My Covenant With You

Fellow Nigerians, the political and socio-economical hardship in Nigeria is no longer a thing to wave off. Elite corruption has touched every community in our country. In every town, village, suburb and city, job losses, failing businesses, no electricity, bad roads, poor education and healthcare are taking their toll. 

In this economic, social and political crisis, leadership is vital. At national, state and at local government level, we need decisive and imaginative action to stem job losses, improve security and provide electricity to get our economy moving again. And we need a new, more democratic citizenship, based on fairness and respect.

To succeed, we must act together, as a community. The burden of getting our country back on its feet must be shared fairly, with everyone contributing according to their ability to do so. This collective effort should not simply be measured in monetary terms, but also by what we are willing to give back to our country and our communities, in the form of time, energy and shared commitment, be it social, sporting or cultural.

A people’s oriented government can be a vehicle for change in our communities, our quality of life, and our democracy. Good government shapes communities, encourages science and technology and instil national pride. For me, good government means good quality housing, clean and secured streets, safe roads, equipped classes and playing pitches, thriving businesses and affordable good healthcare. It means making our communities the best possible places to grow up and grow old in.

For the past twelve years, a PDP-led Government has allowed looters to dictate how our communities should look, work and play. It is time to take back control over our own future, and that of our children. My administration wants to put local people at the heart of local government. Local authorities have a role to play in boosting the local economy, and stimulating the creation of local jobs. From promoting incentives that encourage start-up companies, to using their purchasing power to help create jobs, active local authorities can prove that there are local solutions to global problems.

I want to empower people to contribute to the social, economic and civic life of their communities, so that they shape the place where they live. My team and I will introduce Community Skills Development Board to act as local jobs and training taskforce. This local taskforce would bring all local education and training providers, local chambers of commerce and local National Directorate of Employment offices together to coordinate an urgent response to local unemployment. 

Local people have very little say in the services that affect their everyday lives. My administration wants to radically overhaul local government, so that it is more democratic, more efficient and delivers better value for money.

To make local government more efficient, we need a comprehensive blueprint for a modern system of local government. My administration will propose: A more sensible approach to delivering public services. If a function of government, such as building schools, employment services or the maintaining roads and policing can be done better, quicker and cheaper at local level, then it should be transferred to local government. The voting age in local elections to be reduced to 16, so that teenagers have more of a say in local services.

I am ready to take action in our communities and country. 

And I am asking you to stand with me.