On Monday, the Ebonyi State Government shocked citizens by announcing the suspension of over 85 senior government officials—including 25 commissioners, 22 permanent secretaries, and dozens of special assistants. The stated reason? Absence from an “important government function.”
Yet days later, that “function” remains unnamed. No explanation. No clarification. Just silence.
In a democratic system where public accountability is non-negotiable, this silence is deeply disturbing. What kind of government action affects this many officials and doesn’t come with full disclosure to the people footing the bills—the public?
To make matters murkier, Nwoba Chika Nwoba, a political activist and former PDP spokesperson, alleged that the “important function” was the birthday celebration of the governor’s last child. Though unverified, the claim has gone viral—and sadly, it doesn’t sound too far-fetched in a political culture where loyalty is often measured by physical presence at personal events.
Whether it was a birthday or not, that so many senior officials were sanctioned for missing a mystery event is an abuse of public confidence. It reduces governance to a private affair and makes discipline look more like intimidation than leadership.
Even if the event was indeed official, refusing to name it publicly undermines the credibility of the suspension. It casts doubt on the motive. It blurs the line between governance and personal ego. And that is dangerous.
Ebonyi State is not a monarchy. Attendance at undisclosed events should not determine access to public office. Governance should be about service, not servitude.
If the government insists on punishing its workers, it should also have the courage to explain why. If discipline must be upheld, transparency must come with it. Anything short of this invites speculation, breeds discontent, and erodes the public trust.
The people of Ebonyi deserve more than vague press statements and behind-the-scenes theatrics. They deserve clarity. They deserve truth.
Because when government becomes too silent about its own actions, it gets harder to tell the difference between leadership and control.
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