Abeokuta - By Our REPORTER
Published, Tuesday, March, 5, 2024
IN A PASSIONATE PLEA FOR ACTION, THREE RETIRED PROFFESSRS of Ivy league universities in Nigeria have penned an open letter to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to take swift and drastic measures to address the pressing issues facing Nigeria.
The letter, addressed to Mr. President and bearing the signature of Professor Afolabi Soyode, University of Ibadan (rtd), Professor Jonathan Fabunmi,
Obafemi Awolowo University, (rtd.) and
Professor Isaac Agbede, University of Lagos, (rtd.) Emeritus , which was obtained by thedispatch in Abeokuta on Monday, highlights the grave challenges currently facing the nation. From escalating prices of essential commodities to widespread poverty and a growing sense of insecurity, the writers stress the urgent need for decisive action.
Among the key issues raised in the letter is the ongoing conflict between herders and farmers, which has made agriculture nearly impossible in certain regions. The writers call on the President to put a stop to these conflicts and encourage the establishment of state police forces to combat armed bandits and ensure the safety of farmers.
The letter also addresses the need to enhance the income of workers and pensioners, with a call for the swift implementation of a minimum wage increase. The writers emphasize the importance of keeping Nigerian workers satisfied and competitive on a global scale, adding that the government should evolve accelerated process if the committee set up fails to come up with solution fails to deliver within 30 daus.
In addition, concerns are raised about the extravagant lifestyle of political elites and the importation of substandard products.
The letter calls for a ban on the importation of overused and depreciated vehicles, known as "Jexus," (Junk Export from the US (to Nigeria), otherwise known as "LEXUS" - Luxury. Export to the US. (from Japan Toyota)). What we now have (on our roads) is Jexus – and emphasizes the need for strict regulations to ensure the safety and efficacy of imported goods.
The writers also highlight the deteriorating state of the education system, particularly in universities, and call for urgent action to revive and strengthen higher education in Nigeria.
In concluding the letter, the three wise Professors urge President Tinubu to take steps towards ensuring good governance, curbing corruption, and upholding the rule of law.
They express their unwavering loyalty and faith in his leadership, praying that he would be remembered as a hero who rescued Nigeria from disaster.
The open letter serves as a powerful call to action, urging the President and other prominent leaders to prioritize the well-being and prosperity of the Nigerian people. The writers' impassioned plea for drastic measures reflects the deep concern and urgency felt by many citizens in the face of the nation's current challenges.
Read the excerpt of the open letter:
AN OPEN LETTER TO MR. PRESIDENT,
ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR.
Our Beloved President,
TIME FOR DRASTIC ACTION
The peace of the Almighty God be with you and your entire family. We pray with all our hearts that the Almighty God will grant you wisdom that passes all human understanding to lead this nation to the promised land.
We live in a perilous time. Drastic situations demand drastic measures. There is hunger and anger in the nation. There is grinding poverty. Prices of essential commodities are escalating by the day. The gap between the high cost of living and the incomes of workers is too large, a source of anguish desperation and a call to incitement.
Hardship can be fairly endured when evenly distributed. It is not seen now to be evenly distributed. The value of the bogus cars of our federal legislators and many Governors and their remuneration are far beyond the realm of justification at a time like this. The billions of naira voted to renovate the Houses of the President and that of the Vice President are certainly irritants. The rapidly declining value of the Naira makes it looks as if there is no government in office. The security situation is not particularly assuring.
You know the problems Mr. President; we do not intend to dwell on them. Kindly consider, Mr. President, some issues on which we offer our own approaches to solution.
1. Insecurity
The herders and kidnappers continue to make farming impossible. The herders still roam farms with their cattle, destroying crops with violence and impunity, even in South West States. Kidnappers pose dangers to the farmers.
Please put a stop to these, otherwise no incentives to Agriculture will result in meaningful output increase.
The move to establish State Police is in the right direction. It will provide counterpoise to armed bandits and herders and make efforts to increase agricultural output more realizable.
2. Enhance the Income of Workers and Pensioners.
Quickly accelerate the decision on minimum wage and the general salary review. If the 37-man committee cannot deliver within the next 30 days, disband them and find a better modality. Assure workers of a definite short-term period during which salary increase will be announced and executed.
The salary review should have an over-arching objective: keep Nigerian workers satisfied working in Nigeria. It should stop Japa. It should be competitive and comparable worldwide. The short-term cost may appear large, but will bring peace, development and stability to the economy.
With (i) & (ii), Engage the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) & Trade Union Congress (TUC). No strike please.
3. Life Style of Political Elites.
Please Mr. President help redirect the mode of dress, and obscene materialism pervading the cadres of political elites in Nigeria. We have lived through the era of political leaders like Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Prof. Ambrose Alli, Chief Sam Mbakwe, Chief Bisi Onabanjo and Alhaji Lateef Jakande. We believe they are worthy of emulation in many ways. They can guide you our President. Is it not time also to reintroduce history in Primary and Secondary Schools?
4. Ban Jexus
Lexus is an abbreviation; Luxury. Export to the US. (from Japan Toyota). What we now have (on our roads) is Jexus – Junk Export from the US (to Nigeria) Exports of over-used, over-depreciated Lexus cars. It is not just the Toyota Junks. Honda, Nissan, Mercedes junks come to Nigeria, draining scarce foreign reserves. While new cars from manufacturers have their sources uniquely identified, all, the used cars from very many countries are imported mostly by Nigerians, Individuals and Firms, with intention to maximize their profits. They bring in least functional vehicles and sell at maximum prices.
Many struggling people including youths, hardly employed, now satisfy their craze in Materialism and ostentation by spending hard-earned Nigerian forex on these. Through tax it should be appropriately discontinued.
Nigeria should be moving towards using cars and vehicles made in Nigeria. A shame that Nigerian Senators opted for costly bogus imported Land Cruisers. These and other vehicles of the same variety should be disallowed. No other irrational use of forex can be found.
Substandard Products : A large variety of products, Medicine, (Anti-biotics, Anti-malaria, drugs for chronic ailments) batteries, lamps, all come in substandard, resulting in little or no efficacy.
Is there no Standard Organisation of Nigeria(SON) again? With all these sub-standard and fake products in almost every product category?
This is a regulatory government organization, hardly effective. This and such other regulatory agencies should be focused, sanctioned as required.
Medical Tourism is another irrational use of forex. Can the President not make an emergency case for a 5-star Specialist Hospital that can satisfy the political elites and other Nigerians. To be built, in each of the 6 zones, staffed, equipped, all within 18-24 months?
Your recent 2 weeks private stay in France, we hope, had nothing to do with healthcare over there. For whatever reason, such visits, private or public, should be curtailed for now, Mr. President, and for all executive and legislative officials at all levels.
5. The University Condition
The decay (physical, human, behavioral) in higher education system needs to be addressed (quickly). First with the salary review. The academic staff have been on the same salary since 2009. A major review of salary and allowances should be done, most urgently, in line with the model we suggested earlier.
The Nigerian University system is dying; please revive it because if it dies, the source of nourishment of the secondary and primary education is gone. No nation flourishes or even survives without good education.
6. Sanctions
Any nation that has no sanctions for misconduct and breach of the law and other violation of the processes will end up in chaos. We have witnessed in Nigeria good governance and peaceful co existence up to and shortly after independence. Later corruption set in, leading to the weakness of the legal and political processes. The result is that humongous public funds are diverted into private bank accounts. Oil theft and fuel subsidy scandals become widespread. Government spokesmen often claim to know them but fail to disclose their identity or get them arrested and prosecuted.
We are pleading with you sir, to
Take steps to disclose the identity of saboteurs, recover the loots and prosecute them.
Because corruption is so endemic in Nigeria almost becoming part of our way of Life, we believe that a drastic action should be taken to curb the menace. We therefore urge your Excellency to establish special Judicial Tribunals to handle corruption cases with heavy jail terms for the convicts to serve as deterrent to others.
CONCLUSION
The above, Mr. President, are short-term measures though with long-term impacts. We plead that you continue to work for the longer-term solutions to the Nigerian problems and ensure that: (1) appropriate restructuring is done to allow for healthy competition among zones or relevant units deemed appropriate. (2) fiscal federalism, is assured, (3) Rule of Law is entrenched. (4) Democracy and Reform of the Electoral processes continues.
We pray that you will go down in history as God-sent to rescue this Nation from self induced disaster.
The blessings of God be with you.
Be assured of our unfailing loyalty to, and faith in, your Excellency.
Yours faithfully,
Professor Afolabi Soyode
University of Ibadan, Rtd.
Professor Jonathan Fabunmi
Obafemi Awolowo University, Rtd.
Professor Isaac Agbede
University of Lagos, Rtd. Emeritus
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