Your Excellency

I came across two news stories from Enugu that prompted this letter. I consider writing to you a matter of urgency based on the import of both stories – if they are true.

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In the one, you were said to be finding it difficult to make appointments because there were too many interests that you had to satisfy – and there aren’t enough jobs for the boys, especially now that the federal option has allegedly been closed with the change of government in Abuja. In the other, your immediate predecessor implied that a way out could be to take the state to the APC (by defecting) so that Enugu’s mouth will not be removed from the federal breast milk.

As an indigene of Enugu, I tried very hard to hide my disappointment at the turn of events. Where is the Igbo can-do spirit which pulls creative solutions out of the hat to meet with difficult challenges?

I have five things to say on these ugly developments coming out of our dear state.

First, you are in charge now. I hope someone hammers this fact into your head early enough. If what we read is true, then it is certain that you will eventually fall out with some of the godfathers, no matter the charm you exude or the quantity of your trade-mark smile that you deploy in your relationship with them. You might as well do it now – diplomatically of course – so that you’ll be able to get the committed technocrats that will help you discharge your electoral mandate, rather than select from the jobbers’ list that is sure to be handed over to you.

Second, in deciding on the direction of governance to follow, there are only three options. You could turn into yourself and proceed to amass as much cash as you can, not caring for anybody but yourself and your immediate constituency. It has been done before. You could also, out of gratitude, suck up to the drain pipes (the political godfathers and tin gods) by integrating them fully into a four-year bazaar. None of your predecessors had fully implemented this option. You can turn your back on aggrandizement and political patronage and get serious, competent and committed folks who will help you squarely leave a firm and lasting footprint in the sands of Enugu history. Whichever option you decide to choose, the result will be released in 2019 when we shall watch as you forcibly wrestle a second term ticket – or smile home with a ticket that no one else will be seriously contesting with you.

Third, it does not matter which party you belong to, for Enugu to continue to enjoy what those with limited vision think the state has lost by voting PDP. President Buhari and the international community will do business with you (no question about it) if you keep a cool head and concentrate on governance rather than politics in the next three years. If you want examples to support this statement, look to your neighbor Anambra and note how she has managed to walk a fine line between governance and federal politics – without belonging to the then ruling party. The darkest period in Anambra history was when the state was coupled to Aso Rock through godfathers. Have you noticed how the Governor wasted little time in renewing the links between Awka and Abuja?

Fourth, whatever you choose to do, remember that you are no longer a politician. The people’s vote has catapulted you to the top as father of Enugu citizens at home, in the Diaspora, in APC, PDP as well as the apolitical. If you want to take Enugu out of PDP, why not consider taking her to APGA instead, where you will thereafter be perceived as neutral and will have all the opportunities to do business with everybody without being seen as an enemy? There is such a thing as integrity, and you will lose this rare virtue if you were to be seen to have abandoned the party that not only made you but helped the state through your predecessor – for a mess of pottage that will allegedly be served by a different party in Abuja? Who told those with the doomsday predictions that what belongs to Enugu State (in terms of federal appointments and allocations) will now be lost, with an active Governor at the Lion Building?

Fifth, there is money to be made from Enugu itself, and a huge potential to tap the resources of the state for much more. Look inwards. Be creative. Look ahead. In two years, your IGR harvest can account for 40 percent of the state budget. If you don’t know what to do to reach this milestone, ask for help. Enugu is blessed with first-class human resource that will help you develop and implement ideas to turn the state around economically. Unfortunately, majority are apolitical; they especially detest “local” politics and will not bother you with what they know – unless you ask them for help. Seek them out and ask for help.

Sixth, people testify to your good nature. Your Excellency, I fear that this will be your undoing because you may not be willing to summon the political will to break through the political barricade that jobbers and kinsmen are sure to erect around you. As it is, you must break through this cordon in order to free your spirit to soar high and meet the history that has already beckoned.

I wish you good luck as you set sail. Stop wasting time.

Your sincerely,

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Ogbuagu Anikwe