On media insight into what and what is the difference between direct and indirect benefits, Lawrence Egede writes.
This writeup is to educate those who don't know how to respect the government, to know that looking at what goes on in the projects and programs of any regime, nobody is exempted from the developmental gains of every system in Ebonyi State.
This piece is coming at this point, because of the way people have continued to lay up heaps of complaints upon complaints, about benefits or no benefits.
Election time is here and only those who probe the mindsets of the electorate can know what they are saying, as they complain about one regime or the other over benefits or no benefits.
I pity my dear brothers and sisters who are contesting the forthcoming general elections this 2023, especially in the Southeast. Only the luckiest ones can survive it clean and free because of the grace of God upon their endeavours.
I should pray that the ovations we see now and get carried away could mean nothing at the end of the day, because of the way things are silently being done this time by the masters of gimmicks.
Complaints about benefits or no benefits are mounting on top of each other, watching out for showdowns on election days.
That's why I am pushed to educate those who in one way or another other don't want to clear their mindsets, about benefits or no benefits awaiting the days of election for revenge.
I also want to alert those who are contesting elections to know what is on board, in case something else begins to happen otherwise from voters on the days of voting.
I am a hard teacher of truth, who doesn't need any payment to be honest and sincere over some intricate issues, which could be very wary but overlooked with ignominy by the real hearers.
In Ebonyi State today I want to tell those who think Governor Umahi's regime did not benefit them, or that the past regimes failed them, to read this piece very well and look around their mindsets and know the truth.
I don't know why some people always forget when the goings were good with them.
They also try to forget the fingers that fed them earlier on and equally forget the palatable dishes they enjoyed beforehand.
And even now they still bite the fingers that are feeding them fat, not being satisfied.
Not only the forgetfulness and biting of the fingers that feed them yet not being satisfied, but the other side of the issue has also been the denial of what they enjoyed or still enjoy now.
I am talking about the benefits which we get from a regime directly or indirectly yet not pleased, still not contented and also not happy.
I am talking about benefitting from a system of a unique democratic dispensation, yet grumbling and condemning everything about government.
Whether the benefits are fat or lean we should thank God that it comes regularly or with time, but not forget to be thankful about it having been involved as recipients and end users.
Benefits are not only about monthly or periodic income but also in the form of a program of empowerment that goes around to every place in the interest of everyone.
It could also be in the form of very high-quality Infrastructural developments, which pave the way for finding the opportunity to do good business and earn a genuine standard of living.
Let us be frank and straightforward, to tell ourselves the home truth now about how people can benefit from a system, or a regime in one way or the other and directly or indirectly.
For an instance, when Jesus Christ came to the world many people benefited from him in his first Advent on earth, and still benefitting from him today from heaven above directly and indirectly.
Some use his name to rob Peter to pay Paul and get on with life as if they are free to do anything they like in benefitting from sacrilegious behaviours indirectly.
So many people in the world have used the name of Jesus Christ and amassed wealth, built mansions, kept a fleet of cars, bought private jets and exploited the human race in truth and falsehood in one way or the other under suspicion and indirectly.
When the first civilian regime headed by Governor Sam. O. Egwu was in power, a good number of people who are well to do till today benefited from the system, directly or indirectly and in one way or the other.
In the same vein when Governor Martin N. Elechi was in power, many persons also benefited from his regime in one way or the other and directly or directly.
Likewise in Governor Umahi's regime, a mammoth crowd of people benefited from him, and still benefit a lot of good things in one way or another other directly or indirectly.
There are only a few factors that make the whole affairs differ in terms of the benefits, such as the regime in power, the period of reign and what they offered.
Other factors are the state of the economy, the condition of things, the type of investments, the method of applications and the proper use of initiatives.
Other following factors are the wisdom in it, the level of benevolence and the number of beneficiaries, with the length and breadth of outreach to the masses.
Other areas are the channelling of resources and benefits with the height of prudence in effect, or the discipline evolved by the particular government.
In the first place of the period of such benefits, the investments explain what could be available, especially at the time of allotting the resources of development amongst the end users in their localities.
Then the second place of the benefits is where the state of the economy determines the distribution of development packages and the sharing formula to reach out to the beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries may increase in number, depending on the health of the economy and how much was mapped out for the development projects at such a time.
The third place that deals with the condition of things explain the happenings around, as per the rate of market inflation and the financial purchasing power at that moment.
This is an area which could affect the value of money that is available to drive home, both the liquid and solid investment projects with all the benefits to the necessary beneficiaries.
The fourth place which deals with the type of investments is equally talking about things like empowerment programs, for the benefit of everyone directly or indirectly and in one way or the other around the beneficiaries.
This is like the adage that says; "If one finger is dipped into oil, the oil will spill to the others" and in effect touching the rest generally.
The fifth one is all about the method that could be applied in the distribution of the benefits, such as the Infrastructures that facilitate the widespread development projects or programs, which will eventually open up employment avenues.
The sixth place deals with the use of initiative and the wisdom that guides the investor, who is ever ready to go on investing in the right direction in all the areas of development, for the benefit of the entire humanity.
The sixth place is where the regime of Governor Umahi has no rival, with the excellent way he handled the development projects and programs of the government, for the benefit of the masses across the board.
Taking a cursory look at the level of benevolence and the number of beneficiaries, it is important to note that in every system of government, there is no way everyone will agree that they have gotten enough.
This means that the lack of knowledge in people has left a vacuum in the correct approach there, seeing that they are quite unaware of the very general sense of benefitting from a system of government either directly or indirectly.
The vacuum is pointing at sheer ignorance, about gaining from the development projects and programs of a regime directly or indirectly and in one way or the other.
They fail to understand that every development project and program of government could touch every length and breadth of the surrounding society.
For some instances, if you are a political appointee and earning a living, your inmates and your extended relations, friends and other people are beneficiaries in one way or the other.
Furthermore, if you are a worker either in the civil, or public service sectors and earning a living, likewise every person around you in one way or the other is benefitting from it.
And if you are a business fellow and transact it at home or abroad, earning a living in whichever place you are or go, there are general benefits from your undertakings with the partners who are involved.
There's no place where a government or a regime does not exist and operate, of which nothing is benefited without an ongoing system dispensing the economic functions of human society generally.
Therefore, the issue of saying that one doesn't benefit from a system doesn't exist, because nothing goes for nothing in a general situation of transaction and relationship, between the people and the government of the day.
I mean that If you are still alive working or doing business and earning a living, you are also benefiting from a system in one way or the other and directly or indirectly from a source in the care of a regime in existence.
My prayer is that the good people of Ebonyi State should learn, know and understand the difference, between a direct and an indirect way of benefitting from a particular system of government of the day.
To God is the glory forever.
Lawrence Egede is our Guest Writer and Phoenix Public Affairs Analyst.
