By Bayo Oluwasanmi
Today, May 29, offers Nigeria a chance for a fresh start. A new President brings new policy ideas, a new team, and a new store of political capital. But Nigeria’s slate is anything but blank. The list of problems facing Nigeria’s new chief executive – old and new, chronic and acute, social, economic, Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen terrorism – is dwarfed only by the universe of ideas about how to solve them.
My advice to the new President:
1. The 1999 fraudulent constitution must be discarded to make way for a new constitution.
2. Boko Haram terrorists must be bombed out of existence. Fulani herdsmen terrorists must be contained or caged within their own Northern territory.
3. State and local government police should replace the ragtag central police aka NPF.
4. Eliminate posts of junior ministers of state.
5. Scrap all duplicitous and redundant federal agencies.
6. Reduce salaries, allowances, and emoluments of federal legislators.
7. By any means necessary let there be light! (electricity).
8. Restructure salaries: Minimum wage at N100,000 and pay workers bi-weekly (every two weeks).
9. Scrap JAMB. It has outlived its usefulness. Let every university conduct its own admission. Same with WAEC. Let every high school in Nigeria conduct its own final exam and issue its own diplomas.
10. Millions of jobs are necessary to absorb unemployed Nigerians who are willing and ready to work. Massive construction projects such as building of roads, bridges, school buildings, dams, public housing, parks, hospitals, public libraries, manufacturing industries, etc. Public transport and pipe borne water are essential basic services that must be provided. Introduce mechanized farming so we feed teeming hungry Nigerians.
11. The Nigerian judiciary is a disaster because of corruption. Fire or retire all judges and appoint news ones. Justice delayed is justice denied. Prolonged trial by frivolous delays and unnecessary adjournments should be criminalized.
12. Cabinet members: Don’t make your cabinet list look like All Progressives’ Congress, APC, membership or governors forum. Look for qualified and competent new faces within and outside Nigeria. Stop recycling the old corrupt ministers like Kayode Fayemi, Rauf Aregbesola, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and others.
13. Establish a national health scheme where all Nigerians will have free medical services and prescription drugs.
14. All the federal agencies and corporations headed and dominated by Fulanis: NNPC, Armed Forces, Customs, Immigration, Aviation, Railways, EFCC, ICPC, Prisons, Judiciary, Security Council, FCT, federal ministries, ambassadorial posts, and all others must be staffed with highly skilled, qualified and trained professionals reflecting a federal character as stipulated in the constitution.
15. Revoke all oil block licenses issued to individuals.
If the past is a prologue, Nigeria is in dire need of a leadership revolution. A good leader is essential. He provides direction, makes difficult choices and decisions, and inspires others to achieve their best. He helps create an environment where people can thrive, succeed, and enjoy their work. Mr. President, get real, get clear, get smart, and get wound up by acting with vision, by being willing to take risks, by solving problems, and by being responsible and accountable for your actions. You have a rare opportunity to redeem your image and rewrite your legacy.
•Oluwasanmi, a United States of America, USA-based political and public analyst and can be reached via: bjoluwasanmi@gmail.com
