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An open letter to the presidential candidates

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By Akintola Timothy

Senator Agbo shares ideas necessary to improve Nigeria’s welfare.

While the western world continues to overtly witness an advance in human civilization, Africa still lingers within a blatant recycle of bad leadership, with a constant struggle for basic improvements like electricity, water supply, payment of wages, and a general working system. Decades after independence, no African country has been able to successfully establish itself as a world developmental super nation. The continent has been ravaged by a host of complacent leadership that continues to hinder the prospective development that could take place if things are done in the right direction and this trajectory traumatizes every individual, as the African nations still wobble between death and survival.

In the wake of the impending 2023 general elections in Nigeria, there have been different approaches enacted by the Nigerian populace, to get it right with electing a befitting leader this time around. In truth, Nigeria is hanging by a thread due to the complacency of elected leaders over the years and a failure to get it right this time kills every lingering hope for a better Nigeria. Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Bola Ahmed Tinubu are the front runners of the impending presidential election. In light of this, Senator Anthony Agbo, a former Senator from Ebonyi state has written an open letter to the presidential candidates to share and emphasize on some ideas that he deems necessary to further improve the country’s welfare.

Nigeria must change its identity of being a consuming economy.

Senator Agbo in demanding that Nigeria be shaped into a super state, explained what a super state is like. He noted that every super state is characterized by an ever-advancing technological system, a technological-driven economic market, advanced academic institutions, sophisticated healthcare facilities as well as a coordinated architectural system. Also, Agbo said that every super state must possess a progressive dynamic that improves the economic performances by creating employment opportunities and promoting their local innovations.

Further, the Senator noted that a super state must have transcended itself out of common identity of a consumer economy that focuses on exchanging raw materials for refined materials. To create a competitive and highly productive economic environment that other countries depend on for the services it makes available for the global market. Nigeria however have been a consumer society for so long, depending on foreign countries to refine their raw materials, as well as importing most products rather than improve and support its locally produced products to help grow the economic situation.

Anti – corruption institutions must be strengthened to be above all citizens.

Agbo asserted that Africa is faced with a leadership challenge as a result of the myopic vision that has failed to propel African leaders to advance beyond the primitive stage of leadership delivery. As such, he believed that Nigeria can be made a super state if the elected president will advance its policies to craft the country into a developing element. A super state must possess an all-round development in its social, economic and political endeavors. The Senator, criticizing the present state of the Federal Capital Territory, noted that Abuja has been ravaged by a mass of individualized, discordant and hostile habitation that does not fit into what an ideal FCT should be, due to its chaotic architectural ambience. He however suggested that Abuja, like most states that make up the nation must witness internal rebuilds.

On the state of increased corruption that threatens the country’s stability, Agbo also noted that the institution, tactics, and effectiveness of the anticorruption tasks must be strengthened and designed to be above every citizens, irrespective of their social and economic status. Nigeria’s politicians and bureaucrats have become indulging in corrupt and embezzlement practices and as such, the anticorruption institution must possess a deterrent force that will make governmental positions unattractive to corrupt citizens.

All ranks of police officers must undergo rigorous screening.

Agbo also stated that Nigeria needs a newly created police force and system. The police force have been recurrently criticized for their inhumane and corrupt practices and as such, Senator Agbo suggested some paradigms that will help with designing a new and effective police force in the country. He stated that all rank and file police officers must undergo rigorous screening under the parameters of their age, competence, education level, health status and patriotism. He noted that while this paradigm will help flush out ineffective officers, the country must then focus on recruiting young, educated and competent Nigerians that will be trained in the best policing systems around the world.


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Godsewill Ifeanyi
Godsewill Ifeanyi
1 year ago

Africa is still stuck in an obvious cycle of bad leadership while the western world continues to openly witness advances in human civilisation.

Adesanyaj72
Adesanyaj72
1 year ago

Our significant problems include a never-ending battle for fundamental advancements such as improved access to energy and water, salary payment, and a generalised system that functions; that should be what the new government should focus on.

Hassan Isa
Hassan Isa
1 year ago

It’s unfortunate that no independent African nation has become a global powerhouse in terms of economic and social progress in the decades after their independence.

Nwachukwu Kingsley
Nwachukwu Kingsley
1 year ago

A number of politicians on the continent have been too complacent, which has hampered what could be promising progress if things were headed in the proper way, and this course of events has traumatized every person on the continent.

Taiwoo
Taiwoo
1 year ago

There needs to be a progressive dynamic in place in every super state, one that boosts economic performance by increasing employment and highlighting homegrown inventions.

Chibuzor
Chibuzor
1 year ago

The super state must have broken away from its traditional character as a consumer economy that is centered on the trading of raw commodities for refined materials.

Kazeem1
Kazeem1
1 year ago

Due to the city’s disorderly architectural atmosphere, Abuja does not meet the criteria for what an ideal FCT should be. As a result, the city has been overrun by a horde of individualistic, discordant, and antagonistic habitation.

Abusi
Abusi
1 year ago

I agree with each and every point listed out in this letter to the presidential candidates. The writer was very right to point out economy and anti corruption, inclusive of merit in positions, especially in police force. The flag bearers of the different political parties to take note and tell us how they will solve these problems.

Adeolastan
Adeolastan
1 year ago

Lots still need to be done to change scope of things in Africa,so that it will be able to compete with the world power or developed nations.

Haykaylyon26
Haykaylyon26
1 year ago

Africa as not be able to have a good leadership and the western are progressing and we Africa we are still not be able to move forward becos of our leadership we have have change our method or scope so we can be moving forward also. This are very good point listed in the letter for the presidential candidate

theApr
theApr
1 year ago

Following the upcoming general elections in Nigeria in 2023, the Nigerian people have adopted a variety of strategies in an effort to elect a suitable leader this time. In actuality, Nigeria is hanging by a thread because elected officials have grown complacent over the years, and failing to get it right this time will put an end to any last-ditch hopes for a better Nigeria.

Remi1
Remi1
1 year ago

The institution, strategies, and efficacy of the anticorruption tasks must be enhanced and created to be above every citizen, regardless of their social and economic standing, in response to the state of rising corruption that threatens the stability of the nation.

Iyanu12345ogg
Iyanu12345ogg
1 year ago

Generally, the writer’s letter to the presidential candidate entails good the writer was tight to indicate economy and anti corruption points…the new government should focus on them and others.

jdpumping
jdpumping
1 year ago

I hope the open letter written by Senator Agbo with those lofty ideas would be put into use,I’m so disappointed with our political parties and elites.

Tonerol10
Tonerol10
1 year ago

The letter written by Senator Agbo concerning the ideas to improve Nigeria’s welfare is Good but the present leaders will not act or take correction. They no dey hear word at All. They only do the one in their mind. They no care

Tolaniiii
Tolaniiii
1 year ago

Events on the continent have traumatized everyone because certain governments have been too complacent, stymying what could be hopeful growth if things were moving in the right direction.

Christiana
Christiana
1 year ago

Due to the complacency of elected leaders throughout the years, Nigeria is dangling by a thread, and failing to get it right this time will put an end to any last-ditch hopes for a better Nigeria.

Bola12
Bola12
1 year ago

Every super state needs to have a progressive dynamic in place that promotes domestic innovation and increases employment in order to improve economic performance.

Ultra0711
Ultra0711
1 year ago

Because of our leadership, we in Africa have not been able to advance and the western world is making progress while we in Africa are still unable to do so. In order to move forward, we must change our approach or our focus. These are some excellent points that the presidential candidate’s letter makes.

DimOla
DimOla
1 year ago

It is quite unfortunate that our leaders are not ready to change. They’re very selfish, they want the country all alone for themselves.