Okogie writes Buhari, says Nigerians are hungry
Anthony Cardinal Okogie
Nation in search of peace, security, cleric affirms
Nigerians are hungry and they urgently need succour from President Muhammadu Buhari. They want him to fulfill his campaign promises by providing good leadership that will check hunger and poverty in the land. This was the message contained in a letter that Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Cardinal Anthony Okogie, wrote to Buhari.
Reminding the president that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) promised to change the country for the better but has not done so, Okogie said: “Nigerians are still waiting for the promises to be fulfilled.” According to the cleric, “change is not real when old things that we ought to discard refuse to pass away.” He urged the president to take a critical look at his cabinet, as well as the policies and programmes of his administration, including those who help him to formulate and execute the policies with a view to making necessary adjustments that will help him deliver on his promises.
Okogie’s letter went viral on the social media last night. The Guardian made efforts to reach him and the Catholic Director of Communications Archdiocese of Lagos, Very Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Osu on telephone to confirm it. A subsequent phone call from Osu later confirmed that the letter actually emanated from Cardinal Okogie.In the letter to the President, Okogie said: “Last year, when you assumed office, the chant of ‘Change’, your campaign slogan, ushered you into the Presidential Villa. Today, cries of ‘hunger’ could be heard across the length and breadth of our vast country. Nigerians are hungry, not only for food, but for good leadership, for peace, security and justice.
This letter is to appeal to you to do something fast, and, if you are already doing something, to redouble your effort.“May it not be written on the pages of history that Nigerians died of starvation under your watch. As President, you are the chief servant of the nation. I, therefore, urge you to live up to the huge expectation of millions of Nigerians. A stitch in time saves nine.”
The archbishop emeritus, in suggesting the way forward for Nigeria, said: “This is the second year of your administration. You and your party promised to lead the masses to the promised land. It is not an easy task to lead. But by campaigning for this office, you offered to take the enormous task of leadership upon yourself. Nigerians are waiting for you to fulfill the promises you made during the campaign. They voted you into office because of those promises.
“The introduction of town hall meetings is a commendable idea. But in practice, you, not just your ministers, must converse with Nigerians. You are the President. You must be accountable to them. The buck stops on your desk. Even if your administration has no magic wand, at least give some words of encouragement. On this same score, please instruct your ministers, and insist that they be sincere and polite at those town hall meetings. Their sophistry will neither serve you nor Nigerians.
“Mr. President, if you want to leave a credible legacy come 2019, in all sincerity, please retool your administration. Change is desirable. But it must be a change for the better. Let this change be real. Change is not real when old things that we ought to discard refuse to pass away. You will need to take a critical look at your cabinet, at the policies and programmes of your administration, and at those who help you to formulate and execute them.
You will need to take a critical look at the manner of appointments you have been making. It is true that commonsense dictates that you appoint men and women you can trust, but if most of the people you trust are from one section of the country and practise the same religion, then you and all of us are living in insecurity.”
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In my opinion, the economic and social development problems in the Nation are created by Nigerian Leaders Kleptocracy over the years; since the 60’s. As observed, even with effective leadership, the economic and social development deficiencies
cannot be corrected in a decade because the economic rot in the Nation is too high. However, Mr. President is slow and has not
achieved much because Mr. President has no economic policy to move the Nation forward. For Mr. President to have economic policy he has to employ those who know about the economy and those with ideas. After all, ideas rule the world. As observed, Mr. President is surrounded by sycophants, political gold-diggers, and political jobbers. Some individuals in his cabinet and decision making positions in his administration are under-qualified, incompetent, and lack substance. This same issue is also applicable to the State Governors. This is why things are not working socially and economically in the Nation. Thank you.
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Oh dear! This letter should have been sent to the President in the form of ‘Cartoon(s)’. Buhari ONLY understands messages interpreted via Cartoons. This letter will surely not be opened by Mr President. So i urge the editorial team of Guardian Nigeria to as a matter of ‘National Emergency’, convey this very important message to Mr Buhari via Cartoon(s). Thanks..
Sincerely Yours,
Guttano
You mean Tom and Jerry, or even Trazan. The man watches cartoon network while Nigerias perish in hunger, herdsmen attack, bad economic policies, tribalistic appointments, fake APC change, etc.
If you are not a bl00dy hypocrite mention one Nigerian family or friend that you know died of hunger(starvation) since Buhari became President!You people instead of speaking the truth praying and working hard for the best just go about crying wolf wolf! “The man watches cartoon network while Nigerias perish in hunger” bl00dy idiot
MR Realist, you are a realist in deed. Like the proverbial ostrich, you have buried your head in the sand pretending not to see what is happening around you. You and I may be
able to have three square
meals. Those who are at the fringes,who in the good times (then 8% inflation) could scarcely have a meal may now, with 17% inflation have none. If they don’t have meals to eat, can they die of hunger? They don’t have to drop dead on your doorstep for you to believe. Have you read or heard the news of what is happening in the Internally Displaced People camps? That is what hunger does because of lack.
LOL………. APC…….. CHANGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
How do we expect 55 years of senseless squandering and unplanned living to be resolved in 1 year. We are always in a hurry to go nowhere. The best that we can expect within the next four years is that the bedrock of a structured economy be put in place, in such a way that whoever comes next can follow through and that there will be continuity and accountability entrenched in the public bureaucracy. If the present Government manages to do that, it will be the most notable achievement in Nigeria’s history. Anybody expecting some miracle return of the way things used to be is dreaming. We have run a country based on corruption for the past 55 years, and that it not to say that it doesn’t exist in the developed world (afterall look at Bernie Madoff and Phillip Green), but structures are in place to ensure that despite this, the economy is safe. I think our religious leaders have a responsibilty not to engage in scaremongering and sensationalising the situation, but rather should be holding our leaders publicly accountable for every penny they are spending in our name on a case by case basis. For 55 years, oil has had virtually no impact on the vast majority of our population which is so shameful. A tiny percentage have enjoyed the benefits and squandered them all. So how do we recover in one or two years from that, and then start building. It seems to me that all the fuss from bankers, contractors, politicians even journalists, is just corruption biting back, and I hope our government will remain steady and true to the course they are trying to set – and it is a tryout. But one thing is sure, things may get allegedly worse before they get better. I say allegedly because opportunities abound in this country, but easy free oil/government money has stopped us from using our heads.
When Goodluck Jonathan was President, Buhari and the APC were doing their best to convince Nigerians that Jonathan was the only problem we have in this country. All we have to do is, kick out Jonathan and install Buhari as President, and BAM, BAM, BAM, all our problems would be solved, virtually overnight. Now, we are all witnesses to the fact that Buhari is a clueless and incompetent President, totally bereft of ideas about how to solve the nations problems.
Nigeria is not the only country that is affected by the falling prices of oil, and while other oil producing countries are trying to come up with creative ideas to solve their countries’ financial crisis, Buhari is continually moaning about how past govts have destroyed the country’s economy, and how helpless he is. Hence, Cardinal Okogie, who was a strong Buhari supporter in the past, wrote the above letter to him.
Do you live in Nigeria, if so are you not seeing hunger and starvation as it destroys the masses, how can you call this laying bedrock, pls my friend provide basic things first and continue on ur long term plane, we need life to continue living till it onfold.
YOU ARE SUPER RIGHT MR. BISHOP, BUT THE MAN YOU HAVE WRITTEN TO ONLY LISTENS TO HIMSELF!
Oga Realist why don’t you state your opinion instead of calling people names. You don’t love Buhari more than others. What is being said is that he over promised but is under delivering. No more no less. Your masquerade has not lived up to expectations. Cheers
ONDO APC: AT LAST: WE RESTATE THE TRUTH
Yesterday, a landmark position
was made at the seat of power in Abuja where the President of the
Republic and the government of Nigeria
stated the position we have been canvassing for the past three weeks.
The President and the leader of the APC, President Muhammad Buhari,
through the Secretary to the Federal Government after a meeting with
aspirants in Ondo State stated as follows.
1. That there is no
favored candidate in the APC governorship primary and all contestants
should be given equal opportunities.
2. That no one should use the party machinery to favor any aspirant. Whoever does that shall be expelled from the party.
3. No one should resort to violence as any breach of the peace shall be
decisively dealt with by prosecution. If such acts of violence result
to death, the perpetrator would be charged for murder.
4. That all the aspirants are expected and required to sign a recognizance binding them to good and peaceful conduct.
Now that it has been revealed that those who said, Abraham was adopted
by Tinubu, Akande, Obasanjo (who is party less) and other unknown
argonauts would excuse us and allow the man to feature in his true garb
rather than clothing him in borrowed robes. At last the truth had been
told.
YOU DID NOT MENTION THIS. GOODLUCK JONATHAN WAS AT THE HEAD OF THE MOST CORRUPT AND VERY ROTTEN ADMINISTRATION IN THE HISTORY OF NIGERIA, MUST BE FULLY INVESTIGATED ALONG WITH ALL HIS VERY ROTTEN AGENTS AND CRONIES. WE MUST NOT ALLOW GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER. GOODLUCK JONATHAN NOT ONLY INSTITUTIONALISED CORRUPT IN OUR POLITY, HE MADE VERY MASSIVE AND VERY OBSCENE CORRUPTION A NORM, AN ETHOS AND A WAY OF LIFE IN NIGERIA. HOW GOODLUCK JONATHAN IS ABLE TO SLEEP VERY SOUNDLY AT NIGHT BAFFLES EVERY REASONABLE PERSON
You hater of peace, son of Satan Agbobu, your father was a water seller and he remained a poor man, leave GEJ alone, why are you jealous of a progressive man, why your amiable PMB has not arrest GEJ, you only spill out your frustration here on the daily newspaper because you lack constructive ideas, you APC e-Rat, you only rant here without a bite, stop fooling yourself because all your ranting fall short of any meaningful response, you are the type who are making Nigeria going backward, no nation shares resouces rather innovate and creative ideas to drive the Nigerian economy forward, your Buhari is clueless and lack the capacity to rule Nigeria, APC has failed Nigeria woefully if we have voted for Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria would have been a bit better rather than this dead man and dullard of Daura with cow ideas!!!! insane like you Agbobu APC e-rat, continue to hate GEJ but we love him and majority of Nigerians like me loves my ever President Goodluck Jonathan!!! Up GEJ!! we love you sir (GEJ)
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