Dear Zahra Buhari!!! Please Help The Youths Deliver This Message To Your Father (Must Read)

Before the 2015 general election, the truth is that the Nigerian youth had a passive view on things regarding Nigerian politics and governance, which is evident by the sheer lack of involvement in young persons in the political scene.

But as the elections drew near, both leading political parties – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) – who were in a titanic battle of outwitting each other brought their dirty linen to the current-day social media. It is my belief that to the best of their knowledge, it was all part of the politicking process; they just needed to sway the people to their sides. But unknown to them they were making the youths more aware of stuff that had been hitherto “hidden.”

Soon enough, the elections came and went and the eyes of the youths had opened. They became very interested in what was going on in the corridors of power. In a bid to out-do each other, both sides of the political divide had embarked on mudslinging campaigns, with the APC hinging their propaganda on the basis of high-level corruption alleged to have been rampant in the Goodluck Jonathan administration. They also lampooned Jonathan over his inability to curb the threat of Boko Haram insurgency. On the other hand, the PDP went about reminding Nigerians of the years of Muhammadu Buhari’s days as military dictator, of the alleged corruption of those like Bola Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi and others, who made his election possible.

This, in my opinion was the wrong way to introduce politics to the current day Nigerian youth. In order for the leaders of tomorrow (haha, yeah right) to get a healthy idea of what politics should be like, a policy-based campaign would have done a whole world of good to the next generation of leaders (haha, yeah right).

Anyway, the election has produced winners and losers. It’s time for the real business of governance and President Buhari needs to step up to the plate and begin to deliver on the APC campaign promises as it seems to me he does not know the magnitude of expectations Nigerians have for him and his government.

Since I strongly doubt that the president operates his social media accounts by himself, I want to use this medium to inform Zahra Buhari, his most popular daughter what the average youth of this country expects from her father.

 

THE ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR

After the election, when Buhari and the APC were harping about the corruption in Jonathan’s government, the then president-elect made certain utterances which he has definitely negated on several occasions. One of such utterances came when he said that his anti-corruption crusade would be focused primarily on those who siphon public funds AFTER May 29, when he must have assumed office,but we have since noticed that he has gone against this and is embarking on what may be termed witch-hunting of perceived political foes which is evident from the number of PDP persons and others in the Jonathan government who have been hounded since the aforementioned date.

People like former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; the former Chief Security Officer to Jonathan, Gordon Obuah; former PDP governors from Jigawa, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom just to mention a few. On the other hand, those in the APC camp who have been serially accused of corruption like Amaechi, Tinubu, Kwakwanso, El-Rufai and a ship-load of others who ought to face the same music are being rewarded with government appointments.

In any case, let it be known that I am not affiliated to any political party and might never be until idealism is entrenched in the country’s political terrain.

That said, Zahra should tell her father that the average Nigerian youth cares less about how much has been stolen in the past. We don’t want to know. We want Buhari to begin the business of governance in earnest. It has been more than 4 months since he assumed office and we are yet to see any policy statement or intent from the new government. The supposed corrupt officials are being tried at more cost when we are looking at ways to cut government expenditure. These litigations would take forever before a verdict is ever reached (if ever verdicts would be reached). Zahra should tell Buhari that we want to see him working, not pretending to work. There’s no need hounding some former governors while others are being made ministers. It makes no sense. It is a mockery of his inauguration statement: I BELONG TO NOBODY. Clearly the President and shown that he belongs to somebody.

Even within the APC, the only person who has been “probed” is the Senate President, Bukola Saraki,
who is being tried over allegations that are about 12 years old! And this came after he dared the party and emerged as Senate President. Am I missing something or did Buhari not say only stuff that happened after May 29. This is called selective justice, which is a far cry from the expectation of the average Nigerian youth, who is beginning to view the whole anti-corruption parade as a charade which is aimed at those who are not in the President/APC good books.

Zahra, please tell Buhari to leave corrupt people to enjoy their loot if he is not willing to probe his former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo, his military successor, Ibrahim Babangida and others who have been widely blamed for the country’s predicament.

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS

When he was campaigning to be President, Buhari promised the youths a lot of things, including involvement in governance. I, for one did not believe a word of this no matter how many times it was repeated.

On December 24, 2014, I was invited to Oriental Hotel where Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the then Vice-presidential hopeful was to speak to a select audience of influential youth leaders. When quizzed on if the youths would have a part to play in their government if they win the election, the lawyer replied “of course.” He went on to brag that a large number of his staff were young people, adding that as a former university lecturer, he is in tune with what the youths can bring to the table as regards governance .

Months down the line and the President’s ministerial list has emerged with the youngest person being a 48-year old. The ever active social media sought to know why no youth was considered in the selection to which Osinbajo replied that the youths need to sit up as no worthy youth was found capable of filling any portfolio