Dear President Muhammadu Buhari,
How are you doing, sir? I hope you’re still in luck with the universe? Are you aware of the goings-on in your country? Are you really aware of the economic, political and social atmosphere in the country you’re said to be the first citizen of? To say that your government is the best of how a government shouldn’t be is to say the least. How can you call what you are giving Nigerians an administration? Isn’t it shameful that smaller African countries like Rwanda and Namibia are making global achievements while the one under your watch is globally known for two things: insecurity and hunger? Are you not ashamed? If no, doesn’t it bother you that you’re not?
There’s nothing good to tell about your administration. Not a single good story. Although sycophants are singing your praises on a daily, but that’s what they remain, sycophants. And I still wonder how they sleep at night after dancing their daily dance of shame, beating your name on their drums of lies and deceit. But the good story remains that not everyone dances alongside them. Obviously, it will amount to a terrible show of stupidity and also irrational if I should dance and applaud your government for delivering the otherwise of good governance for the last four years. I have not seen any concrete achievement recorded by your government. If I am a teacher and I have you as my student, I would rather grade you 5/100. The 5 marks will be awarded to you based on the pen and paper you wasted in the evaluation process. Your performance over time is abysmally below average and doesn’t deserve appreciation of any kind. In fact, you deserve to be flogged and quarantined for exacerbating the incurable disease of hunger, frustration and hopelessness that have become a part of the sorrowful narrative in Nigeria.
Sir, sometimes, I wonder if your team of technocrats usually take time to appraise the policy direction of your government. I doubt if they do. If actually such exist, I think by now you should have overhauled your entire cabinet, and sacked some of the bad eggs that hawk lies, corruption, terror, ethnic and religious bigotry in your cabinet. But unfortunately, you are a bigger signature of ethnic and religious bigotry which has somewhat made you a major accomplice to the several political fraud cooked and served to Nigerians by your government. So, how can you sack these criminals? Never! Presidents have come and gone in Nigeria but your era seems to have thrown the final spanner in the works. You have humiliated and spat on the face of frustrated and hungry millions of Nigerians without your conscience pricking you for a minute. What manner of man are you?
Sir, I was highly dismayed over your display of sheer hypocrisy when I stumbled unto a headline on the vanguard newspaper of 14th May 2019. The headline reads, “Nigeria’s poverty level upsets me”. That is another annoying and unforgivable ruse you are verily attempting to market to individuals who do not understand the convoluted nature of your rogue government. You are not upset for any reason. Stop pretending to be upset because if truly you are, by now, you should have made a concerted effort to arrest this looming disaster. Nevertheless, you are happy and comfortable with the present level of poverty and hunger that have rendered Nigerians hopeless and confused.
The ancient and draconian economic policies of your government have created a harsh economic environment for investors. Genuine investors who were coordinating the small scale industries in Nigeria before your emergence have been kicked out of business, therefore frustrating and shattering the economic live wire of millions of families who rely on their loved ones who work in these industries for survival. Jonathan’s government laid a solid foundation which should have served as a launch pad for your government but out of mediocrity and ethnic sheepishness, his legacy was angrily excavated and disposed in the dustbin. Enough has not been done by your government to navigate the economy of the nation to the path of progress and development. You have continually remain to muzzle and dismantle potent economy structures left behind by your predecessors.
Before your coming, Jonathan and his economic team fought unemployment and poverty with result oriented economic programs like SURE-P and YOUWIN. These high powered programs empowered millions of youths and also activated the Spirit of entrepreneurship among young and vibrant Nigerians. Talents were discovered and harvested and many angry youths were taken off the street. Not only taking them off the street, they were also empowered with skills. Making them veritable tools for economic development.
Sir, are you aware that Nigeria has overtaken India as the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty, with an estimated 87 million Nigerians, or around half of the country’s population, are believed to be living on less than $1.90 a day. I still doubt if you are aware that more than 9 million Nigerians have lost their jobs under your economic supervision. I am asking if you are aware because it has become a custom for you to feign ignorance of happenings around you even when you are the one orchestrating it. Nigerians are hungry and angry. If you don’t know, you are sitting on a keg of a gunpowder. It’s either you retreat or re-navigate this political ship to the right direction. If you attempt to resist these options, the hurricane exodus that is building up will sweep everybody into oblivion.
The corruption you came to fight has become the road map of your government. Many crooks masquerading in your government have been accused of looting the state coffers, but much has not been done to prosecute these erring officials. How can corruption fight against corruption? I will not be mincing words if I should say that what transpired in 2015 was more of a moderate corruption handing over political baton to a hydra headed corruption.
Sir, stop lying to yourself that you are upset over the poverty level in Nigeria. You don’t talk and act like one who is worried and upset over the miserable hunger and poverty that is tearing Nigerians apart. The truth might sound so bitter to your government that thrive on careless propaganda, but it must be told. You are part of the problem that is breeding this demeaning poverty in Nigeria.
In conclusion sir, I will encourage your government to stop making caricature of good governance. Nigerians have finally embraced the incontrovertible fact that APC, as the ruling party, lacks foresight, and too insensitive to the plight of the people. I wonder why the millions of jobs you said your government created suddenly developed legs and disappeared into thin air. And if Nigeria has attained sufficiency in rice production, why is a bag of rice being sold at the market price of 18,000 naira?
Propaganda upon propaganda! If really you are sincerely upset over the poverty level in Nigeria, then, declare a state of emergency in all levels of the economy. Arrest and prosecute every looter no matter the person’s political and religious affiliation. Brigade approach has proven to be the wrong approach in eliminating the cankerworm called poverty in Nigeria. Stop saying you are upset because it is more of a deluded and untruthful statement. The economic policies of your government are aiding and abetting poverty in Nigeria.
Accept my letter with utmost respect.
Kalu Nwokoro Idika
Kalu Nwokoro Idika is a political analyst and freelance journalist
Email:[email protected]