From afar, I bring to you warm greetings. I quickly want to use this moment to specially congratulate you on the successful inauguration and ascension to the glorious and exalted office of the Presidency.
Your election victory serves as an inspiration to all; most especially to the young and aspiring youth. It is reassuring that if only you can conceive and believe in a dream, you can achieve it. It does remind me of a slogan common amongst the campus community of the ever prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University- "if we don't try, we shall fail; if we try ,new might win".
Many accolades have since greeted your inauguration speech which holds the record as the shortest inauguration speech every by an elected Nigerian President.
I shall not condemn the speech in its entirety but I must say as a Nigerian I am highly disappointed. The speech was not only watery but was devoid of any standard expected of a party candidate from whom much is expected.
It is not enough to put up a stern face devoid of any form of Joy. Many had stayed glued to their television screens not to admire your well starched garment or the face of your very beautiful wife. Nigerians had expected a more robust speech, garnished with words of hope,hitting and addressing topical issues with well articulated plans; stating quite precisely what policy directions your government is headed.
During the electioneering seasons, your party had made fathom promises to the Nigerian people. Over 2 million Nigerian graduate youths without job placement expected you to give them hope of a better future. Unpaid workers need a reassurance their salaries would be paid as at when due. The Small and medium scale industry players needed to hear you tell all how you plan to revitalise the power sector. That poor farmer in Agenebode needed you to reassure him that never again would corruption return to the fertiliser scheme for farmers. Nigerians needed to know your plans on subsidy removal on petroleum products. Above all, we needed to hear your plans on how your government plans to steer us towards an economy beyond oil.
Are we expected to adopt the 7 point agenda of your party- the APC?
1. Creating 740,000 (20,000 per state + FCT) jobs within the first one year.
2. After NYSC, graduates will be paid stipends for 1year under a vocational scheme where they are to be trained on entrepreneurial and work readiness.
3. Provide universal basic health care with #500 annual contribution per family in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). APC Government pays the balance
4. Provide 1 meal a day for children in public primary schools
5. Make monthly direct cash transfer of #5000 to the 25 million poorest and most vulnerable citizens,nor they immunise children and enrol them in school.
6. Generate, transmit and distribute electricity on a 24/7 basis whilst simultaneously ensuring the development of sustainable renewable energy by 2019.
7. Embark on a National infrastructural development programme as a PPP that will (a) ensure 5000km of superhighway including service trunks and (b.) building of up 6800km of modern railway completed by 2019.
Even to a new born child these are spiritual dreams in these times and seasons. Demola Olarewaju best described these dreams as phantasmagoria aspirations. We understand these are the usual electioneering promises wrapped up with sweet nice phrases. My friend, Morawo Seuns' facebook post explained your condition then- " the best player is the spectator. He can score 100 goals in a single football match, converting every attempt into a goal, and even non-attempts". There is the need for you to address the Nation, publicly apologising to the people and making it known to them the true state of things and why you may not be able to fulfil the fathom promises made some months back.
Mr President, it is not enough to neglect your guest to fulfil your religious rights. It is also important that you condemn the terrorist acts and condole the families affected by the attacks which happened whilst you feast though refusing to laugh to the jokes from Akpororo.
It's more than 24 hrs now since you took your oath. Please Sir, appoint a spokesman at least. You are a very lucky President. No one has threatened to make your government ungovernable at least. Please do the needful.
We are happy you belong to no one but everybody. We hope to breath some fresh air in the nearest future.
Welcome to the throne Sir.
OGHAGHARE, ESE FREEMAN
Environmental Consultant, Public Health Specialist,
Publisher, Political commentator.
@eseblogger
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