Thread by @adesoji45

Dear @DrJoeAbah ,

On 27th July 2017, I visited you at your office in BPSR and spent about 90 uninterrupted minutes with you. You shared a couple of things with me about public service and the cost of being a reform minded public office holder. /1

You shared how you’ve been bullied by the different arms of government you had to relate with in the course of carrying out your service to the nation.

You shared your challenges and your victories!/2

You shared how you declined being part of the government’s campaign entourage during the 2015 elections, even when the team was visiting your home state.

How you stood your ground when asked to defend a budget you never prepared to the NASS! And how you were penalized for it.

You advised me to make sure I am comfortable and self sufficient before accepting any public office and that temptations will come, however with good values and ensuring that I don’t put myself under any financial pressure, I will overcome.

You advised me to listen to and work with the career civil servant I may encounter during my service to the nation as a public office holder. In your words, they have see it all. You also warned me to be circumspect and know who to take advice from.

I asked you why you declined a 2nd term at BPSR.

You shared your personal reasons. Very genuine ones. One caught my attention. You shared your vacation schedule with me and you told me how you have struggled to keep up with it since you took up the public service work.

Not because you couldn’t make out time for those vacations, but because you simply couldn’t afford that lifestyle with the salaries and benefit of your office.

@DrJoeAbah , these lessons and many more have guided my decision making in the past couple of years. For this I say thank you and will forever Indebted to you!

Thank you for your service to this nation and please continue being an inspiration to us here.

#End