
Rather,the only visitor he received consistently and religiously every month all the way from BENIN was that childhood friend that couldn’t access him in his days as GOVERNOR.
Make what you wish out of the above story,the choice ultimately is yours.
3). RESIST THE URGE TO COPY OR IMPRESS:
Be original to your vision. What works for another might just not work for you.
Every man with his ėrhi/chi/destiny.Some thrive on lies and blackmail,some in chicanery and others in loyal service.
Be yourself and do what works best for you.
Stay glued to your goals and pursue them religiously.
Resist the urge to become an emergency big man simply because you are now the CEO of the people’s resources.
Don’t acquire new tastes and lifestyle ooo!!!That’s the first way of exposing your flanks to corruptive pressure.
4). The SUPREME COURT LGA FINANCIAL AUTONOMY JUDGMENT AND THE PATENTLY FALSE NOTION OF ELDORADO:
This is where the Chinese curse really applies.
You all have just been “born in interesting times”.
Now,I have been around 4 successive administrations of Delta State and with all modesty and humility I have been an insider.
Permit me to therefore burst you bloated bubbles by informing you that NO ADMINISTRATION OF THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT HAS EVER FINGERED OR PILFERED from the LGA FUNDS or the JSAC ACCOUNTS.
On the contrary,the respective Administrations of the Delta State Government have continually intervened by bailing out and subsidising most LGAs in times of travails.
Consequent upon the above,you are to know that your revenue is likely to remain what it was last month(± some variables).
So you see,while that Supreme Court judgement might translate to massive direct funding to Local Governments in some States of the Federation,it is of no financial consequence in Delta State and her Local Government Council Areas.
So think out of the box and shore up your IGR guys.
5). GO WITH GOD GUYS:
I congratulate you all and wish you GODSPEED for as long as your sojourn is in the interest of GOD and the people of our grassroots communities!!!
Shallom!!!
– Comrade Izeze Rume Yakubu Reuben