Open letter to the President-elect

However some observations are in order. One of the most regularly heard criticisms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is that its “old wine in a new bottle” a Party populated by former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) bigwigs and yesterday’s men. In order to cement the mantra of “change” its vital for you to surround […]

However some observations are in order. One of the most regularly heard criticisms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is that its “old wine in a new bottle” a Party populated by former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) bigwigs and yesterday’s men. In order to cement the mantra of “change” its vital for you to surround yourself new faces which represent a different calibre of individuals from those formerly in government. The “garage boy” behaviour of former Federal Minister “Elder” Godsday Orubebe during the election results collation amply illustrates the poor character and the low intellect of those who strolled through the corridors of power under PDP. Although old people tend as a habit to stick with what they are used to and don’t often experiment, your supporters will be extremely disappointed if you form a government of  “former”, “ex” and “retired” office holders who before decamping to APC got us into this mess in the first place. It could be political suicide. The case of Edo State is instructive.
Governor Comrade Oshiomhole chose to give most key appointments to former PDP leaders who had “decamped” to APC. Later they were induced back to PDP and “re-camped” as is their habit. Ever since then APC in the State has been in crisis. There are too many Nigerians who have never held political office and possess the ability to carry out national assignments diligently and honestly to be overly concerned with those who have held office before. Since 1999 our political space has been restricted by PDP’s game of musical chairs in which political office holders simply swap positions with each other. Nigerians have indicated clearly that they are tired of the PDP and certainly don’t want to see them back under the guise of APC. Not you, Party Chairman Chief Odigie-Oyegun, or Party Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was ever in the PDP, which is why your Party represents change. One of the main reasons President Jonathan lost his re-election bid was the quality of advice he received. Presidents who surround themselves with sycophants are bound to fail no matter how good their intentions. He was too trusting of the cabal that cocooned him and hid the corruption, deprivation and unjustifiable poverty prevalent under his watch. His inability to control those around him was reflected in the conceit and undiplomatic language of presidential spokespersons.
The duo of Doyin Okukpe and Reuben Abati haughtily relished every opportunity to heap insults on the Nigerian people. Their utterances and those of “Mama Peace” alienated the Nigerian public far more than anything President Jonathan himself said. Moderation, compassion, empathy and a respect for alternative opinion were in short supply and they even had the effrontery to say that Nigerians who wanted change were suffering from “sophisticated ignorance”. They know better now. It will serve your government well if those who speak on your behalf possess sufficient restraint, civility of tongue and command of the English language to refrain from using offensive language. Professor Attahiru Jega’s handling of Orubebe’s irresponsible outburst demonstrated quite brilliantly the art of rebuking an individual and making him look extremely foolish without using coarse or insulting language. Successful presidents are those who eventually win over the support of citizens who didn’t vote for them in the first place. The election results indicate clearly that the APC has problems in the South-East.
The PDP continuously dangled the carrot of a second Niger Bridge at Onitsha yet despite being symbolically “launched” and “commissioned” several times; no serious construction work has ever been done. It’s difficult to understand why this strategic infrastructure hasn’t been built after all these years. If your administration was to actually complete the project it will go a long way to building bridges both figuratively and physically, while establishing the APC as the party of change in the South-East. In the South-South those who supported your ambition were vilified for not backing their “brother”. Truthfully most of the votes you received were protest votes against the visionless, inept, incompetent, and corrupt governance of PDP, rather than support for an as yet to be well articulated APC program for change. If your administration fails to make marked improvements in the lives of citizens you may rest assured that this protest vote will surely resurface in 2019. On a final note you have made several references to your incoming government being committed to the rule of law. Nigerians crave a government that ends extortion of money by police at stations and on our highways, and ensures our security agencies respect human rights. Nigerians yearn for a government that obeys Court orders and pays judgments debts. This is especially true in the case of the Police and Army who continuously refuse to compensate those whose rights they have been found guilty of infringing. As far as the anti-corruption war is concerned the nation hopes you can keep to your pledge that “there must be consequences for actions”.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) isn’t a debt collecting agency and should concentrate on jailing the corrupt rather than recovering funds. If your administration can achieve these feats and give us constant electricity supply then truly change would have come to Nigeria.