An Open Letter To Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, The Honourable Minister Of State, Budget And National Planning -By Dokpesi Timothy Adidi – Opinion Nigeria

It is not unusual for me to write letters; as such, I have decided to reach out to you on this very day the 15th August, 2022. I write letters as part of my community service to bring to limelight what is hidden as far as good governance is concern. Good governance is central to my mission as a Nigerian as it relates to Sustainable Development Goals; and, I believe that your stewardship as a Nigerian has made a very strong impact in the direction of the Sustainable Development Goals as envisaged by the United Nations. It is very much obvious from the steps you are taking in ensuring that your leadership style is a noiseless and silent one devoid of the usual crude politics as envisaged by most typical Nigerian politicians puts you more on the limelight than those who make so much noise. No wonder they say “an empty vessel makes the most noise”. Your noiselessness is perceived in the works you do; and as it is always said “action speaks louder than voice”. I hope the United Nations will begin to validate your works and put you on the searchlight as one who is determined to put in check the realization of the sustainable development goals in Africa.

In your political life and sojourn I did not hear about your person until an encounter with you from a distance during a retreat organized by the Weppa Wanno Pyramid Club of Nigeria, in which you presented a paper on the 14th August, 2021. You were the Special Guest of Honour and you made the Opening Remarks as the Special Guest of Honour. During your presentation on Budgeting and Rural Development, and as I listened to you with rapt attention there was a demonstration of quality leadership as exemplified by your office as a Hon. Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The demonstration of your presentation was skillful and it suggests that you were in control of what you do as the Hon. Minister of State, Budget and National Planning.

You indeed obviously produced the scripts in your hands; and, again your presentation was not mere talk. Since it was the very first time of seeing you and hearing about you I never thought you were from Weppa Wanno Kingdom until I immediately went into the internet to do a search of your person and personality. Your presentation was not a political presentation; nor was it a demonstration of a campaign strategy; nor again was it a way of impressing the crowd. What I saw in your presentation was a servant – leadership style that yearns for the emancipation and development of a people in dire need of basic necessities of life. Again, Honorable Minister of the Federal Republic, the tangible and realizable projects you have done in Nigeria reflects what the United Nations expects as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

I personally investigated into these projects as you enumerated in your presentation and going as far making calls to ensure that my perception about your presentation was a valid one as represented in my search. Distinguished Honorable, I did not stop there but went ahead to profile you by running a check to know how you emerged as a Honorable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; I then realized you were once a Commissioner in Edo State and you were invited by Adams Oshiomhole to serve the people of Edo State in various capacities.

My perception did not invalidate my orientation of you during your presentation when I read that Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole invited him to join the Edo Rescue Team as a member of the State Cabinet in 2009 because of these qualities and your constant dedication to helping others and advancing society. Additionally, from January 23, 2009 to July 25, 2010, you held the position of Commissioner in the Edo State Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities, where you showed exemplary leadership and gave governance a fresh start.

To take on a new challenge, you were redeployed as a Commissioner to the Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Housing on July 26, 2010. In a record-breaking five months, you got started right away with several important reforms, including the creation of the Edo State Geographic Information Services (EGIS), and managed the ministry before being transferred back to the Ministry of Environment & Public Utilities on December 2, 2010. This again says a lot about your zeal and enthusiasm to get things working and ensuring that things are done well. To have created the EGIS shows how you respond to the era you are. Information Technology is central to development and formation of a people which you have made possible to have brought about this breakthrough. This in itself reveals your dynamic personality for purposeful growth and functionality. You again have made it known to those who admire you to know that what is worth doing is worth doing well as you significantly provided the leadership that befits a society in dire need of redemption.

Honorable Minister Sir, you are indeed a breakthrough to humanity from the various leadership skills you have provided to Edo State. Your leadership in the urban renewal and drainage infrastructure drive of the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led administration, which included beautification, greening of the streets, planting trees, and making sure that the state capital had functional street lights, was provided while you served as Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities. You were a key player in coming up with a solution to the erosion and flood problems in Edo State.

The present administration hasn’t done anything to maintain or even improve the project you started, which was a substantial storm water project to address the erosion issues in Benin City. The breakthrough in urban renewal, however, didn’t occur until more than 30 years after the completion of the last significant storm water project in 1979. You indeed were working behind the scene for the Government of Edo State. This again is applicable in President Muhammadu Buhari led administration were your noiselessness and servant – leadership style makes other increase while you decrease. You are indeed a paragon of humility and a pace-setter in the All Peoples Congress (APC) party. No doubt, the political party you belong cannot afford to lose you especially in this critical moment were the existence of the party needs an institution of your caliber and nature to prove to the Nigerian people that APC still have good men who do good things.

Honorable Minister Sir, you are indeed a pride to the Weppa Wanno Kingdom and the Nigerian State. Your silence in the political arena has much more to be deserved as a Politician. In my own opinion, you are not really desperate in your political aspirations; but, it is very obvious you are focus more on your work as the Honorable Minister than just been a political stooge. Your disinterestedness in the political scheme and focusing on the job is rather putting you on the searchlight more. Your noiselessness and silence has indeed brought you to limelight as the light of the Weppa Wanno Kingdom; and a town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your shine before others as a model for other Nigerian leaders to follow. I hope and pray Honorable Minister that your political future is not dependent on the existence or non-existence of a political party.

As Honorable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you have drawn several projects in Edo State. I do not want to undermine what others have done in Edo State; but, in a period such as ours were the quest for wealth and material acquisition drives most politicians from Weppa Wanno Kingdom into peripheral projects, your has been that of laudable projects that are existential to solving human problems. Aside what you have done in Nigeria as whole, may I use this medium in my open letter to appreciate you for what you have done in Edo State. Ordinarily, projects that were supposed to be executed by the State Governor you did as the Honorable Minister. I hope the Governor of Edo State removes sentiments and appreciates the good works you are doing for the State he is supposed to govern which you have made your own project for the good people of Edo State.

I have seen so much you have done in Edo central and especially the Projects you have facilitated that is very dear to my heart which is the IDP Village in Auchi on a fifty (50) hectares of land. You currently have a road project in Uromi, and a gully remediation in Ewohimi; and a Mini Water Works Project Efadon, Edo State. This therefore means that your stewardship extends to not just to Etsako East Local Government Areas; but, to other Local Government Areas in Edo State. I am also aware through a reliable source that during the last Salah celebration you distributed food items to all eleven (11) LGAs of Edo Central and Edo North. This again shows your quest for an integrated society where people of diverse religion can live in harmony of peace. Your sense of inter-religious dialogue towards the realization of peaceful co-existence reflects in your charisma and democratic sense of an inclusive government.

May I use this open letter to recommend your good works for other political stakeholders in Edo State to look beyond personal interest and always put people first as they invest in people, and infrastructure. I once again thank you for who you are and what you are; and, also for what you are doing for the Nigerian Project.

Be rest assured of the people’s benevolence towards you and your family.

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