By Gift Samuel, The Sight News
Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh was the Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government until yesterday when he tendered his resignation in a long letter he wrote to the state Governor, Dave Umahi.
Odoh in his letter, noted that the way the administration has been ran in the past two years has not offered conducive atmosphere for members of Executive Council, himself inclusive to sincerely air and express their views on sensitive policy matters.
He further noted with dismay that majority of Council members have resorted to praise singing and dramatization of Council procedures in order to guarantee their daily bread, stressing that subservience doesn’t equate genuine followership.
Following these and many more, the Professor of Geophysics tendered his resignation with a strong message stating his awareness of the Governor’s principle of “grinding and crushing” those who differs with his ideologies.
Meanwhile, less than six hours after the resignation, Gov Umahi appointed Dr. Hygenius Nwokwu as the new Secretary to State Government (SSG).
According to the Chief Press Secretary to Umahi, Mr. Emmanuel Uzo, Dr. Nwokwu’s appointment letter was personally signed by the Governor and the SSG has assumed duty immediately.
See parts of the letter written by the former SSG to the state Governor, Dave Umahi, informing him that all is not well in his administration.
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“Having worked under your leadership for nearly three years, you may probably be aware that I value relationship more than political position as exemplified by those I had worked with in the past, some of them you had interacted with while you were on state assignment outside the state. I feel that I have more to preserve in our relationship than occupying the position of Secretary to the State government.
“The way our administration has been ran in the past two years has not offered conducive atmosphere for members of Executive Council and myself inclusive to sincerely air and express our views on sensitive policy matters. A few who tried to air contrary views on matters in EXCO were instantly perceived as not supporting the administration. Because of this, majority of Council members resorted to praise singing and dramatization of Council procedures in order to guarantee their daily bread. Subservience doesn’t equate genuine followership.
“In my opinion, this is the highest level of hypocrisy and the values I live does not allow me to operate in such deceptive atmosphere where people live opposite of what/who they are. Having assured you on my inception of office and at several times that l owe you the responsibility to be truthful and honest always. I wish to inform you that all is not well in your administration sir. If you observe carefully, almost all your appointees are nearly completely disconnected from your policy direction as they lack genuine sense of purpose, dignity, clear sense of commitment to decisions taken in Council because of low morale. Most of your appointees in Council operate in near permanent state of panic arising from unusual fear of the unknown. In situations like this, obedience to a leader could be malicious.
“On the other hand, Sir,the essence of good gvernance entails better lives and positive hope for the ordinary people on the street,viilagers,etc. It means ability to provide meals on the tables of both the working class, businessmen alike. It is the ability to afford and access good healthcare services by the ordinary people without necessarily depending on handouts from government. Good governance also means humane government policies that guarantees favourable atmosphere for both the local and foreign investors to thrive and do business without obstructive and inconsistent policies to facilitate ease of doing business and even distribution of social amenities, infrastructural developments in the state.
“Sir, you may wish to know that our Civil and Public Service are at its lowest ebb in our administration since the creation of this state. The Civil and Public Service which is the lifewire of the system has been deliberately neglected and short changed in the course of this administration. The distortion of the Service has made it appear investment in vanity as both the serving and retired personnel could neither grow nor be able to access their full benefits after retirement. That I have reviewed my current stand in your administration and I feel strongly convinced that the convivial atmosphere required for peak performance of team members is lost with emphasis to the shenanigan orchestrated against me by overzealous EXCO members at Executive Council meeting of 28th March 2018.
“To remain in your administration in the present circumstances will amount to deceitfulness on my part as my capacity to contribute has plummeted because of the above stated.
“My appointment as the Secretary to the state government is hereby resigned in good faith.
“In conclusion, I am fully aware of the consequences of my action knowing fully well that you will go after me, my immediate family, friends and those who served with me in line with your principles of “crushing and grinding” whoever that differs with your ideologies and aspirations as has been demonstrated in recent times, but be assured that the will of God would always prevail in all situations and circumstances” He concluded.
Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh was appointed as the Secretary to the State Government on 29th May 2015 and has served for three (3) years until his resignation on 2nd April,2018.
