“I Wasn’t In Govt. For Enjoyment, But Service” – Oby Ezekwesili

The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah is in the news again over the acquisition of 255 Million Naira worth of bullet-proof BMW cars by the ministry. This afternoon, a former Minister of Education, and later Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili recounted in brief on her Twitter timeline how she cut costs as a serving minister. Excerpts:

“If I did not bear much COST to SERVE in Government one could rightly assume that Public Service is “a land flowing with milk and honey.There was no greater THREAT than the DAILY ones I faced but refused to dignify as initiator&implementer of Due Process in public Contracts.Neither as Head of Due Process and NEITI nor as Minister of Solid Minerals and later Education, did one wallow in some obscene luxury. Never.I recall my Permanent Secretary's great astonishment when I over-ruled his plan to buy a new car for my use as Minister of Solid Minerals.My Permanent Secretary – Dr. Aboki Zawa up until today tells the story of his time with me in Solid Minerals & Education. Find him. Ask him.In Solid Minerals , my car was a well-worn Jeep that they called my predecessor's “political travels jeep”. It had done some serious miles.I remember the earful from my two security staff that I retained insisting that I must not take risk with the “old” car. I ignored them.At the Ministry of Education, my car was called the “shopping car” of my predecessor and indeed it was…. the lasting meat odour proved so!Sadly, because there are those who being VULTURE are used to eating that which is ROTTEN, they ASSUME everyone must love eating CARCASS.I write not to trump my righteousness. No. I write for the sake of this our society. It is NOT TRUE that we are all doomed to be CORRUPT.Stop wasting your time. I did not go to government for lifestyle improvement. I went to SERVE. Wealth gathering is not the motive 4 SERVICE”.
Culled from city people mag