Truth be told: if Nigeria were some ideologically-driven polity, Lagos and Cross River, at near extreme ends of Nigeria’s southern coast, would be proud beacons for the left and the right.
Lagos, bastion of progressivism, has since 1999, built a movement to show the rest of Nigeria how developmental governance can, and should be. From Bola Tinubu, to Babatunde Fashola and now to Akinwunmi Ambode, that movement has made Lagos a positive reference point.
Cross River, bastion of rightist conservatism under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been a contra-showcase. From Donald Duke, to Liyel Imoke and now Ben Ayade, it is another development movement, that has done well for Cross River people, though in ideology it differs from Lagos. It is a beautiful advertisement that ideology is but only a compass that cannot replace vision.
Which was why Ben Ayade’s arrival, with his rather intimidating bona fides, was rather exciting. And too true, the professorial governor started shooting from the hips, immediately he breasted the tape, and was INEC-certified winner. The added boon is that Ayade’s election, was certainly far less controversial than the near-charade of both Akwa Ibom and the notorious killing fields of Rivers, though the Supreme Court just sanctified both.
Anyway, Ayade the prof, announced his glorious entry sounding so professorial, declaring with all pomp, his intention of putting his putative cabinet members to some written tests! For this rigorous mind, mere vetting of CVs would not just do! harry
Whatever happened at those great exams? The media, harried and hassled, had hurried on to other things of pressing national interests; and didn’t quite follow them through. But it is safe to say only the best and the most acute of minds were good enough for His Professorial Excellency! Cross River could only be better for it.
But for Ayade, that could only be the commanding opening of an unfolding high drama. The next scene is the theatrics of showing high patriotism with the chief, by loving money much less.
His Parsimonious Excellency just announced an 80 per cent slash of own pay. That is the real Mac Coy leading by example! For every Naira in the hard but sweet service to Cross River, His Excellency would earn only 20 kobo! Nice and noble!
But as a tree cannot make a forest, His Excellency is demanding volunteers of his appointees, but with a far sweeter deal. He is demanding of them a 20 per cent slash: earn one naira but please collect 80 kobo! That isn’t too bad, is it?
The snag though, is that no one knows whose choice that decision is. Is it Hobson’s choice, which really is nothing but the governor’s; choice imposed on the appointees by subtle blackmail? Or the whole-hearted desire of the noble and patriotic exco members et al?
And the little question about law: can a governor lawfully impose a cut in the earnings of his appointees? Would that very nobility and patriotism ironically not breach the law?
Over to you, brilliant Nigerian jurists!
But to His Parsimonious Excellency, candid counsel from Hardball: your patriotism is cherished. But let your executive labourers earn their wage.
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