AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT

Ephraim Adiele argues that the APC has failed to fulfil its electoral promises

Dear Sir,

Ihave not been a fan of you as Nigeria’s president since you emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014 because I have done proper ground research.

My first draft of this open letter was quite lengthy. After writing for a while (about 1200 words) I stopped and realised I was ranting, then I realised I did not really need to analyse how bad your administration has been because Nigerians are feeling it and do not need an article reminding them of their very sorry condition.

Then I remembered that fateful day – December 24, 2014 - when I was invited to Oriental Hotel, Lagos as part of a number of young leaders of thought to come and have audience with your then-Vice-Presidential aspirant, Yemi Osinbajo. On that day, we were given the APC manifesto which I went through and laughed heartily because I realised that you and your party members really take Nigerians for fools (well, aren’t we?) by making promises that can never be fulfilled even in the next 20 years except a miraculous revolution occurs.

After I was handed the manifesto, I went through it and underlined several of those phantom promises which I knew will never be fulfilled. I will just list them here and probably just make a few additions later.

THE APC promises the following:

“Within the first year of your administration, employ 740,000 (20,000 per state + FCT) young graduates in immediate employment and empowerment scheme.” - This promise was never fulfilled and this is already the third year and no signs of this ever happening.

- “After NYSC, we will pay graduates stipends for one year under a vocational scheme where they build entrepreneurial and work-readiness capacity.” – NYSC alumni… how market?

- “Create an additional middle class of at least four million new homeowners” – Please when and where is the next landlord meeting holding? I have to attend.

- “Provide free meals in school to drastically reduce the number of out of school children. Osun State provides free lunches and got its enrolment to 80%” – This was APC using Governor Rauf Aregbesola as an example! I’m stunned!

‘GENERATE, TRANSMIT AND DISTRIBUTE ELECTRICITY ON A 24 HOUR BASIS … BY 2019’ – I WILL BORROW THE WORDS OF MR PRESIDENT HIMSELF WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS FRIEND, OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, ‘WHERE IS THE POWER?’

- “Targeting up to 20% of our annual budget for education.” – By my last check, only 7% of the 2018 budget was allocated for education.

- “Ban medical trips for government officials” - Yes, you read right! Buhari promised to ban medical trips to abroad for government officials.

- “Tuition reimbursement for health workers willing to relocate to rural areas” – I know many of my friends in the medical field who would dive at this offer if ever it is made, but what do I know? “Buhari has fulfilled his campaign promises”

- “In different phases over four years, APC will make monthly direct cash transfer of N5,000 to the 25 million poorest citizens, if they immunise their children and enrol them in school” – Dear Mr President, I strongly believe I am among the 25 million poorest Nigerians and my children are immunised and in school, where can I join the queue to collect my N5k?

- “Generate, transmit and distribute electricity on a 24 hour basis … by 2019” – I will borrow the words of Mr President himself when he was talking about his friend, Olusegun Obasanjo, “Where is the power?”

- “Will guarantee the independence of EFCC and ICPC” – The same EFCC whose chairman was spotted wearing a Buhari re-election badge during a recent interview with Channels TV? Issokay!!!

In summary, a good look at the APC manifesto shows that the Presidency has failed woefully as regards fulfilment of its promises to Nigerians.

Aside the aforementioned, it is pertinent to note the following anomalies which have assumed order of the day since the President took oath of office.

- Incessant killing of innocent villagers by herdsmen (Fulani or not), people are being killed and nothing is being done about it! Benue, Taraba, Plateau… name it!

Just before the election, I used to have discussions with my friends and they were all of the opinion that you were the saviour Nigeria badly needed. I used to laugh and tell them you will do exactly what you have been doing and are still doing.

I would like to go on, but the point is clear, you proved no point to me, except that which I already knew before you won the 2015 election: You have no business being the President of Nigeria. I like you, but I don’t like you as the president of this country.

Adiele is a Media and Digital Marketing Specialist