By Gbade Akanbi.
Dear sirs,
As a Nigerian in diaspora, I have been watching the manner in which you Mr President have been running the affairs of Nigeria and I strongly feel that you need to make a true change before you enter the black book of Nigerians if not already.
Before you got voted into the office of the President, many Nigerians including myself held the belief that you were going to run the office with sincerity, firmness, clear direction, purpose – driven, and corrupt – free attitude.
Unfortunately, these expectations are fast fading away, not because the country is too difficult to govern but more because of the attitude on your par,t sir.
For example, your attitude concerning the destructive activities of the Fulani herdsmen has not demonstrated commitment to dealing with the problem at all. Given that you recently ordered the IGP to relocate to Benue state, I wonder what that would really achieve. Again, did the IGP relocate to the South East because of the Biafran agitation? He did not, and yet there is some relative calm there. Why? Because you were determined to crush IPOB agitation. Sir, Why can’t you demonstrate the same determination regarding the Fulani herdsmen?
Secondly, you recently fired the SFG and NIA Director. Both of them were Christians but you replaced one from the south with a Muslim, effectively and consistently skewing in a grossly imbalanced and scary manner the composition of the defence and security apparatus of the country.
For the benefit of doubt, the Chiefs of the Army, Air Force are northern Muslims; the Chief of Defence Staff (more or less, a ceremonial office) and Chief of Naval Staff are southern Christians. Your National Security Adviser, Police Inspector-General, and State Security Services are all northern Muslims. In addition, the head of the Defence Intelligence Agency is a northern Muslim. Mr. President, in a delicately-balanced Nigeria of almost equal number of Christians and Muslims, does this make sense to you in a democracy? Is this your own colour of CHANGE?
Looking through your appointments, there is a lot of lopsidedness with a disproportionate number of northerners and Muslims having a much larger percentage. Why does this have to be Mr President? Isn’t Nigeria a multicultural and multi religious entity?
Thirdly, talking about economic growth and development, what are the things that this administration has accomplished? There has not been any improvement in electricity supply, infrastructural development and the economic environment. Some of the projects you are commissioning were started by the previous administration
Hummmm.
Let’s talk about the fight against corruption. What has this administration achieved in this area? How much has been realized? How many people have been prosecuted apart from your political enemies? Despite the nationwide complaints against some of your appointees like a chief of staff in the Villa, the AGF, and the operators of the oil and gas industry, nothing has been done to bring sanity. Sir, it appears as if you are shielding certain people from prosecution or disciplinary action.
Your style of operation is much closer to the military style as opposed to the Democratic system we are supposed to be running. Sir, you have refused to give room for a healthy discussion on the issue of restructuring the country. I don’t know what you are afraid of, sir? Even if restructuring will not carry the day (which is unlikely), at least let there be a proper deliberation and referendum. If you do this, you will go a long way in being one president who treaded where others were afraid of.
Lastly, a word especially for Mr Vice President. It is obvious that the Vice President is not demonstrating enough courage and objectivity in relating with Mr President. He is just playing to the gallery at Aso Rock and denying the obvious. Your defense of Mr President when he takes a wrong decision rather than advise him against such is doing harm to both of you, sir. Nigerians are not fools, please. You need to be bold to tell the truth to the president no matter what, more so as a minister of Jesus Christ. You are not doing enough to implore the president to act against the forces attacking the Christians in northern Nigeria as well as the lopsided appointments.
Let it be known to you, sir, that you have been raised up for such a time like this but if you fail to act, God will raise help for His people from another quarter. God bless you both.
●●Akanbi is a Nigerian post-graduate student in India.