Sir, it will be unpatriotic for me to start this letter with complaints. So, I will like to say congratulations on your first year anniversary as the President of the most populous black nation and of course the giant of Africa. Today, I write to you as a layman.
For the records, I am not your fan but this letter is from the place of a concerned Nigerian who prays and wants to see a functional Nigeria that will work for all. Sir, I have a personal belief that you didn’t run for President because you needed the money – maybe for power. My belief stemmed from the fact that you’re a man who has done excellently well for himself – the universe has been very kind to you, so money is not your problem. I believe that you ran for the office of the President because you saw a nation that was on the brink – thanks to your party and predecessor, and wanted to perhaps, rebuild the walls and make it work again.
Before I go further, I want to remind you of some of the things you said prior to and after the 2023 election. ‘Let the poor breathe, don’t suffocate them,’ was one of your lines that went very far and wide, offering a glimpse of hope to the hopeless. Sir, you were the one who said “In the Nigeria I shall have the honour and privilege to lead from May 29, workers will have more than a minimum wage. You will have a living wage to have decent life and provide for your families”.
However, despite the wanton promises you made – typical of a Nigerian politician, you were rash to abolish the fuel subsidy, the only thing that has been making the lives of Nigerians a bit easier, on your inauguration day. Courtesy of your decision, from the deserts of the North to the forests of the South, from the bustling markets of the West to the rivers of the East, the suffering of the Nigerian people has reached unprecedented levels – we are no longer suffocating, we are drowning.
From Zamfara to Borno, from Oyo to Osun, from Cross River to Delta, from Enugu to Imo, irrespective of tribe, party affiliations or religious beliefs, the story is the same – untold hardship has enveloped the nation and echoes of pains, anguish, sorrow, distress can be heard in the gates of every city in Nigeria.
Today, there is no commodity that has not been negatively impacted by your policies, leaving Nigerians strangulating.
Sir, in 2020 when I came to Abuja, a mudu of white garri was N200 – today, it is N1,300. A mudu of rice was N700, it is N2,800 today. A mudu of brown beans was N500, today it is N3,200 – beans is now even more expensive than rice.
Sir, are you aware that cooking stew is now luxury in the Nigeria that you govern? The current price of tomatoes made me to start wondering and asking if you removed tomato subsidy – please, tell us if you did. The people you govern, whose welfare should be your utmost interest now resort to carrots and leaves to substitute tomatoes.
Mr. President, with N400 one could leave Jikwoyi for Area 1 and return in 2020 when I came to Abuja – today, the least amount you can spend on that movement is N1,500.
Sir, when I heard how much a litter of kerosene is being sold, I shouted ‘Omo’ a hundred times simultaneously in search of answers to rhetorical questions that inundated my mind.
Sir, are you aware that your policies have removed the middle class from Nigeria? Now, it is either one is rich or poor. Sir, before the advent of your party, a man earning a hundred thousand Naira can comfortably feed his family – today, the story is different. Sir, prior to 2015 when your party took over, N600,000 could get one a clean car. Today, you will even fear for your life if anyone is selling a fairly used car of N2,000,000 to you.
Mr. President, you came to power on the mantra of “Renewed Hope” but are you aware that in the past year, at least seven multinational corporations have pulled out of the country, with most of the organisations citing unfavourable business environments caused by the unavailability of foreign exchange.
For the records, these companies are GlaxoSmithKline – after 51 years of operation in the country; Equinor – after over 30 years of operations; Sanofi; Procter & Gamble – after three decades; Bolt Food and Jumia Food – after two years; Microsoft; Divestment of Oil companies; and PZ Cussons.
Mr. President, while I was working on this letter, Guinness announced its plan to leave Nigeria after 75 years amidst the current economic havoc.
Sir, the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) reported a concerning trend within the industry, revealing that about 767 manufacturing companies shut down operations while 335 experienced distress in 2023. While I was writing this letter, MAN also revealed that due to the increased electricity tariff, over 300 companies shut down, and 380,000 jobs were lost within two months.
Few days ago, I watched keenly as your ministers took turn to reel out their achievements in the past one year. Your aides have also been doing a good job in advertising your feats since mounting the nation’s most coveted office – but the only question I keep asking is ‘how has your administration impacted the welfare of Nigerians?’ A hungry man is an angry man. Nigerians are extremely hungry – our body dey shake.
Mr. President, your policies and party have pushed Nigerians beyond the brink – we can no longer breathe. I don’t know how long this untold hardship will continue – but I can tell you that the mood of your people is not good at all.
Mr. President, history will judge us by how we respond to the cries of the suffering masses. The time for action is now. The Nigerian people look to you for leadership, hope, and a better TODAY.
Stanley Ugagbe is passionate about effecting change through writing. He can be reached via stanleyakomeno@gmail.com
