Date: 2016-01-02

Sir, I want to acknowledge your achievements within the short time of returning to power though some people felt otherwise. For instance you have almost made Boko Haram a past tense in our everyday vocabulary unlike what obtains some seven months ago, you are gradually returning sanity to our national life in the area of governance and reduction in executive high-handedness and undiluted war against corruption to mention but a few. I say well done sir.

Sir, these laudable achievements not withstanding Nigerians are suffering, and because of the myriad of sources from which these sufferings are coming, our people have started to ask whether what we call change era is not in actual fact chain of sufferings. As far as I am concerned, I know that nothing good comes easy, and thus one's persistent call for patience and genuine appreciation but in due recognition of human eagerness, there is the need sir to change strategy of governance so that ray of hope could begin to flicker in front of Nigerians.

My observation reveals that people are being weighed down by pervasive fuel scarcity, unpaid staff salaries by Local Governments, State government and growing unemployment.

Sir, the level of fuel scarcity has become so grievous that members of the public are now patronizing black marketers who are brazenly displaying their illegal procured product at the expense of the larger members of the society who could neither procure in large quantity nor descend so low as to be hoarding the product or resell same at the prevailing N200 per litre. A state of emergency must be declared in this sector to avert growing inclination towards criminality and destructive fire incidents.

Sir, many states government are owing their employees several months salary and nothing practical appears being done to overcome the problem. This sir, is an ominous wind that blows no-one any good, and thus must be arrested before the situation get messier.

Furthermore, there is growing hunger in the land occasioned by lack of electricity, lack of fuel, non-payment of salaries and high rate of unemployment. All these could make inclination towards criminal tendencies and high level poverty with their attendant health challenges, problems and breakdown of law and order.

Sir, I wish to suggest that you as a matter of urgency create THREE dedicated task force from present DSS

1. To continue the investigation and prosecution of those who embezzle the nation's money directly or via failed contracts/ fake invoicing.

2. This group should focus on checking administrative impunity and systemic engineering of corruption in the name of working for your government.

3. Sir, let this force keep watch over the nation security in collaboration with other agencies while you fish out dedicated individuals to help you with daily/weekly independent briefing on the true state of affairs across the nation, devoid of political brain-washing or sycophancy to curry undue favour.

Finally sir, you need to call the governors to ascertain the actual level of indebtedness with a view to granting them 'relief package' meant for salary areas repayment alone.

I guess if we do this, the situation will improve for the better, and our people would start perceiving the aroma of the change they voted for. Thanks.

Your humble servant in the service of the nation.

Dr Oniye Abdulrazaq
Director, Counselling & Human Development Centre, Unilorin.