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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong (1242 Views)
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This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by manchester1: 7:24am On Mar 14, 2016 |
Dear President Buhari,
It is with a deep sense of humility that I write to convey to
you my sincere feelings on the state of affairs in our
nation and my home State, Akwa Ibom. I am doing so as
an ardent supporter who devoted his time; risked his
safety; staked his integrity and passionately and
vociferously defended your candidacy during the 2015
presidential election in defiance of the strong campaign of
calumny mounted against you by those who never
wanted you to be the President and Commander-in-Chief
of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
If I had any other practicable and convenient channel of
communicating with you, I would have graciously
explored it. Accept my sincere apologies if you are
discomfited by my resort to public engagement through
this open letter.
During the electioneering campaigns, you went round the
country and vigorously propagated the message of
change and solicited the support and votes of the
Nigerian people with a solemn undertaking that our
precarious situation will be ameliorated upon your
assumption of office. I was persuaded by your promises.
Majority of Nigerians went to the polls on March 28, 2015
and overwhelmingly elected you as the president of
Nigeria because you promised change.
The slogan was ‘Sai Buhari’.
For once, I found dignity in my Nigerian citizenship. Many
Nigerians, myself inclusive, kept vigil to monitor closely
the events and controversies at the National Collation
Centre. We were willing and prepared to march on the
streets and defend your mandate if the Godsday
Orubebes’ of this world had suceeded in truncating the
final collation of results.
I shed tears of joy when the then Chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.
Attahiru Jega, declared you the winner of that fiercely
contested election. It was a marvellous and glorious
experience. The feeling was simply indescribable. Upon
your declaration, you proceeded to the National
Secretariat of your party, the All Progressives Congress
(APC) where you addressed a world press conference and
reiterated your mantra of change. That night, I slept like a
little baby because I felt that a responsible, incorruptible
and courageous leader had finally emerged in Nigeria in
my lifetime to lead our country out of the precipice.
My dear President, ten months after your historic
assumption of office, it has become increasingly tedious
to defend the change we proudly supported and voted for.
The hitherto much taunted “body language of the
president” seems to have evaporated.
It is true that the corruption infested Goodluck Jonathan’s
regime and those before him had greatly destroyed,
vandalised and polluted our country. It is also true that
you met Nigeria in a terrible state. We are not unmindful
of the myriad of challenges your administration is facing:
from financial constraints due largely to low prices of
crude oil at the international market; security problems
orchestrated by the Boko Haram sect, the rampaging
Fulani herdsmen and the very delicate agitation by the
Pro-Biafran movement, etc. Nobody is expecting you to
perform miracles or “turn things around overnight” as
erroneously suggested by some of your aides.
The fact of the matter is that responsibility is the hallmark
of leadership. What was the change gospel about if
things were to remain the same? Yes you have a four
year mandate. But ten months is enough time to resolve
certain pressing and critical issues in the country and set
a very precise and clear direction for the nation. There
are problems that only require a firm presidential directive
to solve but which has been neglected.
Mr President, just in case you are oblivious of the cost of
fuel across the country, may I report to you that contrary
to the pronouncement of your administration, fuel is not
being sold for eighty six naira (N86) per liter. As at
Sunday the 13th of March, 2016 when I wrote this open
letter, I bought fuel at N125 per liter. In some places, it is
much costlier than that. Does it mean that the federal
government is incapable of keeping to its promises and
enforcing policy decisions? It is not enough for the
government to give excuses, the issue is that people are
suffering because of the sheer incompetence of
government.
If there is one problem that we expected the change
government to address with vigour, it is the issue of
epileptic power supply in the country. Before your
election, our power generation was over 4000 megawatts.
Data from Nigeria Electricity System Operator (NESO)
showed that by 9.48am on Wednesday, 9th March, 2016
power generation was 1,580.6MW, with the Ikeja Electric
getting 237.09MW; Abuja, 181.77MW; Eko, 173.87MW;
Benin, 142.25MW; and Enugu, 142.25MW. Others are
Ibadan, 205.48MW; Jos, 86.93MW; Kano, 126.45MW;
Kaduna, 126.45MW; Port Harcourt, 102.74MW; and Yola,
55.32MW. See the Punch Newspaper report of Thursday,
10th March, 2016.
Despite this terrible power situation, the Minister Power,
Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN and the
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) have
gone ahead to implement a new electricity tariff regime.
In other words, while the administration is insisting that
the old tariff regime is not “commercially viable and
sustainable”, the reality on the ground is that Nigerians
are being made to pay higher for darkness by a
government that promised change.
Under your watch, commercial banks in the country are
still carrying out illegal and unjustifiable deductions of
funds belonging to their customers. Banks are still
collecting inexplicable and offensive charges.
Telecommunication service providers are still holding
their subscribers to ransom in various ways. The Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC) have respectively failed to stop this
unwholesome practices. The Nigeria Police Force is still
perpetuating extra-judicial killings and extortion.
Before your ascension to the presidency, a dollar sold for
about N150. Currently a dollar goes for between 250 to
N370 at the forex market. While the present depreciation
in currency value may not be peculiar to Nigeria, the
attendant effects on the economy and the well-being of
Nigerians are self-evident and require no elucidation. The
government has clearly not done enough to address this
anomalous situation.
By Section 14 (2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) The security and
welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of
government” (sic). Although incessant killing and
massacre of people of various communities across the
country by the well armed Fulani herdsmen predated your
administration, there is reasonable basis to say that they
are now more daring and emboldened than what we
witnessed in the past.
The recent killings in Agatu community of Benue State
adds credence to the view that the herdsmen seems to
enjoy immunity from the Nigerian State. The federal
government so far has not demonstrated serious
commitment to end the bloodbath and bring the culprits
to justice. While I commend the feats recorded by the
federal government and the security agencies in its
ongoing onslaught against Boko Haram, it is
unfathomable that innocent Nigerians are being killed and
slaughtered in Rivers State simply because of their
political persuasion.
During the reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
membership of the opposition party was treasonous
especially in the South South region. That was the reason
why a State like Akwa Ibom during the Godswill Akpabio
dictatorship witnessed unprecedented murder(s) and
kidnapping of opposition figures and critics.
It is therefore very saddening that even under the Buhari/
APC-led federal government, the conscientious people of
my State (Akwa Ibom) who risked their lives championing
Buhari’s message of change are still being haunted,
humiliated and intimidated by Godswill Akpabio and his
army. The case of Akwa Ibom is just so pathetic. The
people were denied their constitutional right to freely
exercise their franchise both at the March 28 presidential
election and the April 11, 2015 governorship election.
The European Union, the American Embassy in Nigeria
and the Nigerian Civil Society Election Situation Room all
returned a unanimous verdict that the Akwa Ibom
elections was a total sham which should not be allowed to
stand. Even the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian
Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in their
separate reports discredited the make-believe
gubernatorial election. Several lives were lost. One of
victims of that State sponsored terror, a 22 year old Mr
Federick Richard Okon, from Mbierebe Akpawat village in
Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom
State was only buried recently on Wednesday, 9th March,
2016.
Till date, no one has been prosecuted for the killings and
violence that marred the Akwa Ibom elections.
Justifiably aggrieved by the outcome of that fraudulent
election and in line with the advice of local and
international observers, Mr Umana Okon Umana, the APC
gubernatorial candidate, filed a petition at the Election
Tribunal seeking a cancellation of the so-called election
and presented over 350 documentary evidence and called
52 witnesses. The Tribunal partly agreed with him and
nullified the election in eighteen (18) out of the thirty one
(31) Local Government Areas of the State.
On their part, the Court of Appeal in a well considered
judgment nullified the entire election and berated the
Tribunal for ignoring the unchallenged evidence of over
voting based on both the Card Reader and the Voters
Register and the evidence that there was no collation of
results which were never contested nor countered by the
PDP and the other Respondents. On further appeal by the
PDP, the Supreme Court did not only reverse the
judgment of the Court of Appeal but also set aside the
partial nullification of election by the Tribunal.
On the day of the final judgment, Akpabio stormed the
Supreme Court in fanfare some minutes before the Chief
Justice of Nigeria and other Justices of the seven man
panel returned from break to deliver their verdict in
company of retinue of aides and supporters. The moment
Akpabio entered the Supreme Court, movement of people
were restricted by security men at the Court. His conduct
inside the Supreme Court gave the impression that he
merely came for celebration. Several reports in the media
quoted him as declaring just before the judgment that it
was “all over”.
Mr President, where were you when all this was going on?
Sir, I do not know of any president in the world who came
to power on the platform of an opposition political party
that has totally undermined and destroyed the party that
brought him to power the way you have done.
Respectfully Sir, you seem to operate under the illusion
that for you to effect change in the country, you must
abdicate from partisan politics.
In the name of non interference, you have allowed very
bad people to assume underserved leadership positions
through undemocratic means. Your seeming nonchalant
attitude has emboldened predators to infiltrate and
compromise critical institutions of state and organs of
government at the peril of justice, national cohesion and
development.
Least I forget, without consulting with anyone, you came
to Akwa Ibom State and picked an ally of Godswill
Akpabio and a card carrying member of the PDP, Senator
Udo Udoma, as the ministerial nominee to represent the
State in the Federal Executive Council. Respectfully Sir,
that singular decision was/is a spite on the conscientious
people of the State who supported and are still supporting
you in the hope that you will protect them from the
oppressive tendencies of Godswill Akpabio and his
proteges. You may need to watch the video clip on
YouTube showing how Akwa Ibom people reacted in Uyo
the capital to your victory at the election. It speaks
volume of the expectations of Akwa Ibom people.
Mr Udo Udoma is today reaping where he did not sow.
Here is one very self-centered and egoistic politician from
Akwa Ibom that does not have any affection for his
people. He only cares about his selfish interest and that
of his elitist cronies in the PDP. Udo Udoma has failed in
his first critical assignment as Minister of Budget and
National Planning given the recent budget imbroglio.
As if that was not enough humiliation for Akwa Ibom
people, you sacked the Managing Director of the Niger
Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Dan Abia,
who merely occupied the slot of Akwa Ibom State and
replaced him with Mrs. Ibim Semenitari from Rivers State.
Frankly, I have no problem with the removal of Mr Abia
for whatever misconduct he may have committed.
However, by the provisions of Sections 3 and 12 of the
Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment,
etc) Act 2000, the position of Managing Director of the
NDDC is statutorily rotated every four years among the
oil producing States. That has been the practice.
Therefore, any replacement for Mr Abia, whether in an
Acting or substantive capacity, should have come from
Akwa Ibom State until the expiration of the State’s tenure.
Simply put, Akwa Ibom has been cheated. It amounts to
robbing Peter to pay Paul. Even if the growing support of
Akwa Ibom people for your administration means nothing
to you, the State should be given her rightful place in
federal appointments and citing of projects being the
highest oil producing State in the federation.
My beloved president, you suffered from fraudulent
elections on three previous occasions before Nigerians
finally elected you in 2015. You fought up to the Supreme
Court of Nigeria in 2003 and 2007. In 2011, you declined
seeking remedy in court having lost faith in the nation’s
judicial process. But your party, the defunct Congress for
Progressive Change (CPC), went to Court and fought up
to the Supreme Court and lost.
Experience they say is the best teacher. Even if you were
to fail in every other aspect of governance, it should
certainly not be in the restoration of the sanctity of the
electoral process. You also have a historic responsibility
to champion revolutionary changes in the Judiciary.
It is not defensible for you to sit back and say that you
“will not interfere” when you have not effected a system
or mechanism that stops other people from interfering
with the judicial and electoral process. Nobody is asking
you to help rig elections or inflence court judgments. All
we are saying is that nobody should be able to do what
the president himself has refused to do. Leaving people
who staked their lives supporting you at the mercy of
electoral predators is sinful and wicked. You have left the
weak and vulnerable in Akwa Ibom State at the mercy of
Godswill Akpabio and his army.
Sir, the current Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon
Arase, is an ally of Godswill Akpabio having served in
Akwa Ibom State during Akpabio’s regime as
Commissioner of Police at a time politically motivated
killings and other crimes were rife. That was why he
instituted frivolous criminal charges against a lawyer, Mr
Leo Ekpenyong, who has written series of petitions to the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
against Akpabio. The EFCC till date has refused to act on
those petitions. What then is the war against corruption
about when people like Akpabio are allowed to walk freely
and infiltrate critical institutions and organs of
government in the country? Is Mr Solomon Arase not one
of the saboteurs in your government?
Sir, without the support of the Democrats, President
Obama would not have recorded his achievements in the
United States of America in the last seven years of his
presidency. The Republicans rarely give him a chance.
The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, has
succeeded because he has the support of the
Conservative Party both in parliament and in the country.
This explains why both leaders are very interested in the
affairs of their parties.
Obama is currently backing Hillary Clinton for the White
House because he knows that if the Republicans win the
November 8, 2016 presidential election, many of his
landmark reforms like the ObamaCare will be truncated.
Since you came to power, your party the APC has
recorded more defeats than victories. The APC is today
fighting a cold war with itself. There are various camps:
the Tinubu camp; Atiku camp; Saraki camp; your own
camp and so on. Few days ago, it was Tinubu’s daughter
who led market women to protest at the APC Secretariat
in Abuja. Across the States, members of your party feel
abandoned. Even though I do not belong to the APC, I
believe that what goes on in the ruling party will ultimately
affect the entire country. If there was responsible
leadership in the PDP, Nigeria will not be where it is
today. The division and leadership failure in the PDP
culminated in the defeat of Goodluck Jonathan at the
polls.
Looking at the National Assembly today, one can clearly
see the signature of your bad politics and error in
judgment in the name of “non interference”. If you had
appreciated the fact that the composition of the
leadership of the National Assembly will affect your
administration, Senator Bukola Saraki would not have
been the Senate President today. As long as the status
quo remains, you will continue to face embarrassment
and resistance from the National Assembly.
As a final postscript, permit me to say that the faith of the
Nigerian people in your administration is eroding at a
worrisome level. This is the hard fact that Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, Mr Femi Adesina, Mallam Garba Shehu and
other image managers of your administration may not tell
you. You may need curtail your oversea trips if that will
make you to fully appreciate the true situation of things in
the country.
This “change” is killing us and the time to truly change
things in the country is now.
I sincerely want you to succeed and may you succeed.
May God give you the insight and the courage to do what
is right for our nation.
Thank you.
Your loyal subject,
Inibehe Effiong (Esq.).
Legal Practitioner and Convener, Coalition of Human
Rights Defenders (COHRD).
inibehe.effiong@gmail.com Cc: seun 1 Share
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Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by Luckylife(m): 7:43am On Mar 14, 2016 |
what you sowed is what you are reaping, if you like cry me a river . Why wailing when you are not a member ? The rate zombies stylishly wail surprise the spirit. Those of you that thought they voted for their messiah are in for a shock. You can teach a old dog a new skills but with prayers miracle can happen. 2 Likes |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by 247notire(m): 8:16am On Mar 14, 2016 |
Too long though I managed to read it all. Good morning Mr OP |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by TGreat7(m): 8:29am On Mar 14, 2016 |
What we are witnessing in APC is "things fall apart, the center cannot hold." They spoke doom to the last regime and theirs will be worse. karma don catch them. Yeye dey smell. smh. |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by pamellla(f): 8:58am On Mar 14, 2016 |
eeyah....Pele o....shebi na una want CHANGE una just start....una never c anything |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by SycophanticGoat: 9:07am On Mar 14, 2016 |
pamellla: Babe! Are we fighting/quarrelling? |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by dtruth3(m): 9:41am On Mar 14, 2016 |
I managed to read through, the only word I have for the writer is... SORRY . |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by pamellla(f): 12:06pm On Mar 14, 2016 |
SycophanticGoat: haba....not at all o. what's wrong? |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by SycophanticGoat: 1:20pm On Mar 14, 2016 |
pamellla: Cuz you've been ignoring my mentions since last decade na.. |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by pamellla(f): 3:01pm On Mar 14, 2016 |
SycophanticGoat:oh....am sorry hun accept my apology |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by SycophanticGoat: 3:11pm On Mar 14, 2016 |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by pamellla(f): 7:08pm On Mar 14, 2016 |
SycophanticGoat:sure! |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by SycophanticGoat: 7:45pm On Mar 14, 2016 |
pamellla: Do follow back then... |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by oyinkinola: 8:46pm On Mar 14, 2016 |
....op, if the looter and effect of looting is not killing you then, RIP! |
Re: This CHANGE Is Killing Us: Open Letter To President Buhari By Inibehe Effiong by pamellla(f): 12:49am On Mar 15, 2016 |
SycophanticGoat:aii |
(1) (Reply)
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