SIR: Congratulations to President Muhammadu Buhari on the journey so far and the success thereof, his relentless and tireless effort to tackle corruption since assumption of office.

He has been labelled ‘slow.’ I have no problem with that as an individual and as a Nigerian. ‘The moon moves slowly’, like the saying goes, ‘but by daybreak it crosses the sky.’ Such is the situation we have at hand. Rather than coming up with negative criticism, I think it will be more profitable for Nigerians to be prayerful and supportive to the only government that has sincerely come out to initiate a fight against corruption for the first time in the history of this country. That is total change.

It is a known fact that Nigerians are suffering. The basic essentials of life are never enjoyed by us. Unemployment, insecurity, food scarcity, epileptic power supply, bad roads and non-availability of potable water permeate the entire polity. Our health sector remains one of the worst you can get anywhere in the world.

Mr. President, I want you to present a bill to the National Assembly that any political office holder must never leave the shores of Nigeria for medical treatment abroad, which can be done at home. By this, effort will be put in place the plan to equip our hospitals so that all will have equal opportunity and access to good health care system. I look forward to a Nigeria where it becomes a national issue if one Nigerian is suffering from common malaria. This is to show the level of value that must be placed upon the Nigerian life. That again, is change.

On corruption, there is no doubt that you will do your best to tackle it at all levels. If corruption is fought to a standstill, other basic social amenities will be in place without much effort. There must not be any sacred cow. The Judiciary must be absolutely independent in the discharge of responsibilities. With this, the common man will be assured of justice in the law court. I call that change.

As a young politician, I envision a Nigeria that is free from election violence. But violence will persist if political offices are made so attractive and juicy. This calls for a total reform of our electoral system. Anybody who wants to enrich himself should distance himself from the political corridor. Let politics be reserved for only those who want to serve the people in a selfless and humanitarian capacity. Again, that is change..

While I enjoin you sir, Mr. President, to carry the people along, I urge Nigerians to be part of the dream of change and its pursuit.

Mr. President, please reflect on, decide and move to initiate a rebuilding process that will usher in a new Nigeria where people do not get rich overnight, a Nigeria where people are not honoured for stealing public funds, a Nigeria that is corruption-free, a Nigeria where graduates no longer roam the streets unemployed and redundant, a Nigeria where the constitution is not seen as a mere literary handbook that should be read and recited, but rules and regulations that should govern us as a people.

Anybody who is found to be corrupt should be stripped of every asset. Furthermore, he and his children up to the fifth generation should never be allowed to contest or occupy any political office.

• Kasimu Jafaru,
Lagos.