By Bisong David Ncha (PenTruth)
It is said that when logic fails, people resort to sentiment. Mr. James Bassey Ibor of Mkpani, in his recent post, did not just miss the point; he trampled on reason and attempted to wrap emotional manipulation in the guise of intellectual engagement.
Rather than focus on the substance of governance and the results being delivered, Mr. Ibor has chosen the path of psychological blackmail and misplaced loyalty, casting aspersions at the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties, a man whose visible contributions have spoken louder than any political noise ever could.
His attempt to diminish the Commissioner’s role by calling him “mere” is not just unfortunate, it is revealing. If a sitting commissioner who operates on a 0.1% of the budget allotted to a senator can stir the polity through action and delivery, then what should we say of a senator whose only consistent achievement appears to be the curation of photo albums ?
Now, to the core of the distortion: the dishonest attempt to credit the renovation of the State Library; an initiative conceived under the able leadership of the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Sweet Prince Bassey Edet Otu to Oden Ewa, who is only executing his role as part of a team committed to actualizing the Governor’s vision, is not only petty but deeply misleading. The Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties has been playing his role as a cabinet member with others driving this and other such projects, not for personal glory, but in the spirit of service. His actions reflect the timeless administrative principles of Henri Fayol, who, in the 20th century, affirmed that “delegation is a sign of trust and must be carried out with style, dignity, and prescription.” Therefore, it is ironic, if not outright absurd that one who acted as a rubber-stamped Speaker for four years without initiating or passing legislation to renovate a vital academic edifices now seeks to throw aspersions and gather public sympathy using his media hawkers. We are far beyond such gimmicks.
To invoke Prof. Obasesam in this affair is both distasteful and disrespectful. Prof. Obasesam is an intellectual of international repute, a man of honour and impact.He has showed case globally and cannot be reduced to their standard. He does not need to parade his deeds or disclose the names of those he has supported, even when they are rustic rabble-rousers now biting the hand that once lifted them. Ethical leadership does not seek applause; it simply performs.
We are not disturbed by Mr. Ibor’s derogatory expressions. They reveal more about his insecurities than about the Commissioner’s office. If anything, his post confirms that the Commissioner’s work has unsettled the comfortable mediocrity that once thrived unchallenged. His ability to achieve so much with so little, in stark contrast to those with larger allocations but empty legacies, is precisely why such vitriol now emerges.
And if Mr. Ibor is unaware, delegation of responsibility, as noted by Henri Fayol, is not merely about assigning tasks — it is about trust, accountability, and innovation. Perhaps it is these very qualities, embodied by the Honourable Commissioner, that have triggered the sudden wave of political indigestion among those who once basked in the shadows of public ignorance.
Let it be clear: the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties is redefining service delivery, and no amount of noise from the sidelines will halt a moving train.
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