3 months ago
42
Today I bring you the final part of Honourable Ben Etanabene’s huge thoughts on the hunger protest which his letter gives vent to. The letter is something that is something.
I have moved motion on the floor of the House on the Amukpe/Eku/Agbor/Uromi Road. Ditto Warri/Benin Road. These are federal roads, yet nothing really good has happened so far. These roads are completely bad and are not passable. I had also moved a motion on the floor regarding the opening of Sapele/Warri/Koko/Burutu Ports. Why the government has not done anything in this direction is something the government explain to our people. Must only Lagos Port be the port that works or where works work?
NO! NO! NO!!! We cannot run Nigeria like “Area Representatives” in government and in power. For those who want to hear me, please listen and listen well. And don’t abuse me like many of you do concerning the matter of constituency project. Mr. Falana didn’t state the truth recently when he referred to the amount of five hundred million naira constituency projects allocated to each legislator. That is not correct.
The amount allocated to me is three hundred and thirteen million naira. The projects are domiciled in government ministries and departments. They are in the 2024 budget. They are not to be executed by me. I don’t have the means to advertise for them personally and award the projects and pay the contractors. That’s not how it works (for each legislator). Till my moment of writing no kobo has been released and given to any contractor to execute any project.
No government ministry, parastatal or agency has received any money. I challenge anyone to prove me wrong. This is my personal knowledge. You may recall that one senator said “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” Maybe he’s correct.
The whole idea of constituency projects was to give a cosmetic semblance to indicate that small, meaningful federal presence is visible even if it’s not felt. People should stop harassing me: I know nothing concerning any humongous allowance.
My yearly house allowance, let me say it loud and louder, is less than one million naira, yet I cannot find a moderate house in Abuja unless I have ten million naira to pay yearly. My best bet will be to relocate to Gwagwalada. Perhaps I will find a place for three million naira yearly. This is still far more than my yearly allowance as a law-maker.
Mr. President should suspend coastal road construction and use the fifteen trillion naira to buy military hard-wares, hitec military surveillance equipment, recruitment of non-employed NYSC able-bodied chaps in the last five years who are interested into the Army on contract basis. We must take this fight to the terrorists and bandits who are preventing our people from farming thereby causing the hunger in country. We must take back our country from the bandits. It is time to do so. We must attack on all fronts simultaneously.
The President must acquire and Nigerianise all minerals’ sites in Northern Nigeria as is the case of oil in the Niger Delta. Mr. President must also stop oil bunkering. No unauthorised vessel must be allowed into our waters. The Nigerian Navy must be compelled to do the needful. No sacred cow must be tolerated therefore.
Nigeria needs State Police now more than ever. We in the Niger Delta must flush all herdsmen from bushes and forests in and around the state (as well as other states). State/Community Police will put security in the hands of the locals who know the various bushes and terrains in and around their communities. By fiat Mr. President can and should do this and summon the national assembly in order to brief us on his action that the national assembly should endorse. Anytime the national assembly can be summoned to do the needful urgently just as we were recently summoned from vacation on matters of grave national concern.
Mr. President should pronounce amendments on the electoral process in the country to give confidence to Nigerians. That 2027 will not be business as usual. ‘All results must be transmitted electronically. there shall be no manual release of results.’ Why is there no electoral crisis in South Africa? The process there is transparent, and the citizens see and accept it as such.
Mr President should quickly invite Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi and Alhaji Kwankwanso to a crucial meeting on the way forward. There must be a Nigeria first before any consideration/agreement of/on who will be the next president. We all must mellow our criticism of Nigeria in the eyes of foreign countries. It is time for wholistic consultations and sharing of patriotic ideas with those who hold opposing ideas. It is necessary to do so now.
I salute the courage of many patriotic police men in the course of this protest. They should continue to maintain the peace. Mr. President should order FERMA immediately to commence repairs on a wide scale on Nigerian roads with the necessary funds available. Mr President should endorse requests for immediate large-scale implementation of policies to promote small scale industries.
There is the need to target the really vulnerable among our teeming population for the purpose of immediate cash transfer to them to cushion their pains at these trying times.
Finally, Mr President should address the protesters personally and persistently. He should sincerely appeal to them. I trust President Tinubu as one who is not speaking of him from the outside. He is one of the best orators I have ever seen form close range. I can recall his speech when he summoned all elected legislators to appeal to them over the matter of the leadership of the House. Powerful speech!!! I was seated not far away from him at the 2023 NBA opening ceremony. You can’t take away the power of communication from Mr. President. He is superb. He has a good heart for Nigeria. In spite of his age, he keeps going and going for Nigeria.
Were it not for his personal intervention, Labour would not have backed down on the issue of the minimum wage. Now we need his charisma as I urge him to re-enact those moments and speeches loaded with his usual humour. I think what I am canvassing will work the expected magic.
Mr President, please don’t listen to the advice of those who want you to “show power” at this moment. The stronger of two quarrelling persons is the one who restrains the urge in him from attacking the one who slaps first. The situation is getting bad, but there is still the window or door to open to curb it, even if it is getting late to do so.
Lastly, lastly and lastly, let me appeal to the protesters to calm down. Your demand for good governance will not be in vain. It has been heard. The government has heard you. It is time to go home and wait for government’s response regardless of what may or may not happen before then. To stay on the streets to continue the protest will not add anything further to that already has been passed. The message you have delivered has been communicated loud and clear. Please, please, please, it is time to leave the streets. Go back to your homes and wait for the dividends of the protest.
Our journalists, newspapers and columnists as well as those in the electronic media should kindly join me to appeal to the protesters continuously until they heed my counsel. As a lawmaker, I appeal to them to play leading roles more than those of us pleading now. We don’t want a chaotic Nigeria. We don’t want to hear “To thy tent O Israel!”
My suggestions are not perfect. I won’t pretend that they are. But all of us must talk or else this problem will consume us all. There must be Nigeria for us to live in as one in happiness whether as Mr. President, Honourables, Senators, journalists, columnists, Professors, protesters, etc. etc., etc. Those who may insult me are free to do so. My colleagues in the national assembly may be the first to fire at me first. No wahala. I will not be shorter than my present six point three feet high/tall build.
What a long letter! What a huge letter!
Best regards.
Honourable BE.
Concluded.
Afejuku can be reached via 08055213059.
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