Popular comedian, Francis Agoda aka I Go Dye has urged President Muhammadu Buhari against seeking re-election in 2019.
He said the call had become necessary as “political recycling” of old leaders had rendered the youths without “good life,quality education,freedom,justice, sustainable means of livelihood and above all, the freedom to leadership.”
I Go Dye urged Buhari to leave the mantle of leadership to the young generation while the ovation is loudest.
The comedian’s letter comes a few days after former President Olusegun Obasanjo had also released an explosive statement in which he called on Buhari not to seek reelection.
Read I Go Dye’s open letter below:
“A passionate appeal to Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, not to contest the 2019 Presidential elections and a clarion call to all traditional leaders, ex-presidents, diplomatic communities, elder statesmen, professional bodies, entertainers and Nigerian youths to lay their voices to end political recycling, because a future bequeathed to Nigerian youths today, will be the best legacy.
Sir, with profound respect to your personality do I write this letter.
Sir, with profound respect to your personality do I write you this letter.
Please allow me the privilege to politely take you through some of the best moments of your life as a youth.
I have questioned my fears when I looked back at our history, as a people and the many opportunities that has been denied the youths of my generation. The youths of today are grieving every day, because so much has been taken away from them.
They have been denied the right to good life, quality education, freedom, justice, sustainable means of livelihood and above all, the freedom to leadership.
These opportunities were given in the past, remarkably many great Nigerians including your humble self, enjoyed the very best from our great country. How come my generation has been short changed and left in dissolution and uncertainty?
We all have our different birth dates, yours was in 1942. You joined the Nigerian Army at the age of 19 in 1961. Just three years in military service, Nigerian government sent you and a few others to commonwealth military academy training at Aldershot in England, between 1962- 1963, a testimony of how government cared and protected the youths at that time.
At 22 years you were already the platoon commander of the second infantry Battalion. Thereafter, at the age of 25years you were among the few soldiers that were involved in the counter- coup of 1966, which included your colleagues in service, Abacha – 23 years, IBB – 25 years and the oldest was Danjuma – 28 years, and a host of others. At youthful age.
In 1975, at 33 years, you were already the Governor of North Eastern State. While in 1976 at 34 years, you were appointed as the Minister of Petroleum. Meanwhile, two years later, in 1979, I was born into this world, the story has been the same old story. When e go better?
In 1983, at the age of 41 years as a sign of displeasure with the Shehu Shagari-led civil government, you conquered your fears and risked your life to overthrow the democratic structure at that time, at this young age 41 you became the Head of State. Today you are 75years old, and president of Nigeria, nothing can be found to still be missing, apart from the fact that the youths have not been protected even in your administration.
As highlighted then, most of the issues facing the country is still killing the ordinary Nigerians today -no electricity, no food, no shelter, no employment and many other social problems. Let me recall, previously I wrote you a letter titled: Logic and Reasons without Guns. I spoke on some issues affecting us as a people. If we don’t change our political process, sooner than later, the youths will demand for it. I just pray it’s not too late. Sir, I am not against your political ambition, neither am I opposing your interest but I am of the view that it’s better to leave the stage when the ovation is loud.
Honestly speaking, there is nothing new for you to conquer; the only sacrifice that will bring more honour to your personality is for you to lead the process of advancing and transferring political leadership to the youths.
The best gift that you can obviously give to my generation is to activate and set the process of ending the long and over-due political recycling that has denied the youths their rightful place in our political history as a nation.
Today, some people are already clamouring that you should continue in power. They have a right to their opinions, but I feel we all owe this nation the truth at all times.
Since you became president, life has taught many of us that the circumstances of life are unforeseeable. It will be honourable to become an elder statesman at this time of your life. Most of those instigating this continuation are doing it mostly for their selfish interest, because of what they are gaining or stand to gain if you remain in power. Do they really care about what you will be remembered for?
Sir, once again, nature has presented to you an opportunity to live as our new generation hero and many young Nigerians are waiting, for you to have compassion for the youths by lending them the privileges to define who governs them and stop the recycling that has kept us captives.”