The euphoria for a change could alienate an electorate from objective introspection. Some of people had expressed reservation at Dr Alexander Otti’s quest for Governorship of Abia State in 2015, 2019 and even in 2023.
The fear was quite inherent and imminent that Dr Otti, if elected Governor, would not keep to the rules of engagement.
Every Organisation has its modus operandi. The Civil Service, including the larger Public Service, has come a long way in Nigeria. There are characteristic tenets and features that have, over the years, defined the Civil Service. These principles, so to say, even in the days of fierce military dictatorship in the days of locusts in Nigeria, were never tampered with.
No matter how unconforming an Administration intends to be, even in the days of the Military, eroding Civil Service Structure and Culture has never been a norm.
Unarguably, no Administration, even during the hectic days of British Colonialism, imports and imposes someone from outside the Civil Service on the Civil Servants as either a Permanent Secretary or an Accountant-General.
It is, therefore, strange and also an administrative anathema to hear that Governor Alexander Otti has, in the early minutes of his Administration, bluntly resolved to desecrate the well established culture and practice of the highly- admired Civil Service by appointing a private sector Insurer from outside the Abia Public Service, Mrs Njum Onyemenam, as the State’s Accountant-General for Abia State.
Mr Governor, Sir, this appointment is an aberration and a slap on the collective integrity of Abia Civil Servants. It is an unwarranted expression of vote of no confidence in them at this early minutes of your Administration. It is also a big slight to the Organized Labour in the State.
Centre For Equity And Eradication Of Rural Poverty calls on the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alexander Otti, to withdraw this abnormal appointment that has all the trappings of destroying the Abia State Civil Service. There are many qualified and competent Abia Civil Servants that can most effectively handle the responsibilities of that Office.
Centre For Equity And Eradication Of Rural Poverty has also noted with interest the announcement that the Governor has dissolved all Boards and Agencies under the State Government. It is hoped that in doing so, the Governor did not mean statutory Boards such as the Civil Service Commission which is a creation of the Constitution, with a fixed tenure.
If the Governor means to dissolve such statutory Boards, not minding the constitutionality of their creation and existence, it would simply mean that in Governor Otti’s Abia State, the Rule of Law would have no place all through his Administration.
Again, Centre For Equity And Eradication Of Rural Poverty humbly wishes to implore Governor Alexander Otti of Abia State to endeavour to respect and observe the Rule of Law while he governs.
Sir Don Ubani is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, Executive Director of Centre For Equity And Eradication Of Rural Poverty, writes from Asa and hopes the Governor will not set assassins after him.
