Daniel Okwufulueze|1 October 2017
Reading the President's speech, I see we've made some progress. Commendable!
Having said that, we still have much to accomplish, like ensuring the monies given to states and local governments are used for their intended purposes. For God's sake, how are states still owing salaries after receiving ₦1.642 trillion for salaries and pensions in three years besides monthly allocation? Just how?
True, I may not have the full picture, but the governors need to clear the air.
Breezing through the issue of restructuring, describing it as "quite proper in a legitimate debate", without any assurance on whether the issue will ever be given any serious attention, gives the impression that the call for restructuring is just another philosophical preoccupation. This, Mr. President, is not correct. The call for restructuring deals with a very serious concern that affects the very foundation of our nationhood. Indeed, ignoring this call has fuelled the recent calls for secession by different groups.
In the Independence Anniversary speech, we're well reminded that our president was a soldier who fought "from the beginning to the end in our tragic civil war", calling present-day secession agitators "hot-headed youths" who are ignorant of "the consequences of such folly".
Well, Mr. President, you could do better by addressing the core reasons why some youths have become so dissatisfied and "hot-headed" rather than reminding them of your past military experiences. Remember, they're young, and like you said "hot-headed". How do you think "hot-headed youths" would take any perceived threat from an elderly man, especially threats with military undertones?
Rather than appear to be saying "guys, remember I was a warrior, ask your fathers what we did to people like you", you can address their grievances and provide quality leadership that will make them drop every form of secessionist ideas like a plague.
And a call for self-determination is not "folly" Mr. President.
While I commend the Federal Government for the results they've achieved so far, I must point out that passively mentioning "herdsmen/farmers violence" alongside armed-robbery, kidnapping, and other vices, suggests that the AK-47-wielding Fulani herdsmen are just criminals in hiding. This is not only false, it is also responsible for the wholesale feeling that the government is biased towards the murdering herdsmen. The Fulani herdsmen are not in hiding. For example, the Interim National Secretary of Gan Allah Fulani Association justified the Agatu massacre, telling us that their attack on the Agatu people was well deserved. Really shocking, but true! [https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/200426-exclusive-struck-agatu-fulani-herdsmen.html]
Government should begin calling a spade a spade and stop acting like it has a favourite group or tribe.
The President’s call for “dialogue with stakeholders in the Niger Delta to keep the peace” is highly commendable. Dialogue achieves efficiently what violent suppression can’t.
On the call for us to shun corruption at all levels, I say “awesome exhortation!”
May we continue to do our best to leave this world, our country, in particular, a better place than we met it.
Daniel Okwufulueze
Software Engineer/Developer
