I refer to the above subject publication and the obvious misrepresentation of facts that has been thrown into the public domain to malign my person and the reputation that I have worked to earn over the years.

It leaves much to be desired that a reporter of a newspaper of the calibre of THISDAY could not conform to the basic tenet of journalism of making an attempt to get the other side of a story before going to press.

The rush to publish this story without getting to hear my side of the story simply suggests that this was a hatchet job, sponsored to tarnish my image. It is a sad commentary that, my aged mother’s life and private affairs have also been intruded into by the reporter.

Let me state the facts as they are. I took a leave of absence from my employer, Chevron Nigeria Limited, to render service to my State as technocrat under the administration of the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole. The laudable achievements of the Comrade Governor in the last four years are visible enough for even the blind to see. I am proud to be part of the team that helped in delivering the results.

After his re-election in July for a second term in office, I verbally told the Comrade Governor of my decision to return to my job in Chevron Nigeria Limited. This was followed up by a formal resignation letter in August and also an official notification to my employers same month in line with the company policy. The official reaction to my resignation by the Comrade Governor is public knowledge and it is no secret that he commended my humble efforts and achievements.

To therefore suggest that I was sacked for delivering poor quality jobs in the area of drainage and storm water control shows that the reporter was only making up things from the figment of his imagination, especially when the Comrade Governor singled out those projects as the highlights of my service in his official response to my resignation.

The Storm water projects being handled by World Class contractors in Benin and other parts of the State under my purview and going forward and working excellently well and are there for everyone to see. I am therefore at a loss as to why the reporter would chose to report untruth!

My mother is not in London and is not receiving blood transfusion every week. Why on earth will someone bring my mother into the discussion and subject her personal and private life and medical issues to the public domain. My mother is a private person and wishes to remain so.

I know it is not the grund norm in Nigeria for public officers to resign voluntarily from office without stain to their records, but when we see examples of such, commendation instead of maligning their names should be the norm than exception.

I rendered my humble service to the government and people of my State and held my head high in doing so. I am now back to work for my employer after their magnanimity in releasing me to render this service.

I request that THISDAY retract the subject publication and present the fact as it is, while also asking that my reaction to the publication should be given the same coverage as the initial publication.

*Clem Agba, former Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities