I published a post earlier about Nigerian youths on social media and the coming election. Well, I came across this open letter to GEJ on social media and as a journalist, I couldn't help but post something this 'Newsy'. Although it is a quite lengthy post, but believe me, you will enjoy it after taking your time to read it through.
Dear President Jonathan,
As I started reading the transcript of your speech in your flag off campaign for 2nd term in office, my heart was gladdened to know that the speech was directed to Nigerian youths of which I am one. I must say that up to this time I decided to read your manuscript I have heard a lot of bad things that seemed true about your government and hence had a poor view of your time in office. It was only after working hard to put my sentiments away and after listening to Oguntola Adelowo, a colleague of mine who has been preaching about you did I read online the transcript of your speech. When you said 'my speech is directed to the youths, those who will be voting for the first time', I began to doubt my earlier beliefs of you being incompetent and lacking a plan, I was eager to hear from you what and how you have worked tirelessly for my generation in the past 6 years in office and also what you intend to do in the next 4 years to consolidate your efforts. Therefore sir, it came as a shock to me that you spoke of everything but your plans, you addressed every issue but the germane ones that has so far affected my generation and is already shaping out our future. Sir, I did what you requested, I asked my father, a middle-class citizen, who is 66 years old now about Buhari's tenure and here was his reply 'I remember those days, we had very stable electricity, youths didn't fancy travelling abroad because they felt they could get even better here, I bought a carton of tin peak milk for #1.20k, I could iron press my clothes minutes to going out, fuel was sold for 50k per litre, corrupt people like umaru dikko were jailed and killed, no minister or government official could be accused of corruption and resign only to run for an higher office, and no public official was alleged with fraud only to be seen on National T.V laughing in court' and he ended by saying that during those times, everyone knew the rules and tried as much not to break the law but that now the same laws made to protect the average Nigerian like him is what his used to oppress them and he concluded by saying that there is no perfect government and that though it was military they enjoyed many good things that our own generation may never enjoy due to the high level of corruption in our government, except of course things change. Sir, in your speech you spoke of building 12 federal universities, yet the one I school in which is 30 years old can not still provide enough sitting stools for students. You speak of producing more megawatts, yet I rarely have power supply to view many of the interesting programs and football matches shown on DSTV. You speak of needing time to tackle insecurity, yet you have had 6 years already, you fail to forget that Obama took down the world's greatest terrorist in just 3 years. You speak of fertilizer distribution, yet we buy beans for #200 per derica from #140 in 2010 when fertilizers where stolen (I think I would prefer to have the fertilizer stolen and buy food cheaper than now. You speak of improved economy yet we buy fuel for #97 from #65 (49.32% increase), beans for #200 from #140 (42.86% increase), housing #200,000 from #120,000 (66.67% increase), transportation #50 from #30 (increase of 66.67%), Salary #18,000 from #15,000 (increase of 20%). Where then is the improvement in Nigeria's economy not to forget their over 100% increase in fees paid by tertiary institutions nationwide. Thank you for admitting that your generation has failed us, but my generations have decided to do things differently, to succeed where our fathers have failed; to vote for a change in government. Thank you sir for serving us to the best of your abilities sir, your lack of confidence to focus on your plans for us within the next for years during your speech has betrayed my generations trust in you. Please ensure our votes count as we intend to have a landslide victory on February 14th.
I am a Nigerian youth.
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