Dear Uncle Ebele,
Good afternoon your Excellency, congratulations on your appointment as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I know you may not necessarily remember me, probably because we have never met, but I voted for you and Yar’adua way back in 2007. But I have some things I’ll like to say to you frankly, if you’ll permit me. I’m not a political sycophant, neither am I a staunch critic of your administration; I’m just a Nigerian youth eager to be successful and hopefully at some point give back to my country and fatherland all the best that I’ve got to give.
Well this isn’t an autobiography of me, so I’ll quickly get down to the reason for writing you this letter. I was very pleased when during your swearing-in speech, you promised to relate more often with the youths with a view to sharing ideas with them on socio-economic and political values best for
Nigeria, saying that “as part of my contribution to this debate I will set up a Facebook account that will focus primarily on the exchange of ideas"
Well, I was thrilled for a while. But pleasing thoughts soon fade away to harsh realities on ground, and questions such as, “Who cares the youths ranting on Facebook?”, “Will the President read the comments?”, “Will they be acted upon in Federal Executive Council Meeting?” I later watched to see the sincerity of my President in accepting “the exchange of ideas”, in his selection of Ministers and his team of advisors and special assistants but all I can see is a recycle bin of old politicians and sycophants looking after their interests more than that of the general citizenry.
Now I can understand that, being a President for the first time and more importantly a South-South President has its own pressures and challenges you’ll be facing thus needing experienced hands to advise and guide matters of state. Yet I must warn, look at how far these old recycled tired brains have brought Nigeria. In the final analysis you can’t solve new problems with old knowledge.
I think our youths ought to be given a chance to contribute meaningfully to society and let posterity be the judge of we “restive youths”, as the mainstream media likes to describe us these days. I do believe that now more than ever, the Nigerian political elite needs to be proven wrong on two counts, first count is the fact that a South-South governor who has never contested for an election could become the President of Africa’s most populous and arguably richest country. And secondly that we youths, who are generally reputed to be “restive and hot-headed people”, can actually lead today and not tomorrow unlike what the Minna-born General believes.
Everybody has their opinions of the Nigerian youth, and likes to classify us in broad general statistics of being “unruly and ungovernable”, yet they often describe us as the “leaders of tomorrow”. Well, Mr. President our tomorrow starts now! We deserve to be given a chance in certain sectors such as Ministry of Tourism, National Sports Commission, Ministry of Youth Development and other similar government agencies where new creative ideas are needed now more than ever before! I’ve refused to be another dreadful statistic of all that’s wrong with Nigeria and I vehemently reject mediocrity and embrace excellence, I know many other youths who have this same passion as I do, and we need to be given a chance.
In case you have been too busy to notice,but you’re now popularly touted as being God-sent and Heaven chosen to rule as a result of the series of events that led to your coronation as President, I’m neither consenting nor contesting this view. But all I can say is the man Goodluck Ebere Jonathan after his tenure as President will be judged objectively by what difference he made while he ruled not how many billions of naira he gave his sycophants and friends. But what he could accomplished while in power. I suggest you get started now, and get your hands dirty, begin building a Federal University in Bayelsa State and bringing dividends of democracy to the South-South who are proclaiming you as a “Child of Destiny”. I know you’ve decided to tackle power head-on and have recently signed a nuclear power deal with the United States as well as purchased a nuclear reactor in order to bring much needed power supply to this darkness, more grease to your elbows.
On a final note, dear Mr. President please don’t be tempted to continue with the 7 Point agenda of your predecessor even if it seems like the logical thing to do according to your advisors so you’re not blamed for non-delivery if you set your own agenda as time is too short to deliver on any promises before the elections. I believe on the other hand that the seven point agenda of the late President Musa Yar’adua is too broad without a working blueprint towards achieving in. It lacks adequate scenario planning and shows nothing of a key understanding of majority of Nigerian’s of scale of preference for the accomplishment of these points democratically. Abraham Maslow was on point when he outlined man’s physiological needs. My suggestion would be you adopt a 3 pronged approach namely- ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT AND MASS COMPULSORY EDUCATION. The rest of the needs of the nation will fall in place. Everyone knows Nigerians are strong, resolute and creative people. Give us energy and we’ll find a way to do the rest. Right now we’re groping in the dark, everyone knows it’s easier and better to study, work or play with lights on than do so at night-time with only a candle or lantern.
As a parting piece of advice, please do bother to use up some of your time in reading daily newspapers or watching Channels television or AIT, checking your Facebook account and attending open discussions on Moments with Mo or other similar television platforms. This will make you more able to feel the pulse and make your decisions in sync with the growing pains of our young democracy nation. A wise man once said, “Youth is foolish because it is quick to believe”. Well frankly you are our Obama and we believe in you, do not let us down!
My regards to Auntie Patience, tell her I’m still waiting to be invited for dinner at the State House to discuss her much awaited pet-project, I have some wonderful ideas for her. I await your response soon.
Yours Faithfully,
Anichebe Ebuka
Managing Director
Jean-Paul and Associates Consultancy
ebuka@jeanpaulconsult.com
