Face to face with Gov Amosun
Wednesday, 17 August 2011 00:00 By Ikechukwu James Opinion - Letters


SIR: Permit me a space in your newspaper to comment on an event that took place in Ogun State during the last environmental sanitation exercise. I go to Abeokuta once in a while to visit my childhood friend and colleague at a place called Itoku.

While attempting to dash across the road, I saw a convoy of vehicles without the usual sirens blaring at the highest decibels. I thought since it was a sanitation day, there was probably no need to use sirens and chase other road users away from the road with rawhide whips and barrels of gun.

Suddenly, all the vehicles pulled up a few metres from where I stood. Of course, that naturally drew my attention. I moved close like others to look at the big man in the convoy. I then saw a man in a T-shirt and pair of trousers. ‘Is this the governor, is he an athlete?’ I muttered to myself.

But the greatest surprise was that the governor felt so comfortable exchanging pleasantries with the ordinary citizens. He then addressed the people who had suddenly formed a throng around him, urging them to always take an active part in the sanitation exercise and promising to repair their road with immediate effect.

That encounter was a pleasant surprise to me. The governor, I was told, does not use sirens. I then began to wonder why elected public officials should be blaring sirens day and night with their security details beating and insulting other road users, including those that put them in office through their votes.

If such public functionaries truly won their elections, why should they be afraid to chat with their people in the most ordinary way? Why should you be afraid or run away from the same people that voted you into office?

I didn’t really know anything about the governor but the 20 minutes he spent at Itoku on that fateful day impressed me. I therefore encourage other public office holders to take their cue from Ogun State. Political power is transient; it is the people that count in a democracy.

Owerri, Imo State

Author of this article: By Ikechukwu James

GoldCircle:

kini big deal??