Open Letter to President Buhari From Kogi Youth

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His Excellency
The President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Aso Villa,
Abuja.

OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA FROM THE YOUTH OF KOGI STATE

Your Excellency, we watched and listened to your national broadcast to the world yesterday, Thursday October 22, 2020 at 7pm with keen interest and just as you have said you have heard the youth loud and clear, we the youth from Kogi State have also heard you loud and clear and are the first to heed to your instructions to engage your government in negotiations.

Your Excellency, recall that on Wednesday 13th November 2019, during the run up to the Kogi State general elections, you asked His Excellency Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, The Honorable Minister of Transportation Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, and other members of the party to come to Kogi State to help heal the divisions in the APC. At that meeting your Excellency, you gave us reassurances through His Excellency Governor Mallam Nasir El Rufai that you would address the issues plaguing the people of Kogi State.

Your Excellency, amongst the issues listed was the immediate reconstruction of the Itobe -Ajaokuta – Okene road which was at that time the worst Federal Road in Nigeria and now competing for one of the worst roads in West Africa. To further reassure me and the rest of the Kogites (especially the youth) of your commitment, Governor Mallam Nasir El Rufai volunteered to drive through the road to Ankpa local government in Kogi State to reassure our political, community and religious leaders of your commitment to fixing this road which has been the bane and the shame of all Kogites for almost two decades.

Mr President, I regret to inform you that to this day there has been zero progress on this initiative. After due diligence and investigation, we discovered that the previous contract for the road was issued in February 2015 to SCOA group right before the general elections. Upon raising alarms and following the process, we monitored the contract’s revocation from the SCOA group. We also traced a letter of a special intervention fund you created for the repair of the Itobe bridge in 2019.

Your Excellency, I must once again inform you that the new contract and the special intervention fund you created has since been shrouded in secrecy. We have been forced to apply to the Ministry of Works under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) to find out the name of the company and the individuals who have decided to deny the people of Kogi State good roads.

At this critical time where we the youth have very little faith left in the sincerity of our government to meet their campaign promises, it is critical that you take immediate actions to restore our faith in our government. The current protests are not merely about ending SARS, but about accountability and sincerity of government.

Your Excellency, we do not need new promises. We simply need you to fulfill the one you made personally to me and to the people of Kogi State. This action will go a long way in showing not just Kogites and Nigerians but the rest of the world that you are a government that keeps to its promises.

In order to accomplish this, a special intervention fund needs to be created immediately to not just fix the Itobe – Ajaokuta – Okene road, but other disastrous roads in Kogi State including but not limited to the Lokoja – Abuja expressway, the Kabba – Mopamuro – Yagba East – Yagba West – Ekiti road, the Bassa – Dekina road, Okehi – Adavi road, Okene – Ogori – Magongo road, Idah – Ibaji – Anambra road, Ankpa – Omala – Olamaboro roads, Kaba – Ijumu road amongst others. 

Your Excellency, we the youth will form part of an oversight committee to ensure reputable construction firms complete these projects within one calendar year from commencement. We believe that this singular act will restore our faith in your government, create new jobs, restore our dignity as a people and most importantly show us that the government can fulfil its promises.

Your Excellency, November 12, 2020 will mark one calendar year from when you made this promise and commitment to the people of Kogi State. We hope to receive a favorable response from you and have a committee established before this date.

Yours sincerely,
Prince Mustapha Mona Audu
Concerned Kogi Youth Leader and Patriotic Nigerian


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