Dear Mr. President,
I hope my letter finds you well. I am constraint to reach you through this medium Mr. President, this is my first letter to you as the leader of the most populous Black Nation in the world. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate you once again on your 2023 Presidential election victory and your subsequent election as Chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Mr. President, Nigeria is still a work in progress. Nation- building is done in the form of laying building blocks. Except the foundation is solid the structure would not stand strong. You only add to what others have done. The previous administrations have done what they can. It is now your turn to make history by continuity, change and implementing enduring reforms.
Mr President, your election and your Renewed Hope 8-Points Agenda gives hope to Nigerians. However, the political and economic environment in Nigeria have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic that slowed economic growth globally, Naira re-design policy, 2023 election expenses and the removal of fuel subsidy. The last decision ultimately worsens the living conditions of Nigerians. My letter is set to address three lingering issues in Nigeria the economy, insecurity and political stability.
According to World Poverty Clock (2023) over 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor. Additionally, the World Bank (2024) reported that 85 million Nigerians lack access to electricity. The NBS data reveals that more than 33% of unemployment rate indicates an unhealthy economy. All these indicate a time bomb that will explode with the worsening living conditions of Nigerians.
Mr. President, the economy is the bedrock of any national development. As a leader, you must choose between dogmatic ideology against welfare of your people. The 1999 Constitution stated that "security and welfare of the people" is the primary function of government. However, we observed that the subsidy removal is right ideologically. Unfortunately, practically subsidy removal is an economic disaster because subsidy is the life-wire of the masses welfare.
Hence, you must choose between pleasing World Bank, IMF and World Trade Organization to the welfare and happiness of Nigerians. Nigeria must choose between ideology against deaths and misery. None of the developed countries have used neoliberal policies for development. The Asian Tigers; Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan never adopted removal of subsidy as pre-condition for their national development.
A quick look at Asian Dragons and Lions; Japan, China and India the story is the same. The mighty America and United Kingdom never did that too to develop. Why must Third World be deceived by neoliberal ideology champion by Unholy Trinity be allowed to killed millions and has the potential to even topple the political system.
The economy needs injection not panadol to resuscitate. The panadol is for minor headache while the injection to quickly safe life. Macro economic policies and actions have to be taken. The new minimum wage should be top priority, palliatives for workers, and release of food handouts, release of grants for small and medium enterprises to galvanize the informal economy.
Secondly, the security problem in Nigeria has many dimensions. It all started with militants, insurgency, separatist agitations, kidnappers, bandits and farmers-herders conflicts. The exacerbation of insecurity is linked to poverty and regional political struggles. If poverty is addressed the head of the security problem is cut-off. The body in terms of regional politics can be solved by good governance.
The emerging challenge is the formation of civil-security guards in many states of the federation. The constitution does not permit state police but insecurity has forced the state governors to form what they can use for security provisioning. Nigeria is restructuring by force under your watch and administration. This trend will continue unless insecurity is addressed holistically.
Thirdly, political stability. The poverty, hunger and starvation are unbearable. a famous teacher and philosopher Aristotle said: "Poverty is the parent of all revolutions and crime" If your administration cannot urgently provide solution to food inflation, food unavailability and security and hunger the political system God forbid will collapse. It is a seed for political violence. The coups and counter coups all started from this. Any protest Nigeria now will not be contained. We have witnessed the #EndSARS. Nigerians will do so with their blood. The masses will eat the rich particularly government officials. The writing on the wall is clear. Nigeria never had it like that before.
My Dear President, my submission and prayers for policy implementation includes; functional oil refineries even for domestic fuel consumption, re-introduction of Federal Mass Transit Scheme for inter-state travels, De-dollarization of the economy for a given period of time; no payment of air tickets, school fees and other services in Dollars, immediate implementation of minimum wage, continuation of social investment programmes, agricultural revolution, reduction in the cost of governance and the political will to fight corruption. This is because with transparency and accountability the outcome will be undesirable.
Finally, in the security sector a declaration/presidential order be given to service chiefs to bring an end to banditry and kidnapping in 3 months subject to review from success, failures and lessons of the operations.
Mr President, I would like to end by commending you of not interfering with the judicial process at the Supreme Court on the 2023 governorship election cases and your policy towards reduction of size of Presidential and first Lady's entourage to cut cost of governance.
My special regards to the First Lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu and the entire family.
Long live Mr. President,
God bless, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Isa Mohammed, writes from Taraba State University, Jalingo. 10th February, 2024.
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