Eneh John
“Virtue comes through contemplation of the divine, and the exercise of philosophy. But it also comes through public service. The one is incomplete without the other. Power without wisdom is tyranny; wisdom without power is pointless.”-Ian Pears.
Dlaw, as you are fondly called by some persons, I will not eulogise you, because, I see no need for that. Neither will i give you a self appraisal, as that will interfere with my call today.
Sir, almost a month ago, when i wrote my first memo to you, we had hoped that things will change, and the issues raised will be addressed.
When you read my memo, you had put a call across to me, detailing that i had misrepresented facts, and had assured me you will respond appropriately.
I had taken a trip to Eket, to interview people in my Local government area, telling them the things you listed as your projects, which no one could attest to.
Since it was a private discussion, I will not make our conversation public, but i will bring up two of the things you told me over the phone.
You told me that night, that, you were the only Lawmaker in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, that divides his salary into two parts, to pay about 25 persons, while you go home with one part.
You also told me how you are training some persons to under a welding programme in Eket.
Weeks after our conversation, I had sent you a private message, asking you when you will do a constituency briefing in Eket, but you never responded.
In the 22 States in Nigeria i have spent over three decades on earth, it is only in Akwa Ibom that politicians see themselves as ‘demi gods’, where constituents run after them like flies running after mangoes.
I am yet, compelled, to write this memo to you as a member of the State House of Assembly, representing me, my family and friends from Eket, that you must be accountable to the people, not your stomach.
There is a need to hold a constituency briefing, as part of the obligations you owe us as a Representative of Eket people.
You have made us call for a briefing, which ordinarily, would have been done without compulsion, if you had the people as the primary reason you went to the House of Assembly for.
Sir, notwithstanding the circumstances that threw you to the Assembly, I had earlier dwell on the process, and won’t be necessary to go back.
Like Agatha Christie posited, “it takes so little to undermine public confidence in a man.”
We are fast losing confidence in your representation at the Assembly, because, we have neither felt a little of your impact nor the people benefited from your sojourn.
The last time you held a programme in Eket, was when you organised different choirs to sing.
To whose benefit the choir sang, remains unknown till date.
It is a pity, that no one in Eket interviewed, could attest to anything you have done.
When the people you lead, do not say good things about you, it is better for you to do a recheck on yourself and the position you hold in trust.
Finally, I leave you with the eternal words of Steve Maraboli, “the right thing to do and the hard thing to do are usually the same. “-
Lastly, I call on you to render your account of stewardship to the people of Eket.
For we shall in the coming days, launch a massive campaign to make you hold a constituency briefing, if this memo is not adhered to.
Accept the assurances of my highest regards.
A REPUTATION FOUNDED ON INTEGRITY MUST BE NURTURED BY TRUTH.
Eneh John is an Investigative Journalist and Editor-in-Chief, Trail Reporters News.
Email : enehjohn33@gmail.com
