WEIRD PENSION PACKAGE, A SYMPTOM OF INCOMPETENCE, INSENSITIVITY, MAKING WAR DESIRABLE AGAINST PEACE
(Epistle of Remediation by Engr. Ikechukwu Umeh)
A close look on scorecards of the 22 unfortunate states, whom their respective governors coaxed the house of assemblies members to placed ex- governors and deputies on pension with bogus several retirement benefits, has given credence to the fact that self-indulgence, greediness, covetousness, insatiability and bizarre misappropriation of public fund is one of the major symptoms of incompetence in governance.
For example, Imo state has the lowest performance rating in the southeast, her actual capital expenditure is just N4.815 per capita, lowest fiscal sustainability index in the southeast and the 1st and 7th most indebted state in the southeast and Nigeria respectively, yet ex- governors and deputies enjoy bogus pension package every month.
Enugu state came close behind Imo state as the second lowest performing state in the southeast with meager N5,161 per capita, a far distance below Ebony at N12,699 per capita, Abia at N11,530 per capita and Anambra at N8,235 per capita. Enugu state is also the second (2nd) most indebted state in the southeast and 20th in Nigeria, a very far distance above Anambra as the least indebted state in the southeast and 3rd least indebted state in Nigeria, Ebony, 2nd least indebted state in the southeast and 4th in Nigeria.
In spite of 61.40% rise in Enugu state IGR, highest in southeast and 6th in Nigeria, Enugu state is still behind on 3rd position on fiscal sustainability index in the southeast and 9th in Nigeria far below Anambra at the 1st position in the southeast and 2nd in Nigeria, Ebony at 2nd position in the southeast and 6nd in Nigeria.
From the records above, there is no doubt H.E Okorocha wreaked his state treasury before leaving office and yet heap a heavy ex- Governors and deputies pension load on the poor citizens, despite the heavy N30,940 per capita total debt loan on the citizens. He doesn’t care about the wellbeing of the citizen. Such is the stock in trade of incompetent leaders.
While other incompetent, greedy and wicked governor were fixing hidden pipes to continue sucking the already wreaked states treasury dry after service, a very competent governor, H.E OBI PETER was busy making heavy investment for his state with his share of excess crude oil fund and other extra income. Today Anambra is the 1st best performing state in the South East, 1st on fiscal sustainability index in southeast and 1st least indebted state in southeast. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS CALLED COMPETENCE IN GOVERNANCE.
COMPETENCE of H.E Peter Obi is still affecting the lives of Ndi- Anambra positively and will continue to rub on Ndi- Anambra positively in the next two to three decades, irrespective of the quality and performance of subsequent governor. The degree of impact might be reduced by incompetent successors, but the impact will remain in the next twenty to thirty years as witnessed in the last six years. Although Anambra state debt profile grew at the alarming rate of 575.33% under the current leadership, the state is still the best because of the wise investments made by the past competent governor of Anambra and that is exactly what I wish for Enugu state in 2023.
Interestingly, despite the sterling performance of the past governor of Anambra state, H.E Peter Obi, he didn’t coax anybody to place him on pension and this clearly shows that competence in governance actually inhibits greediness, self-indulgence, covetousness, insatiability and bizarre misappropriation of public fund. A competent leader apportions the meager resources of the state according to the needs and priority of the citizens and not self. Only incompetent leaders are selfish as seen with Imo State.
On the other hand, the bad administration of Okorocha, contributed to the status of the Imo state today and Ndi- Imo will continue to suffer the negative effects of his incompetence in the next twenty years or more.
NDI-ENUGU, A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE, the records above have shown the effect of incompetence or competence as the case may be of a given governor doesn’t end with his tenure of eight years or the turn of his zone. The effects transcend into the next, 3rd or even the 4th tenure and the entire state suffer or enjoy the effects and not the zone alone. Example, the N30, 940 per capita total loan debt of Imo state is on very citizens of Imo state and not the governor or the zone. So, fairness, equity and peace quickly quoted by crafty politicians as reasons for promoting zoning system is nothing but decoy to swindle ill-informed citizens. The current N20,503 per capita debt of Enugu state government is on Ndi - Enugu and not Enugu North or the current leadership and the effect will last for the next twenty years. You can see there is nothing fair and equal about zoning.
Therefore, this madness called zoning that is obscuring our focus on electing the most competent candidate in enugu in the order of Peter Obi, must be discarded promptly, since it has been proven that whatever a governor does affects everybody and not the zone alone and the effect could last for about two decades or more.
We must rather, as a matter of urgency, totally switch our focus on competence and requisite experience as the only prerequisite for electing our next governor come 2023. We should also be conscious of the fact that this virtue called competence in governance is a very rare trait. Only Anambra state had been blessed with one in the person of H.E Peter Obi in the whole of southeast in the last 21 years and that explains why Anambra State is the only state in the southeast, reaping much from the windfall of yesteryears and that also placed her on top in economic growth indices among the other four states in the southeast..
So, if anybody tells you that competent leader abounds in every zone, ask him or her why Enugu State is not the first in any of the economic growth indices in 2020. Spillover of incompetence, greed and mismanagement of our resource by the past leader, contributed to our economic position today. Although H.E Sullivan did his best, but when you consider the available funds at his disposal, exchange rate then, total expenditures, total debt per capita and investments during the windfall that placed Anambra on her enviable position today, you will agree with me that Sullivan might be better than the rest, but he is not a competent leader. So, claims of fairness, equity and peace as benefits of zoning system are just a decoy to swindle ill-informed citizens by the elite tribes.
In the light of the above, I humbly call on true patriots, men and women of good will and noble conscious, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth leaders, women leaders and all men and women of honour, to look at the big picture and quickly take actionable step to save the future of our generation and next generation to come. We must begin to preach gospel of competency in governance fiercely against the gang-up tagged zoning designed to swindle the masses.
WE WANT WAR IN 2023, If the WAR between Sullivan Chime and Chimaroke Nnamni in 2008, brought about the sterling development in Enugu state between 2007-20015 and the current PEACE, which brought together the ex-governors, opposition parties and major stakeholders in harmony is responsible for the new wicked bill to place ex-governors on life pension and also the cause of the sharp decline in capital expenditure to the lowest low in the southeast at meager 24.91%, despite 61.99% rise in IGR, I sincerely think we need WAR than this kind of PEACE in 2023.
Obviously, without gainsaying, zoning is designed to maintain this kind of peace, equity and fairness in Enugu state between 2023- 2031 and that is why I’m calling on all men of good will and noble conscience to speak out against this conspiracy and deceit called zoning. We cannot continue to practice oligarchy under the pretence of democracy in 21st century.
Since focusing on competence against zoning system will stir up the kind of war H.E Peter Obi instigated in Anambra State, I sincerely urge Ndi-Enugu to go for war 2023 against the graveyard peace we are suffering today and will continue to suffer until its effect fades away in about twenty years to come. Let us choose war for the sake of our children and generation unborn.
WARNING: Ndi-Enugu must be wary of political merchant in 2023. By their fruits in the recent past, you don't need anyone to tell you what you should expect in 2023. It is now obvious they don’t care about your wellbeing or the future of your generation. As they are busy connecting conduit pipe to continue sucking from the already wreaked treasury after service, they are also planning for another Ahia, in 2015, it was Ahia Azua, in 2023, it will be Ahia Eree to the highest bidder.
It might not be to son-in-law as witnessed in Imo state, but to the highest bidder from a section of the state, under the dark cover of zoning system if you don’t know.
The only way-out is to insist on broad, liberal, free, fair and competitive election both within the party primaries and general election and their little game is up for the benefit of the masses. Come 2023, we shall surely bust-up their game in Jesus Name.
Our democracy was nascent in the last twenty year and that might explain the reason why it was difficult to get competent leaders in governance. But, thank God, the system have grown and also groomed competent leaders who are ready for credible service delivery. The ball is now squarely in our court to scrutinize fairly the ones that have distinguished themselves in service and if there is anyone among them that is already working in the capacity or realm of a governor, executing lofty projects and touching numerous lives, such person should be considered irrespective of his location of birth.
NO MORE STAGNATION UNDER THE COVER OF ZONING. COMPETENCE IS THE WATCHWORD OF THE MOMENT.
USE YOUR BRAIN
WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN !!
LET US MAKE IT HAPPEN.!!!
