By Nudoiba Ojen
The President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr Israel Akanji, has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu has advised President Bola Tinubu on the steps to take to assuage the hardship in the country.
The Convention said that it was necessary for the Federal Government, among others, to “be seen to be appealing to the people of our country for more patience as they work assiduously to engage and ameliorate the hardship in the land”.
Akanji, in an open letter to President Tinubu, dated August 1, said, “The current palliatives being released can be likened to only a drop in the mighty ocean of our problems”, suggesting among others that “government should revisit the fuel subsidy removal by significantly reducing the current price of all fuel products in the country”.
The Baptist Convention called in the Federal Government to speak to the people as a matter of expediency, saying, “Silence, when speech is needed, is not helpful for our generation, which constantly thrives on information”.
Text of the letter below:
AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU (GCFR): YOUR EXCELLENCY SIR.
I bring you greetings during this hard time that we have found ourselves as a nation.
In my Pastoral Letter to our Church (Nigerian Baptist Convention), I kept in obedience to the word of our Saviour, Jesus Christ that says: “first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). Therefore, my submission to them was in the fear that the protest could be hijacked, which might lead to further possible disaster.
I wish now to turn to our government at all levels, through Your Excellency, with a few suggestions, in addition to, or repetition of the suggestions of others, on possible ways out of the present situation.
1. The three tiers of the government have to accept and acknowledge the fact that there is hardship in the land and come up with realistic ways of leading the nation out of the problems at such a time as this.
2. Government should be clearly seen to be appealing to the people of our country for more patience as they work assiduously to engage and ameliorate the hardship in the land. The current palliatives being released can be likened to only a drop in the mighty ocean of our problems.
3. Government should further address the security situation in the country with a view to returning farmers to their farms in order to cure food insecurity in the country.
4. Government at all levels should mobilise our teaming Youths with incentives to make farming attractive before the rainy season ceases. They should also assist directly in bringing back the culture of storing farm produce in the silos nationwide.
5. Government should create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for the teaming, intelligent and energetic youths of our country.
6. Government should bring tax holiday and other incentives to the industrial and business sectors, particularly in order to bring back all small and big industries that have left the country. This will generate massive employment.
7. Government should revisit the fuel subsidy removal by significantly reducing the current price of all fuel products in the country.
8. Government should direct the Apex Bank to rescue the Naira from unending depreciation. No country allows her currency to fade away.
9. Government at all levels should follow the footsteps of the House of Representatives that reduced the wages of its members. FEC should also do the same if the member of the cabinet cannot be reduced.
10. The lifestyles of our political office holders should reflect the reality on ground in the nation in the areas of emoluments and benefits.
11.Governments at all levels should be carrying the traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stake holders along, before introducing policies that can trigger protests. Doing so after things have gone out of hand is an indication of repeating past mistakes.
12.Government at all levels should facilitate dialogue with all stakeholders in order to douse the current tension in the country.
13.Government should take all early warning signals of danger seriously. If the cries and calls of the masses had been respected and given the urgent attention they deserved, we are not likely to get to the level we now have reached.
14.Government, through its numerous hands, must maintain constant communication with the people of our country, to explain situations and answer questions being asked. Silence, when speech is needed, is not helpful for our generation, which constantly thrives on information. Therefore, all levels of government must seek to utilize their opportunities to address the people of our country.
15. Even now, it is expedient that Government should speak to the people. The people are eager to hear.
Thank you very much for your attention. May the Almighty God help you to lead our nation aright so that the people of this country will forever remain grateful for your time as our President.
In His Grace and Royal Service.
Rev Dr Israel Akanji, FAR, FNACM (Zaki)
President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention
