OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU GCFR

18th July, 2023
HIS EXCELLENCY,
Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
President and Commander in-Chief
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Presidential Villa,
Asokoro,
Federal Capital Territory
Abuja.

My Dearest Mr. President,

WE ARE ALL NOW POORER

MR. PRESIDENT MUST STEP UP OR LOSE GOODWILL.
#OCCUPYNIGERIA IS POSSIBLE

I convey the earnest greetings of the good people of Nigeria and particularly Ondo State to you, sir. It is important to state that since your election and eventually swearing-in, as the 16th President, C-n-C of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria, my hope had remained high. Indeed, the emblem of a Hope once promised us in 1993, where one of your mentors overwhelmingly, won the elections, but by abracadabra, a new lexicon was introduced to our polity – “Annulment of Election”.

Mr. President, it is no gainsaying in the advent of the HOPE ’93 saga, Nigerians protested. Lives were lost, hopes dashed, the future bleaked, and Nigerians saw perdition, persecution became the order of the day. Yourself included, got persecuted. In the process you lost valuables in cash, kind and irreplaceable forms. Many had rather die than remained silent in the face of the glaring provocation and shortchange of our nascent democracy. Democracy died that day, in the heart of many.

Yet, exactly three decades (30 years), that hope surfaced again. This time, it was believed to be “A Renewed” one. Recal, that many had noted that the Hope ’93 administration would have potentially ushered Nigeria to greatness. For this, the immortal MKO is dearly missed. Who wouldn’t risk his life for a “Renewed Hope? Who wouldn’t die for this genuine course? The sound of victory echoed. Once more, the people can win. It re-echoed, the aged long yoruba adage, “iran meta ki to shi”. The supposed people’s victory didn’t come without a cost. PMS attack, Naira Scarcity and hoarding, depression, economic sabotage, insecurity, fear, and terror was unleashed on the people. The Nigeria Armageddon was averted, not without a cost by the people. Some paid with the ultimate price, buildings burnt, dehumanization, and people utterly depressed in the streets. The army of the people overcame. We thought we had overthrown the disdainful cabal and brought in the people’s government. Mr. President, sir, we wish it remains so.

The frustration in the land is now enormous, non quantifiable, however not unquenchable. You must quench this fire now, your excellency, else it burns more than you can imagine and produce “Homeless and Hopeless Nigerians”.

I like to draw your attention, sir, that 2014, less than a decade ago. We bought PMS for #65 naira. 10 litres was #650 naira. That implies it was 10 times cheaper than what it used to be today. A quick econometrics shows that, there has been little or no reasonable change in the cause of economic viability of our nation or even in the purse of the average Nigerian (common man, the downtrodden, the oppressed, the wretched of the earth, ‘awa omo ogun, leyin yin’). Maybe only the ruling class, less we say, the rich also cry. By this development, sir, it only implies that we have all become 10 times poorer, considering the above barometer.

Dear President and Commander in Chief. Some of us gave our all to see to your emergence. Maybe your party or proxy, or the elites who prides in, we have control of the people, may have lied they gave resources to people or perhaps that you mobilize this class of people. Otherwise, we, the common Nigerians NEVER, (emphasis) were NEVER financially mobilized, but this largest percentage of Nigerian stood their grounds against all odds to deliver the presidency to you.

If your political family said they did this or that, consider it as “Balablu, bulubla, bulaba…”

Now that Mr. President knows this election was free and fair from financial inducement on the people. And that they overwhelmingly supported you for a better Nigeria; should we now enter the mood of gross suffering or the sacrilegious pontification of “Renewed Shege”?

I have been chastised by some friends and associates who are of the opinion that I am obsessed with Tinubu and can find no fault. I have defended this view, with facts and my yearning for a better Nigeria, which I found in you.

I had told them my Lagos story, growing up to feel government presence. The resilience of your unwavering and proactive spirit. How you navigated the economy of Lagos despite the “Great Tribulations” artificially created by the then first man, Chief Olusegun Kikiowo Aremu Obasanjo.

If a governor can skillfully outwit the President and Commander in Chief, with the enormous powers in that office, such person must have been a genius. So, if we want that greatness in Nigeria, this genius must be employed to do the job and craft his lofty dreams. Setting Nigeria among the comity of nations in the world map/geopolitical powers.

Now, Mr. President, sir, where is our hope? Whether Renewed or otherwise. You need to act faster than your legs can lead you, Sir. It needs to be faster than the speed of lightening. Even more so, more imaginable than the mind can imagine to rescue the situation, less you lose the entire goodwill of the masses. It is more than rough. It is unacceptable. The people are in agony and your footsoldiers who took pride in their generalissimo are subject of ridicule/caricature. Some of us are now about to be shamed for the gospel we swore with our lives is the true way.

WAY FORWARD LEST THE CENTRE FALLS APART

Your excellency has admitted that there is no room for excuses, that you requested, and applied for the job and got it. Therefore, you must work it out. We are grateful for this sense of understanding. It therefore bemoans on us that some of the policies of the president and proposed actions must be halted. With commitment to a general course that will save hunger, starvation, pain, hoplessness, helplessness, fury, and depression in the land.

Mr. President should commit to solving these rising cost of fuel/standard of living.

Federal government and state governments, since both are beneficiaries of the subsidy removal, should engage in the purchase of vehicles of mass transit first within State and Secondly inter states to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal. Make it affordable for the masses. The rich and top echelon can go on with their luxury or join us. Afterall, in many of the advanced world, Prime Ministers ride on bicycle, some on public transit and other economical means.

The federal government must invest heavily, with immediate effect to set our old refineries in working conditions.

Mr. President must pay attention to the regulatory agencies to see where saboteurs are making their next move.

The government understanding that PMS affects the common man and our economy generally must open up for private sectors or countries of interest to refine crude oil in our country. We must BAN THE IMPORTATION of PMS and its other components.

Payment in Naira for our crude oil, should be immediately implemented. We saw the impact on how it sustained the Russian economy in the brutal face of western sanctions.

Operation Zero tolerance to insecurity.

Operation Zero tolerance to further devaluation of the naira and many other IMF repugnant policies.

We can not borrow to pay palliative of 8k, it is ridiculous. More so, another means for looting of our treasury. Cronies of few powerful and rich individuals are the beneficiaries. Don’t be deceived Mr. President sir. Rather, engage in massive investment in infrastructure and other social amenities. Nigerians are not lazy to beg for crumbs. We want feasible development. Please don’t betray you lieutenants, lest we cry, “WE CANNOT FIGHT UNDER A TREACHEROUS GENERAL”.

Both federal and state governments must declare a state of emergency on our road networks, to the rural villages.

It is appreciated, the current declaration on food security. It must be backed with prudent action and executed to the latter.

An increase in wages does not amount to increase in standard of living.

Mr. President must immediately set up his cabinet members with assigned goals to meet up with in their various ministries.

Capitalist ventures such as telecommunications companies, Utilities such as TV subscriptions, and many others essentials in the day to day life of the common man must be reviewed and regulated.

When will Mr. President seek to get taxes from these giant tech companies; Twitter, Facebook, titok, Instagram and many more.

We must seek our task collection is such ways, that doesn’t put too much pressure on the poor. Like you have opined, “LET THE POOR BREATHE”.

The list is endless your excellency, but let us feel the start of the impact of your administration from here, sir.

It is my belief that the interest of the people will come first against any parochial interest from within and outside.

Lastly sir, do not listen to the “Conscienceless Powers, overriding powerless conscience”

Please accept the assurance of my esteemed regards my president, our president, the last man standing.

Signed:

Ojo Bright I. ENIAFE,
writes from a place of conscience and good will and can be reached via ojobrightidemudia@yahoo.com