APPOINTMENTS: UNDERSTANDING IHEDIOHA'S IDIOM OF STEPPING ON TOES. By Ogu Bundu Nwadike, M.A
APPOINTMENTS: UNDERSTANDING IHEDIOHA'S IDIOM OF STEPPING ON TOES
By Ogu Bundu Nwadike, M.A
Each time I dedicate my short essays to ruminate over the much expected political appointments by the incoming governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON, KSC I receive an admixture of commendation and condemnation. However, I plead for understanding. I speak only like a fallible mortal, capable of being right or wrong with my opinions and views.
As compassionate readers may attest to, my shorts essays are not official press releases for the governor-elect. Who am I? They are not! I only stimulate issues on the front burner of social discourse. Nothing more! Agreed, I may be assertive in some my short essays, but it's just because am involved to that extent. I thank those that commend my little efforts and apologize to those that feel offended and for that condemn me.
Appointment into offices of government is one of the key issues on the front burner of social discourse in Imo State now just as it's supposed to be in about 29 other States where a new government will be constituted any time after the May 29 inauguaration ceremony.
The Bible teaches that many were called but few are chosen. No doubt, for the sake of the incoming administration, many refers to the innumerable people of Imo State who played one role or another to ensure the Ihedioha victory that Imo people are celebrating today with fanfare. On the other hand, few refers to the limited number of persons that will be accommodated directly for the effective and efficient running of government.
Indeed, many were called. At least, there are about 400 members of the Ihedioha Inauguration Planning and Handover Committee. That is excluding the 139 members of the Transition Technical Committee (TTC). Certainly, many were called. Ordinarily, membership of the committees should be a volunteer service, where people are satisfied for being found suitable to participate in the process and procedure that will ensure a successful handover of government to the incoming governor they so love and voted into office.
In an earlier essay, I gave my view why the number of the members of the committees was so large. The summary was "the more the merrier". That would assure that manpower for the inauguaration and handover planning was not lacking or lagging in any wing. And I remember also reminding my readers that it has everything to do with the open door and inclusive government decision of the governor-elect. Moreover, it was an opportunity to even test the capacities of the members of the committees from where some of the eventual officials of the new administration will drawn.
From the evidence before me, many of the members of the committees seem to have misconstrued the whole reason for being appointed into the committees. The general impression now is that appointment into the committees implies official appointment into the incoming administration. That certainly is a very wrong impression.
Those that went to their villages and towns announcing their appointments and receiving felicitations and congratulations as if they were the governor-elect; all the committee members that went for thanksgiving in their churches because of their appointments into the committees; they got something wrong.
Appointment into the committees doesn't translate into appointment into the appointive offices of the new administration. Indeed, many were called, few are chosen! Of course, there will be many appointments that will be coming in phases and batches. And it could be anybody the powers that be may find suitable for specific tasks that will be appointed. Yet, there's a limit to which the new government could offer appointments.
The reports from Aso Rock indicate that President Buhari is considering appointing 146 persons into his kitchen and parlour cabinets. There may be more appointees, but what's sacrosanct at the moment are 146. In Imo State, under the watch of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, there will be appointments into offices in the Government House, the ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals of government. And there will be appointments into the local government system in the State. There will also be appointments of federal ministers and ambassadors.
Incidentally, as I once upon a time highlighted, while elective offices are taken, appointive offices are given. I am aware that high level lobbying are going on. It's allowed. Only that after all said and done, the prerogative of appointment resides with the executive. He has the yam and the knife. It's to whom he cuts a piece of it that gets it.
That's where I see an aspect of the implication of the hint from the outset by the incoming governor that he will step on toes. Instructively, he appealed for understanding and apologized in advance for any inconveniences that his stepping on any toes may cause Imo people to whom it may concern. It's for those who may be nursing political appointments. It's for those who have gone extra-distance and got all sorts of assurances that they must be appointed. It's for all those who have delved into self-assessment and scored themselves excellent for appointment. To all of such persons, the forewarning by the incoming governor, that he might step on toes, will apply if, for all the great expectations, they are not appointed into any position soon.
What then is my worry about that? I will answer, "nothing". Nothing is my worry. I only felt like airing my views on what I see may sooner than later turn into a point of intra-personal and inter-personal conflicts. That should not arise because to be forewarned is to be forearmed. It'll be most appropriate if the great expectations are rejigged to reflect a mindset of either or. I call it "Ratio 50:50"!
Therefore, finally, while I encourage everyone that's interested in political appointment to continue to water his or her expectation and anticipation, permit me to render the probono counselling service of urging people to prepare to accept whatever is the final decision on that by the incoming governor. That's my humble position. Thanks for your time and attention.
*Nwadike is a journalist, author and public affairs analyst. Sms only 08037146635 (Hotline), 08106819304 (WhatsApp). Email ogubundunwadike@gmail.com
By Ogu Bundu Nwadike, M.A
Each time I dedicate my short essays to ruminate over the much expected political appointments by the incoming governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON, KSC I receive an admixture of commendation and condemnation. However, I plead for understanding. I speak only like a fallible mortal, capable of being right or wrong with my opinions and views.
As compassionate readers may attest to, my shorts essays are not official press releases for the governor-elect. Who am I? They are not! I only stimulate issues on the front burner of social discourse. Nothing more! Agreed, I may be assertive in some my short essays, but it's just because am involved to that extent. I thank those that commend my little efforts and apologize to those that feel offended and for that condemn me.
Appointment into offices of government is one of the key issues on the front burner of social discourse in Imo State now just as it's supposed to be in about 29 other States where a new government will be constituted any time after the May 29 inauguaration ceremony.
The Bible teaches that many were called but few are chosen. No doubt, for the sake of the incoming administration, many refers to the innumerable people of Imo State who played one role or another to ensure the Ihedioha victory that Imo people are celebrating today with fanfare. On the other hand, few refers to the limited number of persons that will be accommodated directly for the effective and efficient running of government.
Indeed, many were called. At least, there are about 400 members of the Ihedioha Inauguration Planning and Handover Committee. That is excluding the 139 members of the Transition Technical Committee (TTC). Certainly, many were called. Ordinarily, membership of the committees should be a volunteer service, where people are satisfied for being found suitable to participate in the process and procedure that will ensure a successful handover of government to the incoming governor they so love and voted into office.
In an earlier essay, I gave my view why the number of the members of the committees was so large. The summary was "the more the merrier". That would assure that manpower for the inauguaration and handover planning was not lacking or lagging in any wing. And I remember also reminding my readers that it has everything to do with the open door and inclusive government decision of the governor-elect. Moreover, it was an opportunity to even test the capacities of the members of the committees from where some of the eventual officials of the new administration will drawn.
From the evidence before me, many of the members of the committees seem to have misconstrued the whole reason for being appointed into the committees. The general impression now is that appointment into the committees implies official appointment into the incoming administration. That certainly is a very wrong impression.
Those that went to their villages and towns announcing their appointments and receiving felicitations and congratulations as if they were the governor-elect; all the committee members that went for thanksgiving in their churches because of their appointments into the committees; they got something wrong.
Appointment into the committees doesn't translate into appointment into the appointive offices of the new administration. Indeed, many were called, few are chosen! Of course, there will be many appointments that will be coming in phases and batches. And it could be anybody the powers that be may find suitable for specific tasks that will be appointed. Yet, there's a limit to which the new government could offer appointments.
The reports from Aso Rock indicate that President Buhari is considering appointing 146 persons into his kitchen and parlour cabinets. There may be more appointees, but what's sacrosanct at the moment are 146. In Imo State, under the watch of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, there will be appointments into offices in the Government House, the ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals of government. And there will be appointments into the local government system in the State. There will also be appointments of federal ministers and ambassadors.
Incidentally, as I once upon a time highlighted, while elective offices are taken, appointive offices are given. I am aware that high level lobbying are going on. It's allowed. Only that after all said and done, the prerogative of appointment resides with the executive. He has the yam and the knife. It's to whom he cuts a piece of it that gets it.
That's where I see an aspect of the implication of the hint from the outset by the incoming governor that he will step on toes. Instructively, he appealed for understanding and apologized in advance for any inconveniences that his stepping on any toes may cause Imo people to whom it may concern. It's for those who may be nursing political appointments. It's for those who have gone extra-distance and got all sorts of assurances that they must be appointed. It's for all those who have delved into self-assessment and scored themselves excellent for appointment. To all of such persons, the forewarning by the incoming governor, that he might step on toes, will apply if, for all the great expectations, they are not appointed into any position soon.
What then is my worry about that? I will answer, "nothing". Nothing is my worry. I only felt like airing my views on what I see may sooner than later turn into a point of intra-personal and inter-personal conflicts. That should not arise because to be forewarned is to be forearmed. It'll be most appropriate if the great expectations are rejigged to reflect a mindset of either or. I call it "Ratio 50:50"!
Therefore, finally, while I encourage everyone that's interested in political appointment to continue to water his or her expectation and anticipation, permit me to render the probono counselling service of urging people to prepare to accept whatever is the final decision on that by the incoming governor. That's my humble position. Thanks for your time and attention.
*Nwadike is a journalist, author and public affairs analyst. Sms only 08037146635 (Hotline), 08106819304 (WhatsApp). Email ogubundunwadike@gmail.com
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