AN OPEN LETTER TO GENERAL MAHAMADU BUHARI-BEWARE OF THE HARZADOUS
Dear General,
My name is Frederick Olatunde Awote, former Personal Assistant to Alhaji L K Jakande, one of the finest, reliable and credible politicians in Nigeria. I am currently based in the UK. I am going to be simple and straight forward in my writing but the letter is going to be long. If you have no time to read through, your Vice, Prof Osinbajo should be able to do so. I am one of your adamant supporters not only now but for a long time. The masses are supporting you not because you are in APC but because of your credibility. Sir, we are not begging you to be President but it is your choice. We have always had reluctant president. Shagari was persuaded to be one, Obasanjo was asked to be one after leaving prison, Yar’Adua was recruited by Obasanjo, Jonathan was brought in to protect the loots of the past leaders. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Azikuwe, Chief M K O Abiola prepared to be President but the enemies of our nation denied them. It is not too late now to tell Nigerians if you are not prepared. We only want prepared president now because of our enormous problems.
I am writing you to remind you of the gigantic problems of Nigeria which you have promised to tackle. It is under estimation to say that ours is a hazardous nation. As you are aware, an average Nigerian knows the problems facing the nation, even most people can analyse and provide solutions. The problems facing the nation today are many than when you were Military Head of State. I remembered I have just completed my Masters degree and returned to Nigeria from the UK when you took over power in 1983. The problems then were child play to the one today. There is no area that is not sick presently, from education, health, agriculture, custom and excise, immigration, commerce, roads, police, security, army, export, petroleum, mining, politics, judiciary, prison, aviation, religion, even driving on our roads. Our nation is at the point of collapse. As I touch on some of these problems, I will suggest the way forward or if you like solutions. The only thing that is triumphing today is corruption. There is one thing that we have though, God given abundant resources. Our nation is blessed; for example, just throw a seed of pawpaw, mango in the near bush, before you know it they have germinated. Our bitumen in Ondo State has not been touched, gold and coal has been neglected. We have the natural resources, land and human population.
The problems we are having today are not only leadership problem but bad followers. Our society is rotten. Nigerians have ethical problem despite our devotion to religions. What you need to do on this is to declare ethical revolution, similar to your War against Indiscipline. When we were in Primary School, we were taught Civic as a subject, where we learnt about what a good citizens should do. This was stopped and nothing replaced it. What we worship today is money. You must carry Nigerians along and let them know why we all need new orientation and direction. Our image as a nation has been damaged and dented all over the world. Part of the ethical revolution must be for people to be contented with what they have. We must stop worshipping money. The Home training must be at the centre. Majority of young people today did not see Nigeria when things work and were not aware of your achievements when in charge as Military Head of State. Nigeria needs new direction. You must engage Nigerians in governance. You need to know sir that Nigerians are very intelligent, hard working, and can compete anywhere in the world but our orientation and eager to acquire wealth at all costs are second to none. Our past and present leaders are aware of our problems; most of them have the ability to provide solutions but lack will and determination due to intention to enrich themselves. What we know of you is that you have the will and determination to deal with these problems. That is why we are supporting you.
Mr General Sir, the next the biggest enemy of our development is corruption. This is one of the reasons that we are supporting you. We are aware of your credible track records on corruption, which is rare to get from most past leaders. Corruption in our land is what we notice everywhere, at the airports, ministries, hospitals, courts, schools, military establishments, police stations, road blocks, local councils and even in homes. It is what we complained about daily, condemned, detested, but it is what we live with everyday. It has entered into our bone marrows. The young people think it is a way of life. The leaders induce people to get to power in preparation for looting the treasuries. Parents assist their children to cheat in examinations and bribe lecturers to pass their children. Politicians rig elections and bribe electorates with rice and beans. Corruption is what we talk about daily but is what we live to tolerate and pass on to our children. It is what we complained about but practice as soon as we have the opportunity. How can you describe a leader that stole 200 billion dollars? What does he need that huge money for? Stealing is very convenient for political office holders because they were helped by the people. We live with corruption and dine with corruption. We noticed the impact and incidence of corruption and know the negative aspect of it on our nation but do it positively. We don’t only tolerate it, we hail it, see our leaders who stole and took the stolen money to Western world. We see the looters displaying their loots, buy properties, latest brand of cars, jets yet we are helpless. What will you call the allocation of our oil blocks to individuals? What will you call the allocation of billions of Naira as security votes to the President and Governors without checks and balances? Why the huge allocation of money and resources to legislators for infrastructural development? What is their business in that area? Corruption has made our best talents and best hands left for greener pastures, developing other nations. When we are not part of the government we complain of corruption but once we are there, we celebrate ad entertain it. What will you call a leader that builds billion Naira of private library, built the best university while in office? What of those that uses their position to acquire houses, lands, in Abuja, Lagos, Portharcourt, Kaduna and other prime places? What do you call a leader who allocated oil wells to her wife’s hair dresser and tailor now the richest woman in the world? How about thugs being celebrated, allocated oil blocks and put in charge of security? Do you not think something is wrong with us as individuals, states and nation? Corruption is a cancer that has taken over our nation.
If we want development we must fight and conquer corruption. We must vote for a leader that is free from the illness of corruption. We must set aside our affiliations with political parties, our promotion of ethnicities, religion and selfishness and go for a man of integrity. You have been seen to be corruption free and as of today you are the only presidential candidate who can walk tall and talk to us on how to cure corruption cancer.
Nigerians must be part of the solution to reduce corruption, you will fail if you think you can do it on your own. We must all be determined to tackle hazards of corruption. Each Nigerian must be declared as CORRUPTION ALERT AGENT. There must be corruption alert boxes in all major ministries, offices, airports, police stations and public places. There must be a civil ministry on corruption. We must do it differently. We cannot entrust it to the Police or corruption agents as presently constituted. Nigerians must take over. No one should be spare. The rule of law must prevail. When I was small I remember, we have what we called civil arrest. I remember one of my late cousins told a man that he was under civil arrest and led him to the Police station. In the UK today, Police rely much on information to arrest criminals. Individuals are protected particularly the old people that are the best informants. We must be re-orientated to know how to report crimes. General, you must establish Crime Stoppers as voluntary organisations to handle corruptions. Crime Stoppers must be in every Local Government, States and Federal Territory as voluntary agents under National Crime Stoppers. It must not be business as usual but seriously executed.
In order to develop information gathering and involve Nigerians, the General must change the attitude of Politicians, civil servants and presidency on their attitudes to Nigerians when they write to complain about services. Letters must be replied with follow up steps. It is common practice for people in authorities to ignore letters, complaints and concerns. The public must be made supreme during your tenure. Civil Servants must know that they are working for the people. No politician can steal without the help of Civil Servants, they are the one who knows the loopholes. The irony of it is that no one talk about the contribution of Civil Servants to looting of Treasuries. The General must start from the presidency by replying to letters and enquiries. I wrote to Clinton, Tonny Blaire, Gordon Brown and they all replied me signed personally. People in authorities don’t reply letters in Nigeria. The moment they occupy any position, they think others are fools. It is common practice for Personal Assistants and Sectretaries to dump letters in dust bins or claim public ideas as theirs and use it to impress the boss. I believe this was what happened to the three letters that I wrote to Bola Tinubu, whom I think will not ignore them.
You must be ready to develop social economy through voluntary organisations. This will involve Nigerians to take part in running the affairs of the nation. Volunteers must be encouraged in all areas of our nation, from health, education, housing, road constructions to policing. Development of social economy will create jobs and public participation. Shifting of importance of oil to agriculture will boost our economy and provide jobs. Housing is one of the neglected areas today that I know can create millions of jobs. I worked with L K Jakande and worked in Social Housing in the UK for many years, I know that it is a spin-off area for jobs. Why must we suffer in the land of the plenty? We can dominate the world in agriculture if pursue honestly and with will to do it.
The General must set targets for himself, ministries, governors and council chairmen. He must have one to one with his Ministers and even Governors. Targets must be reviewed periodically. Chief Awolowo set targets for the UPN Governors and that was one of the reasons why they performed well in their states. Free education was declared the first day in Government. I am sure you can still remember how L K Jakande performed even when critics think it cannot be possible. You must be ready to make best use of available resources. You must not rely only on party members or supporters. You must go for the best brains and those who have the will to perform. We have them in abundant. There must put a stop to recycling leaders. These people killed the previous regimes and they are ready to continue. You must beware of praise singers and those who always go for any Government in power.
One thing you must do the first day is to announce the cutting of unnecessary budget in Aso Rock. How can you justify allocation of N545 millions for foods and 2 billion for security votes where millions of people are sleeping under the bridge? How can you justify spending N29 million on each Senator per month in a land where minimum wage is N18,000.00 per month? From the Local Government to State Assemblies it must be part-time and voluntary. It must be made less attractive for thieves. I started as a councillor in Mushin Local Government and our salary was N600.00 per month. Why must we continue with a system that encourage looting of treasuries? Today you need billions to contest for Senatorial position not to talk of Presidency and governorship. It is abnormal. One thing that Babangida, as evil as he later turned to be, done was to shift power to the Political Parties and render money bags useless, promoting equal members.
Sir, the success of your Government will start on the first day and direction of you Government will be known in the first six months. If I were you sir, I will declare state of emergency on corruption on my first day. I will announce establishment of Social Security and start with un-employment benefits for Graduates without jobs. I will launch National Lottery from which I will temporarily fund the Graduate un-employment payment. Within six months Sir, you should ensure changes in supply and distribution of our electricity. I am sure that you are aware that we are one of the biggest nations without national carrier. Our Nigeria Airways was killed by corruption. It is a national disgrace. We have no doubt that you will start of with the establishment of a serious team to rejuvenate our refineries. We are the only large oil producing nation that imports refine oil products. It is more that shameful. This became the practice because of corruption. We know that you can do it as you did it before. You must also declare free and compulsory education from primary to secondary schools and establish more technical colleges. Our education system is almost down and it must be rescued fast. You must quickly set up a team to review the fat pensions and allowance for past Governors, Head of State and Presidents. What we are hearing that they are receiving is enormously high in a developing nation like ours. Same thing should happen to the allowances and payments to legislators. We cannot continue to pay legislators N29 million per month, it is not viable in a nation where the citizens are in abject poverty. The Youth Service must be reviewed and made compulsory. Civic and ethics duties must be emphasised. Voluntary and community duties must be made compulsory. I can’t count how many times that I came out of my car during my service year to assist traffic wardens. Voluntary Services must be re-introduced on our roads. During Prof Wole Shoyinka era, there were voluntary marshals. I remembered I arrested drivers on Ibadan/ Lagos express roads. Volunteers cannot be bribed. You must prune the power of Civil Servants in a way that they are answerable to the public. A form of loans can be provided for those who want to go to Universities. People must be helped to start their own businesses by creating Business Trust Organisations.
Sir, there is one more thing that is bothering me in this country. Politicians and the so call leaders playing the card of tribalism, brainwashing people that Presidency is turn by turn. It has never been pronounced as it was presently. The people of Niger Delta claiming it is their right despite the failure of their son-Jonathan in government. The so called Arewa leaders claiming it is their turn to have the president. I quickly wrote to condemn them, or any group playing the card of region or ethnicity or religion to deceive the people. I said it is the turn of General Buhari because of his ability and credibility and he belongs to all regions and Nigerians not to the Northern oligarchy or power block. Now I want to talk about this turn by turn notion of the North. What development have these people brought to the North to justify how many years they have been in charge of the nation? These people amassed wealth for themselves, families and friends, keeping the masses perpetually poor. Majority of them provides food for the poor masses every Fridays but never assisted them to be economically free. The leaders that we need in the North are credible ones, not the one like Jerry Gana that has been part of the ruling team for the last 30 years without bringing development home. It is any Government in power since the day of MAMSER. You must create enabling environment that will allow Nigerians to live, play politics and represent the community where they live. This was what they did to deny Chief Obafemi Awolowo the opportunity to lead this nation even though they knew he was pragmatic and determined to lead the nation to the Promised Land. Never again should this happen to our serious and determined people.
I have no doubt that once, you face all these problems, drastically reduce corruption, give new positive direction to us, basic things provided, such as enviable education, first class health system, availability of jobs, training, excellent transportation, genuinely low income housing, there will be less urge to live in primitive ways of accumulating wealth for the ‘rainy days’
Sir, I want to tell you that the eyes of the whole world are and will continue to be on you. At the moment you are surrounded with thieves and some of the people that are promoting corruption. More will be queuing to join you. Some of them fled from PDP and some are in APC. We know them. How are you going to deal with them? Sir, in 1984 I wrote to you when Politicians were being tried for corruption practices. I said you should not jail them but bargain with them on how much they have looted. I said if for example one person stole N50 million and that amount was a lot in those days, let him forfeited half of the money to the Government, then allow him to invest the balance in his local government with some checks and balances in place to monitor them. But things are not the same today that cannot be possible in a democratic environment. Today what I will say is to first allow self confess and what they can voluntary return to the people for development. Sir, the money these people has siphoned abroad can pay off our International debt. Anyone not co-operating then can face the music. Throwing them to jail will not yield much result. Sir avoids these public rogues, do not give them any appointment, only appoint non-controversial people and those who are free from epidemic of corruption. Beware of those who will recommend their agents and stooges for appointment. The likes of Fanikayode, Okupe and Abatti can only create more problems for your government. There are thousands of Nigeria over there like Dapo Rotifa, Bello Isiaka, Abebayo Adeneye-Adejuwon, Susan Henshaw, Ayo Turton, Keyamo, Abubakar Alkali and even my very self that loves this nation, not thinking of how to steal but how to make things work once again for our nation.
Above all, we as Nigerians need to join hands with General Buhari in these enormous tasks ahead of us. The journey cannot be easy because things are in critical position. We must join hands to lift our nation up and command world respect. We can lead the world. To those who are bringing in irrelevant things like certificates, religion, ethnicity, age, stop it Nigerians are ready for Buhari leadership. Also those who are promoting Buhari should stop promoting him as Hausa man, Fulani, Northerner, Muslim but as Nigeria candidate and corruption free man for the position of Nigeria President. The campaign train has shown that Nigerian love transparency and credible person. The reception and crowd has shown that Buhari is a man of people. Although he is not a poor man but he has no money to bribe the electorates but relying on his credibility. As Military man, a General for that matter he will tackle the Nation security problem. Buhari is the man, come all out to vote for the man of the moment, vote General Mohammadu Buhari.
Yours sincerely
Frederick Olatunde Awote

The open letter don turn to book letter.sai!!!

Sai Buhari

Seen.

Sai Buhari

donphilopus:
Seen.

I fit bet am bros, u nor read am

stinggy:


I fit bet am bros, u nor read am

Lol... I read am reach road stop o... But me know say the letter was written by a Pro-Buhari!

donphilopus:


Lol... I read am reach road stop o... But me know say the letter was written by a Pro-Buhari!

OP for try embolden the parts wey mak sense jare. Even Pres. Buhari nor go fit read am finish

stinggy:

OP for try embolden the parts wey mak sense jare. Even Pres. Buhari nor go fit read am finish

Lol... Na im make may the guy say if my incoming Presido no fit, make VP kuku assist am....