By Polycarp Gbaja
1. President Tinubu, Sir, speak directly to Nigerians. No Federal Minister, Service Chief, spokesperson or organization should speak on your behalf, this time.
2. You could, within 48 hours, address the issues on security, economy, restructuring and corruption, also listed into various numerous points variously, by different entities or groups, on the media. Nigerians are peace-loving people, who simply want to survive and thrive. They have sadly not been very fortunate with their political leaders/elites.
3. Without threats or blames, please take full responsibility for the Nigeria situation and announce your plans, with clear and defined timelines of execution.
4. Sir, beyond a speech, you could announce and take immediate measures now, then subsequent ones in stages – short, medium and long terms. Replace all critical officers of your team, especially those inherited from the previous, grossly failed regime or appointed as political rewardees, with the most competent hands, who could decisively turn around the country from the current sordid mess.
5. Nigeria’s problems may not be resolved in a week, month or year, but clear measures can be taken to reverse current trends and brazen critical failures of security and the economy, exponential multilevel poverty and hunger, astronomical national debts, extreme corruption and disunity of its peoples, polarised more than ever before.
6. This is the President’s call, not anyone else’s. Whether or not a protest happens, these measures could well determine outcomes.
7. The so-called ‘mercenaries’ announced as ‘detected’ by the IG, are non other than the same known terrorists from the Sahel and within, who have viciously invaded, decimated and occupied our indigenous communities with blatant impunity. Their back-ups are the teeming masses in ungoverned areas, who have been serially neglected, traumatised, denied basic attention, justice, education and opportunity perpetually.
8. Our security agencies, the military and police know very well, who they and their sponsors are. Their rank and file personnel, who have consistently proved capability when invested in and provided for, are among the least catered for or motivated, unfortunately. The terrorists and bandits can and should be neutralised, so that our farmers and fellow citizens could return to the farms and communities to feed the country again and lead productive lives.
9. Mr President, take a bold step, with sound counsel from able advisers, that would restructure and unite the country into a workable polity of good Governance and stewardship, justice, equity, rule of law and best practices.
10. The present crisis presents you with a golden opportunity to correct our self-inflicted dysfunctions and failures.
You can rise to it, or waste it, Mr President.
May God help you to do and lead us right, at this critical moment.
● Gbaja, a reverend gentleman and commentator on public affairs lives in Abuja and sent this via WhatsApp.
