I am glad to write you this letter, making it an open letter may not be necessary, if I have had a direct access to your Excellency, sir.
The purpose of my letter is to remind you about the herculean tasks ahead in your ministry .Your ministry is one of those ministries where their effectiveness, impact and productivity are felt by all Nigerians. Nigerians that usually travel around the six geopolitical zones in the country can easily assess you on their own. They will know in no distance time whether you are performing or not.
The immediate past Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) had ensured that most projects awarded were executed, especially the ones funds were released for. It was said that in the past before the Buhari’s administration came on board, monies meant for roads construction were diverted by some few individuals. However, the narrative change in that administration resulted in the highly commendable scorecard of the ministry in the period under review. Sustain your integrity sir, by not only sustaining, but also improving, the tradition of resource effectiveness activated by your immediate predecessor. Do not allow the older narrative to continue under your watch.
More so, you have earned public trust from the way you governed Ebonyi state for eight years. I have never been to Ebonyi but my friends who have been there on official assignments testified that, commendably, you provided good roads and bridge infrastructure. Apart from that, I monitored your activities as Ebonyi state Governor through media reportage of your performance. Frankly, you are not a controversial leader and you know your onions, because I listened to your recent interview on Channels TV when you featured on the prominent political platform, Politics Today.
I have never come across any discourse about you where a writer referred to you as a lazy Governor. Many Nigerians applauded the choice of your portfolio when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the portfolios for ministers designate. My Dear Minister, sir, your track record as Ebonyi state Governor was apparently responsible for the public confidence in you. No one can earn public confidence or trust just like that, especially in the Nigerian experience; it is gotten through hardwork, consistency and sincerity.
Another angle I would want you to be vigilant is that do not talk much about the standard of the road your ministry want to do because Nigerians would hold you by your words. They would certainly remind you of every statement you have made about federal road construction after your tenure. If it is positive they may be quiet but if it is negative they would do that for free with plenty energy.
The way you have set the ball rolling in your ministry is encouraging, you have been going from state to state to see the conditions of our roads.This is an attestation that you will not sit down in the office but you will monitor every road construction under your watch.
Nigerians believe in your ability to succeed so as to add value to President Tinubu’s administration and to prepare yourself too for a greater responsibility in future.
AbdurRaheem Sa’ad Dembo
Writes from Ilorin
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