A renowned social Commentator has said, that the two phone numbers listed on the Senator representing Cross River South at the National Assembly, Senator Gershom Bassey’s billboard stationed at Efio-Ette roundabout in Calabar, the state capital belong to a mortuary attendant.
Efio-Ita Nyok who is also the publisher of NegroidHaven.Org, a popular online blog analysed the lapses behind Senator Bassey’s approach on politics, adding that effective leadership doesn’t follow lies.
In his recent article title, ‘BASSEYGATE: RECOMMENDATIONS TO SALVAGE THE SPIRALING PUBLIC REPUTATION OF A NIGERIAN LAWMAKER’, Nyok was able to say the phone numbers on the billboard weren’t connecting at the time of his article, adding that the one that connected was answered by a Mortuary attendant.
According to him, “I understand that distinguished Senator Gershom Bassey was accosted on Wednesday 24th January 2018 by a handful of constituents mainly youths at the gate of his Akai Efa, Calabar residence and demanded that the lawmaker tell them when his twin phone numbers will finally connect. Can somebody deny this piece of information, please? Hmmmm!
“Before I proceed in my unplanned commentary, let me first express my profound disappointment with the trend of criticism that has greeted the twin phone numbers published at Efio-Ette Junction, Calabar.
“The question is, why publish a set of phone numbers to the public that have not been registered (Sen. Bassey particularly admitted this when he entertained Calabar South Constituents at his residence in Akai Efa recently)? Why publish phone numbers to the public when you know they ain’t yet connect-able?
“Publishing these phone numbers at such a time as this, particularly considering the fact elections are drawing near implicitly suggests that you have been deliberately elusive. Put differently, as a public officer, a majority of your eager constituents have not been able to relate with you: for two years and six months!? And when you finally agreed to meet with them, it’s through a perceived scam!? No! This is totally condemnable!
“Follow me, please, let’s see whether we locate a solution to this your in-accessibility: Where’s your constituency office sir? If there are any, how many are in the seven local government areas that constitute Cross River Southern Senatorial District? Supposing it’s just one, don’t you think it should be seven as well to allow for easy access to the Distinguished? Should it be just one unpopular building?
“Fast forward to the phone lines – I can’t leave them: When the lines finally connect, something disappointing happens: a mortuary attendant I learnt took the call – I have not confirmed it though: so, can’t the ‘landed eagle’ beckon with one of his flapping wings to any of his job seeking constituents and pay them to take these thousands of calls!? Hmmm!” Nyok wrote.
Apart from Sen. Gershom Bassey punditically, Nyok also gave some Recommendations. Read his recommendations below;
“They say a criticism is constructive when it offers solutions, while I am not a proponent of this sentiment, for germane purposes, let me bulge:
*Open 7 constituency offices in the 7 LGAs of ‘the south’ beginning from the riverine areas of Bakassi through Biase.
*Employ ‘desk officers’ who are answerable to your Chief of General Staff (CoS) reportedly Ekanem Samantha Bassey.
*Equip these offices, particularly installing a dedicated phone line. That is to say, the not-connecting-twin-phone-numbers should be increased to 7.
*Train those desk officers for courtesy while taking calls, etc.
*Publish the addresses of these anticipated 7 constituency offices to the public.
*These constituency offices should be an information hub acquainting your constituents of your activities in respect of representing them at the Red Chamber: your bills, motions, itinerary, developments programmes, etc.
*For those who don’t feel like going to the constituency office, set up a website for the same purpose above —beyond being the ever-landing sorry, landed eagle, I propose you become a digital Senator.
*Employ a website administrator who will update the site of your official activities. Coco-Bassey Esu, though after serious training in public relations, may come in handy here. Sequel to his brief training, he can be under monitoring for a while to check for foul linguistics expressions and other related uncouth tendencies. Victor Inyang readily comes to mind for this monitor and tutelage.
“With the above free consultation, I think your challenge of inaccessibility will be greatly corrected as your public image, which I honestly doubt is in a positive light, with the exception of your family and cronies will improve”, Nyok added.