By Bonaventure Melah

I write as someone from Imo State. The actions and inactions of the government of Imo State affect me directly. I am therefore in a better position to evaluate policies and programmes of the government of my State, Imo. My well considered verdict is that the controversies and consequent media attacks on my Governor in recent times are misguided and therefore needless.

Starting from the empty noise in town over the governor’s appointment of his sister Mrs Ogechi Ololo as one of the 27 commissioners to serve the state, my question is “What is the noise about? Is it that the woman is not qualified to hold that position or that she is Rochas’s sister? Which one is the governor’s crime? And then, the nomenclature, name of the ministry, how does that become an offence that is drawing criticisms even from people you would ordinarily consider as intellectuals?

Let’s take the issues one after the other. On January 26, 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed his wife Hillary Clinton as chairman of a committee on health reforms. When some people raised the alarm over the appointment, Clinton said his wife “Is better at organising and leading people from a complex beginning to a certain end than anybody I have ever worked with in my life” Clinton went on to add that “The nation would soon find out that we have a First Lady of many talents.” Pressed further, Clinton argued that his position as president should not constitute a stumbling block to his wife’s career progression, especially when she was eminently qualified to occupy such positions.

Not satisfied, some critics of the government went to court against President Clinton drawing attention to Federal anti nepotism law enacted in 1967. But two Appeal Court judges handling the matter ruled that “We doubt that congress intended to include the White House or the Executive office of the President while making the law.” That was the verdict. And we are even talking of a situation where there is an existing law against nepotism, in the United States of all places.

My hero, Donald Trump, after winning the November 8 Presidential election announced he was going to appoint his Son-in-law as White House Special Adviser. Today, Jared Kusher, Trump’s son-in-law is occupying that position, in the United States. Many appointees of President Muhammadu Buhari are his relatives from Daura. So, what’s the big deal about Rochas appointing his sister as commissioner?

Now let’s look at the designation, Ministry for Happiness and Purpose fulfilment. Even if it was Ministry of Happiness and Couples Fulfilment as was initially announced, what is the sin in that? Name of Ministry is just an expression, a nomenclature which the governor has absolute right to designate based on his vision or plan for the state. Spain has a Minister of SEX. Yes. Spanish leader Mariano Rajoy in February this year appointed Edelmira Barreira as Minister for Sex. According to him, the minister’s major duty is to urge couples to have more sex and breed more babies in order to reverse the nation’s birth rate which is seriously on decline. To achieve that the minister is to persuade couples to cut down on long working hours and late nights in order to stay together, have more sex and make more babies.

In explaining the reason for creating the Ministry, Sam Onwuemeodo, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor stated that Rochas was concerned about the anger, bitterness and frustration in the land (and that is true. There is so much anger, bitterness and frustration across Nigeria). He said the Ministry will synergise with other ministries, department and agencies of government to see that measures are put in place to make the people happy.

“Happiness and Purpose Fulfilment Ministry, therefore, is established for the lost time, to correct the policy framework to guide ministries and departments on what they must do to guarantee the citizens’ happiness and contribute better to society,” adding that “This is the very reason people elect their leaders to guarantee their happiness and purpose fulfilment. A great leader therefore is one who provides happiness to the people.” Do you need further explanations to understand this?

Or is it Mrs. Ololo’s qualifications or suitability for the job that is in issue? The new commissioner holds a Masters Degree in Computer Science. She has served as the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff. Before her new appointment, she was liaison officer between Imo State and the Federal Government on various initiatives including N-Power, Central Bank’s Anchor Project and Bank of Industry’s Empowerment projects. All of these are social intervention responsibilities which have combined to make her most competent for the new job.

Before this needless appointment brouhaha, it was the Heroes Square that people fed on. There is no need dwelling on that because I had earlier posited that it is a “futures project” and that the combination of the square and other beautification projects being executed by Rochas would eventually combine to make Owerri and by extension, Imo State the next tourism destination. You can Google that piece with the title “How Rochas is making Owerri a Tourism Destination.”

There is a need to criticise those in power in order to have a better society but matured minds should direct attention on serious matters affecting the wellbeing of humanity and leave mundane issues for children.

* Melah, a tourism practitioner is an Abuja-based journalist and public analyst. Email: [email protected].