Mus’ab has been living in Maiduguri for over 20 years. He was raised there, grew up there, and finished his Higher National Diploma there. He never voiced any discontent with the city until recently, when the frequent bangs, booms, and bombs of Boko Haram, and the attacks by the Joint Special Taskforce (JTF) in their attempts to fish out the insurgents, traumatized him. “A war-torn area is no place to stay,” he said.

Mr. President, is this the “fresh air” you promised us on the campaign trail?

Of course, your camp will quickly say a big NO, especially your apologists – the likes of Doyin Okupe and Reuben Abati – who will go to any length to defend you. As you spend your first three years in office, you have commanded your cronies to take to the Nigerian airwaves and grade your mid-term performance (or lack of it).

We hear them say: “This administration has revamped the education sector...”, “The President has fulfilled his promises. He reduced poverty to 46% from 48% and that was a remarkable achievement...”, “The administration has improved the Nigerian economy…” and “clearly, [Nigeria is] gradually but steadily coming out of the cycle of most corrupt countries.”

It’s not that Nigerians don’t love good news; it’s just that this news is not true. Imagine – if these statements were true – what a difference it would make for a male graduate who runs a hairdressing salon in the suburban part of Lagos, to have 24 hours of uninterrupted electricity supply.

Imagine how excited a young girl from Makurdi would be upon hearing that the federal government has reduced her school fees. Picture the world of joy in which a rural inhabitant on the Eastern side of Sokoto would find himself living if he woke up in the morning and saw clean water flowing from the tap in his back yard.

It has always been our simple dream to travel peacefully without fear of been attacked by armed robbers or kidnapped by militants. To hear these presidential dogs say that the country is on the right track is like listening to a jester performing in a public square.

Last year, Transparency International (TI) ranked Nigeria as the fifth most corrupt country in the world. This year, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a sister company of The Economist, reported that Nigeria is one of the worst countries in which to be born because “it can’t provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe, and prosperous life in the years ahead.”

Mr. President, you’re not performing. You haven’t achieved anything worth celebrating. If you look at the major sectors – beginning with power, for example – there is nothing positive to show to the Nigerian populace.

To achieve an uninterrupted power supply, Nigeria needs about 50,000 megawatts, which is enough to operate our houses, allow us to watch our favorite shows, and power our small businesses. We know that you inherited 4,000 MW; how many have you added?

According to a study by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigerian households spend almost N800 billion annually on powering petrol generators. Yet, the President is busy playing politics with tax payers’ money. What is certain is that the electricity supply is damaged and this lack of reliable power destroys companies, causes businesses to go bankrupt, and scares investors away from our shores.

In spite of the fact that the country is endowed with both the natural and human resources to grow crops and provide jobs to the people, poverty has been a major problem in Nigeria.

Last year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that more than 60% of Nigerians were living in “absolute poverty” in 2010. That means more than half the Nigerian population could not spend $1 (USD) a day.

And while poverty has settled comfortably in the Republic, the rate of unemployment is escalating. More than 67 million Nigerians are unemployed. Joblessness has grown from about 1 in every 5 Nigerians in 2010 to around 1 in 3 in 2013.

The best way to get a job is by offering a pile of money, the amount depending on how lucrative the job is. I have seen someone pay N1,000,000 in cash for an appointment to the Nigeria Customs Service. For those who already have a job and want to retain their post, they can do so with a bribe. A governor or even a president who wants to secure a second term can buy the electorate, rig the elections, or shed some blood to achieve his goals.

Massive corruption has spoiled the land. At the helm, politicians in Abuja who have access to the public treasury can get anything they want. The headlines of our newspapers are filled with stories of ministers, senators, and governors stealing billions. In a land where corruption is part of the system, anything can be sold to the highest bidder.
You know all that, Mr. President, but because you’re the leader of the corrupt gang of the umbrella, you decided to turn a blind eye.

The recent Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) election has revealed your true colors, and your behavior poses two major affronts to the country’s polity: the abuse of power by your administration and the potential of election rigging in 2015.

By recognizing Jang – the loser – as the winner and continuing to intimidate the victorious Amaechi and other governors that voted for him – such as Sokoto State governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State – you have, once more, shown your despotic style of leadership.

Know that we’re fully informed of all the con games you’re playing. Technology has made us aware. With a few thousand naira, a hard-working Nigerian can sacrifice a lot of their basic needs to buy a Smartphone and stay in touch.

Mr. President, in 2015, we’ll not only cast our ballot and turn our backs; we’ll defend our votes against any election fraud and irregularities!
Despite all the frustrations in the Republic, Mus’ab is now serving in a public school in Kebbi State. He cherishes the beauty of peace; he no longer wakes to the sound of bombs every morning.

The shade of a Dogon Yaro (or Neem tree) outside his lodge is his favorite place to hang out. He relaxes beneath the tree and writes lesson notes for his students on his Nokia phone. He can’t do this in his room, because there is no light to keep him comfortable. “The difference between Borno and Birnin-Kebbi is war,” Mus’ab says. “But hardship is everywhere in this country.”


Source:

www.omojuwa.com

A supposed achievement that has not reflected in the lives of average Ngerians is nothing short of paper work designed and framed to deceive the masses. Inspite of the billions accrued to d national coffer, yet with very little to show for. The over hyped railway is a laughing stock compared to what is obtainable in other countries with little resources. At a time others are celebrating a more sorphisticated rail line, here we are revamping what Britain left behind over 60yrs back, yet fraudently committing billions to already existed project. The earlier the gov't realise it has lost touch with the ppl, hence vacating seat for a more prepared hands, else any attempt to rig this same gov't back could meet a brick wall, and the end may be devastating.