OPEN LETTER TO GOV. UGWUANYI: AWGU FIRE INCIDENCE, A SIGNAL THAT CALLS FOR CONCERN - OKOLIKE

DATED: September 21st, 2021

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ENUGU STATE

HIS EXCELLENCY, 

RT. HON. IFEANYI UGWUANYI (GBURUS). 

GOVERNOR, ENUGU STATE.

YOUR EXCELLENCY SIR,

RE: AWGU INEC OFFICE FIRE INCIDENCE, A SIGNAL THAT CALLS FOR CONCERN: TIME TO DIGITALIZE OUR STATE OFFICES

Your Excellency Sir, It has become expedient at this time to bring to your notice a clarion call from a concerned citizen about a signal that shouldn't be overlooked in order to forestall further future occurrences in the state. 

We are all witnesses to the giant political feat you have achieved within these your six years in office, irrespective of the dwindling resources and the economic downtime occasioned by the effect of the global outbreak of COVID-19 virus pandemic. You have preached, embraced and sacrificed a lot for peace and security to prevail in the state. This is a good legacy that Ndi Enugu will in years to come remember you for such a great record. 

However, while we the masses enjoy a peaceful atmosphere in the state made possible by your administration, it is our prayers and hope that our dear Enugu State will continue to flourish in the hands of God irrespective of whatsoever the enemies of the state might be cooking up in an attempt to discredit all your efforts and sacrifices in this administration. 

Records from recent happenings in the entire South East have not only shown the fact that the leadership of IPOB have been compromised, it has also revealed the obvious fact that the movement have been hijacked by the enemies of Ndigbo, just like the #ENDSARS protest of the glorious memory. These enemies parading themselves as enforcers of the SIT-AT-HOME order now leverage on the insecurity situations in the country to cause mayhem on the populace. They kill at will, set vehicles ablaze as they wish, vandalize tricycles as they like and also inflict untold hardship to the masses by clamping down economic activities across the states. 

While decrying the destructions of people's means of livelihood, we are also worried that these enemies are systematically creeping into burning of Government properties, AWGU INEC OFFICE, a case study here. 

Your Excellency Sir, this is a signal that you shouldn't treat with fistgloves or laxity, for it's a clear pointer to some handwritings on the wall that calls for concern. As a matter of urgency, I wish to suggest to you, Your Excellency Sir, that all our State Ministries and Agencies should at this period begin to be proactive enough by embarking on the processes of digitalization on their documents via a combined effort and partnership with the technological network of the ENUGU STATE TECH HUB, the state's Eagle-Eye that has the advanced technology to serve as their secondary source of database. It is a common knowledge that whenever offices are burnt, important files are completely lost in the process. But with the technology of digitalizations, one can always access soft copies of any file encrypted for future references when the hard copies are no more tenable. We also know that whenever files are no more traceable, misappropriated funds are given excuses upon in the guise that they were consumed by the fire incidence that occurred in such an office. These and many more likely cases of "Had I know", we must try to avoid through some checks and balances ahead of time. 

Although, one might nurture the notion that INEC is a Federal Government parastatal, but what about the fact that our people who registered for the ongoing Nationwide PVCs in that annex office might likely be disenfranchised if the INEC office in Abuja claims that such registrations didn't get to their server as anticipated, due to some network glitches? What about also the fact that the incidence of the inferno happened on our Enugu State soil (our dear state that other sister states are envious about her status quo as the most peaceful state in Nigeria)? All these of course calls for concern.

Your Excellency Sir, no doubt that few months from now, the Local Government Council chairmanship positions would wind up, ENSIEC will kick-off preparations for another electioneering process. At the moment, attentions should be channelled to the fact that ENSIEC office ought not to only be manned by Security personnel but ought to also be digitalized as well to avoid any future loss of data due to a fire outbreak. KUDOS to you, Your Excellency Sir, for the proactive efforts you channelled appropriately last time towards protecting the ENSIEC OFFICE when hoodlums made attempt to set the structure ablaze. We are happy that the Security mobilization you put into place on hearing of the distress call really helped a lot to foil their attempt. This isn't the time to relent in your efforts sir, as cases of insecurity menace in the country is increasingly heightening up on daily basis. 

Your Excellency Sir, it is my earnest prayer that you will give an indepth thought to the content of this letter, as it is a clarion call for you to take into cognizance that "behind any signal geared towards disrupting the activities and peace of the state, there is always a resultant effect of some handwritings on the wall, aimed to discredit your political giant feat on good governance cum peace legacy in the state", as you gradually wind up your tenure in office.  

These signals popping up are handwritings on the wall serving as a pointer for you to put into place in time some proactive measures against the big picture of what the enemies of goodwill might be having in stock to unleash afterwards. Remember, our dear state is the centre of the South East, thus, Headquarters are usually distinguished for their outstanding securities at all times. 

Your Excellency Sir, based on the fact that you committed the state into the hands of God at your inception of office, the Good Lord will always be there to fight the battles for you against all odds. You shall finish your tenure as a HERO and also have your name written in GOLD on sands of history over your peace legacy, which shall continually stand the test of time in ages to come. It is the wish of the founding fathers of the State, My wish and Most importantly, the wishes of Ndi Enugu that our dear home state will continuously remain the most peaceful state in Nigeria and even across the globe. These, I pray through Christ our Lord...AMEN!! 

Enugu State is and will surely continue to remain in the hands of God!!!

Yours Patriotic & Concerned Citizen,

Comr. Okolike Michael.