Dear Madam,
It would be very ridiculous and an act of ingratitude on my character if I fail to express the full measure of appreciation to the peoples’ senator, Dr. (Mrs.) Rose Oko for obliging me one of my earlier requests of presenting the pathetic murder saga of late miss Joy Odama on the floor of the red chamber of the National Assembly which you meticulously did. I’m deeply touched by the commitment you and your junior colleague have made on this important matter thus far by boasting our dwindling morale. Thank you and be blessed.
Borrowing from Mark Anthony’s words at Caesar’s funeral and likewise paraphrasing them inter alia; let me say succinctly that I’ve neither come via this medium to pull to pieces your excellence works nor have I come to pull strings with you; but if possible and necessary pick to pieces matters of representative governance as it’s incidental on the precinct of your office.
I’m writing this memo credibly in exercise of my right of speech as a citizen of Nigeria and as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2011 and as a bona fide constituent of Cross River State Northern senatorial district in which you hold in trust our collective mandate for the time being.
I was enthusiastically involved in the electioneering processes during the 2015 political party’s primaries as an observer cum reporter. So, I’ve first-hand information of all that transpired then. I knew how you emerged. I saw the permutation and manipulation orchestrated by the selectorates in your favour on chauvinistic and nepotistic justification. Anyway, that’s bye-gone.
My senator, I was in high spirits somehow when you went ahead to emerge victoriously in the main election. The happiness wasn’t full and icing because the outcome was an acute deviation from the peoples’ expectations and never the accurate reflection of the electorates’ franchise. Who’re mine to cough when the result was a perfect doctored one with a seal of touch-not? (Abi I dey craze?).
Madam, I grew up to know you as a strong woman and a torch carrier of equality of sex. I’ve always admired your oratory dexterity and your ability to maintain relevance as one of the fewest women in our state involving in real politics. But presently, I’m quite worried to say the least. I’m concerned because I’m yet to feel and see your impact at the Assembly and in return, your constituency.
From the foregoing, madam, you would agree that I’m yet to accuse you of representative malfeasance or your failure to discharge public obligations but only surfing on the crest of retrospect.
Few days ago, in my humble abode, I’d received long telephone conversation with concerned fellows from the north on your performance thus far. I was almost having auditory ache when the wind came howling and thereafter, the pattering of the rain caused interference on the communication channel thereby disrupting the conversation. As the call ended, I began scrolling through pages of my facebook and then saw one excellent Ajie Paul Abang flooded his facebook wall with what he believed to be your achievements. When he reeled them out, I took pleasure in scanning through the pictures and glancing the accompanied footnotes attached.
It was quite amusing and sordidly appalling seeing those small achievements on social media. I’d thought that your stay at the senate is without a contour or shadow of achievement until I was proven wrong.
Little wonder Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghali, the erstwhile Secretary General of the United Nations, UN in his address to the Freedom Forum of the Columbia University, USA titled: DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD TODAY AND THE TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT, THE MASS MEDIA HAS HAD ON IT, stated that, “the universality of coverage is an important objective. Press attention is like a beam of light which illuminates where it shine but leaves all else in obscurity”.
Tons of thanks to Mr. Ajie for bringing to the public domain those things he considered to be an achievement that further establishes you as a silent achiever. Madam, did you know that he even went ahead somersaulting with those crestfallen mushroom projects to crown you the best ever performing senator from the north apart from Sen. Ben Ayade? Wow, what a stinking stunt! Sorry for covering your nose over this pungent mendacity.
Well, I’ve traversed the length and breadth of our land and mingled with both the low and high; wealth creators and wage earners alike; old and young; twisted limbs and the strong; I could see clearly that we’re miles behind achieving democratic dividends as our counterparts are enjoying elsewhere.
About 450 BC, Confusius said: “what I hear, I forget; what I see, I remember; what I do, I understand”. I’ve heard things about your office that has eluded me. I’ve seen things worthy of remembering but with racking stomach ire.
That you gave N15,000 to some infinitesimal non-indigent citizens of your locality to be enlisted into the Peace Corp is no achievement. That you secured federal jobs to some very few persons, perhaps as political compensation is a concomitant of politics and not achievement. That you paid the first N 300,000 for the carrying out of autopsy of the late Joy Odama is absolutely preposterous to be mentioned by any of your self-appointed aide as an achievement. That you’ve built few blocks of class rooms in some selected institutions or that you’ve given gifts of wheelbarrows; grinding machines, blenders etc, as empowerment are too ludicrous to talk about because there aren’t commensurate with the constituency allowances accrued to your office under the period in review (2 years).
My beloved senator granted that I’m sounding the way I’ve been sounding from the onset, that’s the splendor of democracy. Established that you may consider my opinion hard, hot and harsh; it’s the spice of truth and an indication that I’m not attempting to curry your favour but to actuate you to stoop and pick up the cudgels of giving your people the dividends of democracy. Approved that your own kinsman is coming this way to you; that’s an attestation that I’m committed to the entrenchment of the principles of justice, equity and fairness in all policies of government without minding whose ox is gored.
Sometime ago, in the sixth senate, we were reputed for having the best sleeping and absentee senator that wasn’t always around when important matters of national interest were discussed; and whenever he was present, he cornered himself at angle adjacent to the radius of the camera. Either the camera couldn’t capture him or he won’t let it reach him. Sincerely, I don’t know the category my senator fit in; but certainly not a heavy-eyed senator.
For the record, I’ve been called and almost lured to support the proposed campaign of your recalling from the senate. God forbid, I won’t be part of such narrow-minded motives. But however, madam, the opportunity is afforded you to put your house in order pending 2019 general elections when you shall honorably abdicate your position by declining to contest for second term as a senator.
I understand thereof the consequences of this dialogue that I’m now in the wood for daring to nail the lies to the counter and all manners of urchins; rabble-rousers, imps, political scavengers and mendicants that have places on the streets as usual would reinforce, regroup and ride on the wheel of your purportedly media aides or apologists to call for my head. Even so, they’ll be welcomed if and only if they won’t retort to fabianism antic of denigration and muddling up facts.
Whereas, I’ve kept myself at arm’s length and maintained absolute muteness on numerous issues of political feedback means as it oscillates between my senator, Dr.(Mrs.) Rose Oko and our constituency as well as the mortar projected at her by organized Brutus and Casca in northern geometry up to this moment of breaking my silence. Whereas, my candid neutrality has been anchored on rationality and constructiveness on performance and time of stay ratio.
Now therefore, be it resolved for wit: that I’m yet or never prepared to align myself and my associates to conjoin forces directly or in proxy with those leagues of antagonists clamoring for your recall. The reasons maybe varied though not mentioned; but certainly not on political inclination, tribal sentiment, “na-wee-wee” mentality, consanguine relationship or even on feminism factors; but intrinsically to state the least, on moral conscience.
Madam Senator, I sincerely do not make this case to hurt you. Just that I wish to chat with my senator. I need not be told that leadership is a laborious responsibility and quite demanding at all times. And to say the truth, people entrusted in such duty must be ready and serious to carry on their duties with serious mindedness. There is no room for excuse for not performing as expected. And we the masses must learn how to encourage our leaders through prayers and by constructive criticism. It’s on that note I call on you to arise and face the real business of governance.
I therefore rely upon your kindheartedness to be down-to-business by taking the gauntlet in doing the real governance that in turn will etch your name on gold.
Be strong and God bless you.
Thanks for your time.
Yours faithfully.
Comr. Ogar, Emmanuel Oko.
Secretary, Cross River State Chapter of Young Democratic Party, YDP.
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