Media Dialogue: An Open Letter To President Tinubu By Ugoji Egbujo

Media Dialogue: An Open Letter To President Tinubu By Ugoji Egbujo

At times, it felt like you were gracefully presenting a polished campaign manifesto on stage, showering the audience with promises, while the journalists nodded…READ MORE… along like obedient sheep. Such is the power of your oratory! You dazzled them with your eloquence, and they conveniently overlooked your year and a half in office. Baba, Olorun, your delivery captivated them, leading to an avalanche of praise, likely not driven by any transport incentives. You share a gift with Martin Luther King. Abati has acknowledged that you weren’t prepped with questions. A political genius, indeed.

It takes sharp intellect to tackle queries from sleepy, obsequious journalists without a clue as to what uninspired questions they might hurl at you. Yet, they neglected to ask about the Naira’s tumble to 1650 to the dollar, despite your initial promise to lift it to 300 in your first term. They didn’t express curiosity about the magic needed to ignite an industrial revolution in a nation grappling with abysmal power supply.

But forgive me, Baba: your 2025 budget stands at a mere 30 billion dollars. Only a quarter of that, supported by new loans, is set for capital projects. I dreaded they’d press you on your trillion-dollar economy aspiration. Olorun, I feared they’d challenge you! You wisely avoided a live broadcast to sidestep any pitfalls, yet they didn’t even broach the subject of electoral and judicial reforms.

My esteemed President, disregard that lady named Maupe. She dared to ask if fighting corruption was your priority. When you explained how you’ve utilized the minimum wage increase—imposed by the NLC—to combat corruption, she veered into allegations of grand theft. As if she possessed greater insight on criminal justice than you. The presidency deserves respect—she herself is Yoruba; would she ever dreamed of questioning Abacha on torture? Is it your democratic nature that renders her bold? Such is how your political adversaries claim you awarded the Lagos-Calabar road contract to a friend without due process.

They disregard the fact that this friend helped transform a coastal area plagued by erosion into a stunning tourist haven. Maupe Ogun thought her insinuations were too clever for you to catch. Has any government ever found you corrupt? If she has inquiries, why not direct them to Umahi, who awarded the contract? Some of these journalists have whispered behind your back that several ministers you appointed are tainted politicians with files at the EFCC. Don’t they know that everyone is innocent until proven guilty? Are you the EFCC chair?

This leads me to Babajide Otitoju, a man from your circle. Instead of commencing with meaningful questions, he asked why you advocated for cost-cutting while presiding over a bloated cabinet. Where is his loyalty? He embodied the Arise childishness. Is he unaware that a nation of 200 million might require upwards of 200 ministers? They stir public sentiment against you, painting you as a hypocrite.

Often, it’s the home rat that reveals to visiting rats the food stash. If TVC is branding your cabinet as excessive and wasteful, what should a jobless, red-capped Kwankwasiyya man in Kano state? Regardless, you may forgive him, as he regained composure to ask a more pertinent question on price controls. At least you used that moment to showcase your education in the free market in America, coupled with experience at Deloitte and Mobil, its initiation dubious but its outcome polished.

Before I forget, Baba, I admired how you handled Reuben Abati. You skillfully deflected his jabs. He’s a muddled partisan disguised as a journalist on television. With a roundabout approach, he implied our friend, the FCT minister, might be corrupt and could jeopardize your re-election. Typical agbaya! While you might feel discomfort about Wike’s conduct regarding Abuja land, does Abati expect you to voice that in public? As an experienced, tactical politician, he should know better.

He seeks to use you to settle his quarrels with Wike. Even if the man reallocates land to his allies, isn’t that just politics in Nigeria? Abati may not grasp that elections require funding. Fellow citizens say a child on a mother’s back cannot gauge the journey’s length. I appreciate how you recognized Wike’s role; land reallocations to his associates isn’t corruption, as they are Nigerians entitled to land allotments. Did you notice Abati subtly warning you about potential reelection troubles? Does he think you’re naive like Jonathan?

Mr. President, it pleases me to declare your performance commendable. You should be recognized by the UN. But please, next time, don’t argue your excessive cabinet size for ‘efficiency’—frame it as a need for ‘national unity.’ You’ve struck down both petrol and dollar subsidies with finesse. Moreover, you’ve deftly subdued the NLC—its president seems to have conceded. You are instructing this indifferent nation on management. If the ungrateful citizens won’t praise you, why not praise yourself?

They continue lamenting and blaming the rain on you—haven’t you been granting food and funds at Bourdillon for over thirty years? Yet, they return home, spouting foolish tales about ‘bullion vans.’ One of those drowsy journalists dared lay the blame for food stampedes at your feet. If someone cannot conceive a child, must they blame Tinubu? When you disperse aid at Bourdillon, do people perish? I concur; people who possess little should refrain from sharing.

You stunned them by announcing 2000 tractors; they didn’t foresee that! When agriculture becomes appealing again, as you promised, they might urge you for a third term. Ignore those criticizing 2000 as too few. How many did Peter Obi procure during his stint as Anambra governor? What’s Atiku’s agricultural acquisition record? Olorun, those asking, “Where’s the maize? Where’s the cassava?” will soon see maize! The Agbado revolution is on the horizon! Your plans to feed Saudi Arabia show we’re not merely a pilgrimage-dependent, aid-seeking nation forever chasing foreign loans. With these fresh tractors, we will clear forests for cultivation. Those discontented individuals claiming land seizures in Abuja can claim as much land in Nassarawa or Niger to farm, finally living purposefully while paying taxes.

My president, the multitude of hungry Nigerians supports you. They appreciate your empathy, especially during those midnight visits to alleviate their suffering, as Orji Kalu mentioned. The anger from a minority seeking to uphold shallow lifestyles—flying girlfriends for mere thousands or dining lavishly—should not deter you. Some wish to continue buying foreign rice for N5000 to maintain an illusory life. A LASUTH pediatrician ought to be riding a keke but instead cries ‘T-Pain’ over his Mercedes, wanting to ‘japa.’

When your policies teach them lessons in top-tier management, they call you T-Pain. Should they desire their lavish lives to persist, they should pursue politics and secure elections. You’ve shared tales of friends with Rolls Royces downgrading to Hondas due to fuel costs, yet they dismiss your truth, insisting your friends “feast like gluttons.” So how can anyone flaunt your name alongside a Rolls Royce without facing consequences?

By the way, my president, my friend Warawara proposed a method to make agriculture alluring. Deploy all female NYSC members to the new farm settlements in Local Government Areas, ensuring they receive excellent security with satellite-supported French monitoring. Entice young ladies to promote the appealing aspects of farm life on Instagram, drawing male redeployment. Once that occurs, capturing interest in politics is next; reserving 50% of political appointments for women under 35 could also channel youth energy into parties. In the military, you’d call it Number 6.

Mr. President, happy holidays! Rest assured, your time will not spoil. Whenever Abuja feels overwhelming, return to Eko. You are one of us. I love to see you pause busy Lagos roads, imparting lessons in order. Your lengthy motorcades inspire pride; that long line of hungry faces waiting for assistance at your gates made me swell with pride. Some view it as an eyesore—poorest citizens queuing without dignity for sustenance at your feet.

They fail to see your compassion, sir. You genuinely care for the underprivileged, and if the media doesn’t reciprocate, consider avoiding them next time. Instead, host Tinubu Townhalls with progressives, distanced from the sycophantic journalists

For More Information And News Update, Join Ireporteronline WhatsApp Channel With Link Below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaV4jB6DuMRgwqnJCF32 For advertisement inquiries only, kindly send a message to 09010649814 on Whatsapp