Nigeria: Fubara Writes Odili Again!
Nigeria: Fubara Writes Odili Again!
Akanimo Sampson
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
LAMB-CALEB Fubara, a former Government House staff in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Nigeria's Rivers State , is still locked in a titanic battle for his entitlements. In his latest open letter to the out-going Governor Peter Odili, that was made available to our correspondent on Tuesday, Fubara says the governor's word of honour goes on trial.
The open letter reads in full:
First and foremost, let it be on record that severally have I contemplated reaching you through an open letter, and severally too have I had to shun the idea. But two years of hunger, frustration, privation and humiliation, especially at the heels of my audience with Your Excellency makes it inevitable. In other words, writing open to you is the only option left to be explored in my insistence that you are a man of your word; your word being your bond. This word you gave to me before God and man in your office on the 5th day of July 2005.Again, this might just the only way I can put a lie to the campaign of name dropping, as it is being canvassed against me by the one whom you delegated me to work with. As a man unjustly treated, one whose many attempts at seeking redress in your court were repeatedly frustrated, appeals disregarded, writing an open letter to you, my Excellency remains the only way I can humbly rest my case.
For the avoidance of doubt, Your Excellency would recall a certain young man brought into your presence at your request on the said 5th day of July 2005; and how you had at the end of my meeting with you directed my immediate engagement in the office of your Chief Press Secretary to work in my former capacity as Special Project Officer. Although your instruction was verbal, it was not the least vague, because you did direct your Chief Press Secretary to seal the directive with a memo to be addressed to you for the approval of my allowance.
Advertisement - scroll to continue readingWhat could’ve been more edifying to an indigent subject with a measure of dependant siblings than this gesture? Yet I had hardly left your presence before the joy of a lifeline, graciously offered by Your Excellency was inordinately severed by your Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Okah, the one you handed me to. As far as your CPS was concerned that meeting somewhat shed light on him as bestriding the fence in his relationship with Hon.Ameachi and Barr. Omehia. And he never pretended about taking his pound of flesh from me, with you leaving me in his lap. Therefore, defying your directive to make me suffer was just okay. And up to the time of writing this letter that memo is still to be raised two years after; despite the abounding evidence of my work.
Your Excellency, the sad truth remains that I have on the strength of your word of HONOUR, with your Chief Press Secretary directing my delegated fate at will, worked this past two years without receiving a dime as it should be. Sadder still is the fact that your CPS is so bent on frustrating out of the scheme of things.
That I have entreated the intervention of virtually all the principal staff in Government House, and beyond to prevail on the Chief Press Secretary for a change of heart, if only for the sake of my younger siblings, all to no avail is to say the least. While it is difficult to appropriately situate the CPS’ ill treatment to my person since I left your presence, to say I have been denied everything is no over statement.
With enormous bills and frightening debts hanging on my neck, all other conventional avenues closed on me, and barely five weeks to the end of your tenure, this open letter may just be my epitaph in the story of my encounter with my beloved Governor.
Each time Your Excellency reiterates your desire to complete every project started by your administration, my heart skips, wondering if mine might just be the only project that will remain uncompleted, because it so pleases your Chief Press Secretary.
However, since you are not omniscient to appreciate the yoke on my neck, it becomes imperative that I employ this medium to appeal to you as my Governor, a Knight of the Catholic Church, a philanthropic leader par excellence, and above all, the Executive Governor of Rivers State that it is still not Uhuru for your subject.
Your Excellency, this letter is to place on record that you gave me your word, which set me on a course; later heard my cry for help and had the choice to either rescue or allow me drown under the shackles of CPS whom you delegated me to work with.
Banking on your Grandfatherly response.
Your Subject
Lamb-Caleb Fubara
ENDS