Odili asks commissioners, others to submit hand-over notes
From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt
ANXIETY has gripped commissioners and all political appointees in Rivers State following a directive by Governor Peter Odili that they prepare their hand-over notes which are to be submitted to him this week. The announcement may have ended the long-speculated cabinet reshuffle in the state.
Odili issued the order yesterday while opening a retreat organised for top government functionaries by the state government under the auspices of the Agency for Re-orientation, Integrity, Service and Ethics (ARISE).
The governor's directives may not be unconnected to the fact that some government officials have been indicted for sponsoring militia in their communities and this had been a source of embarrassment to the government.
Other likely reasons range from the gross ineptitude of some of them in the discharge of their duties as well as over-inflation of contracts.
He disclosed that after the retreat, an assessment would be done on all the commissioners and other political appointees. The verdict according to him would be made public and those who have not done well would be asked to look for something else to do.
The governor who was accompanied by his deputy, Gabriel Toby and retired Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte said that in the past, people had misconstrued government's patience to mean inability to act, noting that the administration's commitment to the citizens of the state could not be compromised.
Alluding to the fact that government was not going to continue to condone the lackadaisical attitude of some of the commissioners, he said that since 1999 when he assumed leadership of the state, he had tried fervently to focus on his objectives and had remained faithful to the promises he made to the citizens of Rivers. He added that service was an assignment from God.
He remarked that everyone in the cabinet had a moral duty to perform and anyone who failed to do so then must account to God. Governor Odili expressed dismay that some top government functionaries in the state had worked to sabotage the new spirit of honesty, service, integrity and ethics, which his administration had been trying to instil in the people.
Odili frowned at situations where some government officials colluded with contractors to over inflate proposals submitted to government, warning that the campaign of frugality was not a matter of rhetoric.
He said the privilege to be selected out of a population of about five million people in a state to render service according to him was enough to invoke the fear of God and appreciation in the minds of such persons.
The Chairman of the retreat, Justice Karibi-Whyte noted that nothing had really changed in the state despite efforts of ARISE to remould the attitude of the people so that the concept of business as usual would be a thing of the past.
According to him, most of the commissioners and other top government functionaries do not get to their offices before 9 a.m. and sometimes 11a.m.
Karibi-Whyte listed attributes that must be imbibed for any endeavour to succeed, such as moral strength, good manners, integrity, general etiquette and devotion to duty.
Indicting the commissioners and others, the retired Supreme Court Judge said:" There are too many reports that not so much integrity and devotion to duty is demonstrated by some government officials".
The chairman of ARISE, Prof. Godwin Tasie, explained that the retreat would give critical opportunity for appraisal of the performance of top government officers and departmental heads.
