Prof Nathan Protus uzorma
Life has taught me that the beauty of it is that none gets out of life alive. One of the most important functions of philosophy is that it can greatly assist us to sharpen our perception of reality in a manner that is not only new but different. If there is anything my voyage to the abode of philosophy has made me understand, it is the fact that all human activities have interest guiding them.
Following the above, the level of rationality and humanity we show in our various actions solely depend on the level of awareness we are able amass with regard to the enormous influence of personal interests on human action. I am happy to be a philosopher. In the words of Mason “A philosopher changes nothing except ideas” there is no gainsaying that ideas have all it takes to change the world hence ideas rule the world. This however is possible if he does not stop at only changing ideas, he must be capable of translating changed ideas into action.
Let me not burg myself much with deeper or profound philosophical reflection that constitute meanings which are reserved for classroom academic work. The point here is that every human action has its interest. In the words of Socrates, “Great men are known by their great insight…It is only those who listen that recall, and it is only those who recall that can judge.” He further concludes, “Change is the principle of all things.”
Before the just concluded 2015 election in Imo State, the All Progressive Congress (APC) were all advocates of “Change,” at the Federal level, the highly trumpeted change has been witnessed in the strict and serious fight against corruption initiated by President Buhari. In Imo State, the change is yet to be witnessed. All we can attest to is that almost all the “China roads,” have become worse, Salaries are not paid even with the hug bail-out fund from the Federal Government, and some parastitals have not received their full salaries. Privatization, borrowing upon borrowing, debt upon debt, and deduction of some percentage from the salaries of poor civil servants all these and other related ignoble activities of Governor Rochas have made Imo State a laughing stock.
All the Governors of the South East states except Imo have concluded plans to increase the salaries of their workers; Imo under the leadership of Governor Okorocha is busy deducting some percentage from the poor civil servants salaries.
This situation makes me bilious. It is a bugaboo and an affront for a man who has assured Imolites that his fourth generation will never see poverty to turn back to inflict pains upon Imo Civil Servants. Upon billions of money Governor Rochas has piled up for his fourth or fifth generation, of what gain is the poor crum of Imo Civil servants to him?
A poor civil servant that earns N30, 000 a month and solely depends on it for transportation to work, feeding, hospital bills, clothing, house rent etc if N5, 000 or N7,000 is deducted from it, how do you expect him to react and feel? I feel for Imo civil servants so much because they are going through hell in the lands of Governor Rochas Okorocha. Governor Okorocha, let us assume you are not a governor but a poor civil servant whose income/salary is below N40,000 a month and you are treated this way, how will you feel?
As if he is not satisfied with the cow on his head, he is busy chasing ants with his legs; this Governor Rochas has done as it is rumored among civil servants that Governor Rochas Okoroacha has banned promotion in the civil service system in Imo State. I want to ask my Governor a single question, Governor Rochas is it true? If truly our Governor has banned promotion in Imo State civil service it means that Gov. Rochas is out to deal with Imo Civil Servants who he alleged did not vote for him. Governor Rochas is it true that you have banned promotion in Imo Civil Service?
While expecting an answer which should not come through intimidation and threat, I wish to inform you through Amamihe (Wisdom or knowledge) that in your actions your interest must never be exclusive but inclusive and complementary. It means that whatever you use for the realization of love, which you have for your race, ethnic group, clan or tribe, should never be in opposition to your commitment to the ideas of humanity. In the same way the interest you have far your family and fourth generation to come should never be in opposition to the love you should have for Imo people.
My Governor, my Governor, be informed that whatever you employ to realize the interest you have for your country, no matter how exalted, should never contradict the interest you should or ought to have for those values that make us a human family. Whatever you employ to express your interest for an ideology should never be in opposition to the commitment you have for reality in its most authentic and true form of expression. Your religion should not contradict your humanity. Pure market cum economics consideration associated with your administration should never be in opposition to humanitarian considerations. I wish to nod my head in agreement to the sayings of Chuang Tzu that “To be without tranquility and contentment is to lack virtue. Without virtue no man on earth can survive for long”.
For Aristotle, “If a man is interested in himself only, he is very small, if he is interested in his family, he is larger, if he is interested in his community, he is larger still”. Our governor’s interest on himself alone makes him small and without virtue. Every employee who comes into organization has lots of personal wants/needs, he desires to achieve through the organization. Yes, there are certain behaviours or rules which the organization desires to elicit from the employee. It is also good to strike a balance. Some of the desires of the employees include adequate pay, security of job, provision of health and recreational facilities, credit for work done and a meaningful job. They also desire an opportunity for social advancement, comfortable, safety and attractive working conditions, competent and fair leadership etc.
In the school of Psychology, the impact of any motivational effort upon the workers depend mainly on two factors recognized in Psychology as “the anticipated valence or value of the perceived outcome of the prescribed behaviour and second, the strength of the expectancy that the behaviour will actually result a realization of the outcome. The valence in this case entails the workers basic needs classified into two parts; the first is the immediate needs of performing a job, like money, promotion, etc. The second part is the second needs that come from the first one for example money will buy a house or a car, promotion will bring more status and rejection by fellow workers spells loneliness.
Without going deeper into the school of Psychology in other to explain better, it is imperative for any worker to be properly motivated. Promotion is an active force that motivates any worker banning same in the face of global economic rescission amount to total destruction of the civil service. If truly Governor Rochas has banned promotion in Imo Civil service then Imo should not expect anything good from Chief Rochas. Though I predicted it before now and I was called names today, my perditions on Governor Rochas have come to pass. Imo civil servants I sympathize with you all.