By Lamide Adenuga

Your Excellency Sir,

2019: BEYOND CATCHY WORDS AND CAMPAIGN SLOGANS – MORE PRESSING ISSUES

I feel so humble and at the same time honoured to write you. Prior to now, I have never thought I would write you, in fact, it never for once crossed my mind, but finally I decided to write because of the events that have transpired in the past couple of weeks, since you came out tops in the Presidential Primaries of your party and you became the Presidential flag bearer, accept my congratulations sir.

So many things have been said and so many more written, both for good and for ill, by yes men and naysayers, by your camp and by the opposition camp, by both the learned and the unlearned, by male and female, old and young, by those who are for you and those who are against you, the social media has been agog, so I decided to have my say as well; to articulate my thoughts, and put pen to paper, so here I am.

Sir, let me begin by congratulating you once again on becoming the Presidential flag bearer of your party. However, I will advise that you should let your campaign be policy based; you should communicate in clear and precise terms what your manifesto is, and you should please do all these having the future of our children in mind. Personally, I believe that every child deserves a decent shot at life.

Surround yourself with sincere and honest people; men and women who will stay true to your vision, who will not deviate from your master plan, people who will not ride on your goodwill to achieve their own ends, and folks who will work tirelessly day and night to follow your policy blueprint to the letter. Have your ears to the ground and listen to the true yearnings of ordinary Nigerians, and as much as you can, God helping you, be wary of singing sycophants and yes men, “men whose god is their belly”, who will come forward with flowery words and sweet clichés all in a bid to get favours from you. Please be careful of the people you surround yourself with, this is Nigeria, and after all is said and done, YOU ARE THE ONLY MAN IN YOUR WORLD!

More importantly, also create an enabling environment for young Nigerians to not only pursue, but to actualize their dreams. For entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, for business owners and business starters, let opportunities abound for all and let structures be put in place, business friendly policies coupled with an enabling environment, we will all be amazed at how easy possibilities will become realities. The young people of this country have what it takes to run successful enterprises and contribute to the wealth base of the Nation – if only there is an enabling environment. We have what it takes and sooner than later, we will make Nigeria the economic and the entrepreneurial capital of Africa. A larger percentage of young Nigerians are intelligent; we are honest, we are hardworking, we hustle day to day to keep our head above water, and this explicates the NAIJA SPIRIT.
I have spoken to a lot of young people in different cities across the country; given leadership talks, career talks, motivational talks, entrepreneurship talks and so much more.

I have engaged many young Nigerians in discussions, and most times, I am awed by the ideas bubbling in the heads of our young people; how hardworking and relentless many are in chasing after their dreams, and that is why I said earlier that given the right opportunities, and enabling environment, every young Nigerian will succeed. Everything about us is not about drugs, fraud, or crime; we are up and doing, representing, and working towards earning a decent living and having a better tomorrow. There are many good, honest, sincere, decent, irreproachable, upright, trustworthy, vibrant, hardworking, intelligent young Nigerians who only need opportunities and the enabling environment (I don’t know why I keep repeating that), to actualize their dreams and contribute to the greatness of this Nation. I always reiterate that the wealth of our Nation is not in what lies under the ground, but in what lies in our heads. Look at all the heads walking the streets of Nigeria, if each decides to do something productive, imagine the kind of results our Nation will achieve. So sir, please look into what will make life and business easier for our young people.

In addition to that sir, make the young people of this nation a priority, because we are the future of Nigeria. I advise that across all geo political zones, seek out for responsible and intelligent young people, not the opportunists, and then make them a part of you. From time to time, they can offer their suggestions, and profer 21st century solutions for the challenges that bedevil our nation. Young minds who can communicate effectively what their vision is for their Nation; young minds who are ready for idea exchange across continental Africa, and who will be global players.

Critically look into the Power sector, and let something tangible be done to it, because truth is without Power (electricity), businesses fail, companies fold up, and it’s a harsh economic climate for those desirous of honest practices.

I advise that you consider the following and make them a part of your POLICY THRUST;
Power (Electricity).

Human Capital Development; our people are the future of our nation; that 8 year old boy somewhere in Ijebu Ode, that 15 year old school girl in Maiduguri, that 20 year old guy in Abakaliki, that 26 year old unemployed Graduate on the streets of Lagos, and that new born baby somewhere in Calabar, they are the future of our Nation, we need to prepare them for the future as well as prepare the future for them.

Education.
Infrastructural Development.
Peace and Stability; let’s restore the Nigeria of old where peace, unity and love reigned supreme.

All the above listed will attract foreign investors, and our nation will be the better for it.
Sir, when you get there, if God permits, please see it as an act of God, an opportunity to do good and make this country better, an opportunity for you to leave your footprints on the sands of time, and to have your name embossed in the history book of this great Nation, Nigeria.

Finally, like every true Nigerian, I desire and I deserve a great country, a country that I will be proud of; that you will be proud of, that the future generation will be proud of; that we will all be proud of. The BIG QUESTION sir is; will you deliver it to us?

I wish you the best in all your endeavors.

Olamide Adenuga

Youtube.com/Olamide Adenuga TWITTER; LammyMotivates FACEBOOK; Lamide Adenuga Speaks. www.olamideadenuga.blogspot.com

Lamide Adenuga is an author and an International Conference Speaker who believes that the right mentality can power anyone to success; an ideas man who is out to transform people and places h`e comes in contact with.

He is a Business Development Consultant/Business Management Consultant, a well sought out for motivational and inspirational Speaker, and a Business Coach to entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners and business starters. He is also an Angel of strategy and organization and has featured on Radio and Television shows severally.
Lamide is a Public Relations Specialist and has written articles in various newspapers, journals and magazines. He is a Personal Effectiveness columnist in OVATION International Magazine. He is also a Television host with his Motivational telecast, “MAKING THINGS HAPPEN”.