Your Excellency, your path to the presidency has been long with many twists and turns. None of us can fully comprehend what you have gone through the past twelve years to reach the current the exalted position of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Knowing what you believe and what you represent, we supporting you from the sidelines can only feel that your presidency signals an unlikely rebirth of our country.
Your Excellency, your path to the presidency has been long with many twists and turns. None of us can fully comprehend what you have gone through the past twelve years to reach the current the exalted position of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Knowing what you believe and what you represent, we supporting you from the sidelines can only feel that your presidency signals an unlikely rebirth of our country.
Much has transpired to create the space for this political moment in our country’s history. You understand the “seriousness of the legacy” we are currently living. The structure you stand on is built on the strong will and loyalty of the Nigerian people. There are fault lines of security, corruption, and unemployment, which continue to weaken and divide the country.
By 2015, Nigeria was at a breaking point. Whether one voted All Progressive Party (APC) or People’s Democratic Party (PDP), there was a consensus that something had to change. It was the youth demographic who articulated this not only with energy and passion but also with commitment. They found their dreams articulated in the promises of the Buhari presidency, especially the call for honesty and the belief that necessary, difficult changes would be made without fear of the “vested interests” that seem to have captured and imprisoned Nigeria’s development. Mr. President, you were fortunate to have Nigerian youth believe in and mobilize support around you on an unprecedented level in our political history. Despite the doubts of their parents and various other obstacles, they were committed to and delivered your victory.
It would be a misstep to believe that going forward the simple correcting of mistakes carried out by the PDP would be enough. The promises made to youth particularly around youth unemployment must be acted upon with both care and urgency. This is valuable energy and goodwill that can be harnessed to ensure that the important and difficult work ahead is not only done, but also done with accountability.
Mr. President, you have the ability to engage with this demographic in direct and committed ways through social media and telecommunications. This generation needs to be connected to through the avenues where they are consumers, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and be asked their opinion through group text messages and conference calls. It is evident that the youth are organized and reachable through various organizations that support your presidency. While they still believe in your promises there needs to be a re-engagement. Youth are, for the most part, the ones that got you elected and they are the ones that can help you generate real change in Nigeria if policy changes are focused around and through them.
For a long time now the system of government in Nigeria has been alien to the people. The gap between the government and those governed has widened, and the citizens are often fundamentally at odds with those holding political appointments. This has led many Nigerians, especially the parents of the youth we speak of, to view government as a “fat cow to be milked” rather than a body that they can and must take an involved role in influencing. By focusing on youth engagement in tackling unemployment, corruption, and security, you will be helping everyone have faith in the political process and all citizens will begin to engage more deeply in the political process.
Focusing on the issues of youth unemployment and governmental corruption are direct ways to address deeper problems of security. The ability to develop a true sense of freedom and security can only come from being part of a sustainable society. Economic stability and the confidence in a merit-based systems of employment, rather than relational means of employment, are both ways to ensure the confidence of Nigerian citizens. Therefore, addressing corruption within employment is necessary.
In order to begin to do this, we need to know a thorough accounting of who is currently unemployed in the country and those in the diaspora who want to come back home. A proactive initiative, independent from government, should be undertaken to do this. Different methods, at a grassroots level, such as surveys and interviews over social media and the call to a return or report to the wards, Districts and local government center, Nigerian embassies and missions abroad can be used to gather information in a national/international database that consists of potential workforce and their skill sets. This can be used specifically to coordinate a base of employable youth.
By coordinating a database of those who are looking for employment, the government also has an opportunity to actively and transparently engage capable citizens to be employed in local, state and federal positions as well allow a vibrant private sector to thrive. This is a key initiative to cut down corruption in government and help citizens feel that there is an equal opportunity for skilled citizens to be fully involved in political/non-political positions. This is especially true in terms of appointment of members of the cabinet at different levels. There needs to be a transparent database of all of the highly qualified (and not so qualified) Nigerian citizens (willing and desirous of moving Nigeria forward) to restore a true sense of authenticity.
While a database such as Sure-P exists (other governmental programs may exist), and, therefore, the government may have an established system, the administration should focus on a database of the Nigerian workforce that is independently managed. This ensures that there is transparency in who is hired in governmental positions and open up the field for private entrepreneurship. Such other data can also be improved, in an independent manner, by modeling the database and program similarly to programs such as “JobCorps” in the United States. This would not only provide a comprehensive way for open positions to be filled, but also allow a platform for the youth workforce to gain additional training and education around employability. The building and strengthening of this database will also be beneficial in recruiting young Nigerians in the diaspora to return to the country and be part of the country’s development.
An additional way to reduce youth unemployment, cut down corruption and build stronger security is by looking at how youth can be better involved in the police and military. The Police are the face of a Nation. There is already need to grow the numbers in the ranks of the police and army. There is also the common experience of Nigerian citizens being taken advantage by police through compromises by some officers of the force in different ways. This is done by the same police that are responsible for providing assistance, protecting/enforcing law and order to the public in time of need. But how are individuals
to have trust in the police force based on some of their actions? Recruitment of youth who have been specifically engaged in supporting your campaign promises around anti- corruption should be undertaken so that there is a cultural change of transparency within the ranks of the police and military while giving them the dignity they deserve.
In the fight against corruption, there are two areas where independent commissions can be used in order to improve up faltering governmental systems. The first is an independent commission on police and military corruption. This could be modeled after the Commission to Combat Police Corruption (CCPC) established in the 1990s in New York City as a way to break the cycles of corruption found in different areas of the police department. This independent commission could monitor activities to help keep the police and military vigilant and dedicated to eradicating corruption. A similar commission can also be created in order to place a check on judicial systems in the country. Often it appears the justice system is not working for every day citizens as the rule of law often is used to keep certain individuals in power or excuses them from any consequences for wrongdoing. Enacting an independent system of reviewing the way courts and judges are carrying out the rule of law ensures that the laws of the government are not being compromised.
The crack down on corruption and increase in employment are the greatest ways to build security in Nigeria. And it is through the country’s youth that these goals can be accomplished. Of course, there will be difficulties in changing the status quo, especially as people cling harder to the territory that they feel they own or are owed. But, Mr. President, you brought the feeling of hope to our country, and actions must be taken before people became stagnant and dissuaded once again. Without the participation of all Nigerian citizens, especially youth, those fringe groups, such as Boko Haram, Biafra, Shiite Movement and Niger Delta Militants will gain momentum causing a further threat to Nigerian society. By focusing on youth engagement in tackling unemployment and corruption you will be helping everyone feel more secure and have more faith in the political process, and all citizens will begin to engage more deeply in the development of Nigeria.
The, moment, the season and the light are here, let them not be still—may we all savor the moment— clocks and calendar’s alike, all scheduled by the sun intervals will not be denied, let us feel the freshness of the tide and may all the light of our soul be bright, as we walk the long walk for the generation yet unborn. The sun will rise again, even brighter in NIGERIA!