By Charles Okeibunor
Dear Mr. President,
One of the most effective ways of leading is by influence. And one of the most efficient methods of influence is by exemplification.
As an accomplished professional, two-time Governor, and astute businessman, what if you felt our pain by announcing that as part of your solidarity with Nigerians, you will not be earning a salary or any form of allowances while in office?
What if you announced that all your political appointees will earn 50% of existing salaries and allowances accruing to their offices; inviting those who wish to also waive theirs?
After all, some have lived at the expense of taxpayers since our return to democracy 23 years ago.
What if you also called on the National Assembly to consider doing same?
What if you announced that no member of the national assembly or their companies are permitted to execute government contracts during your tenure?
In addition, what if you announced that zero-based budgeting approach will be strictly applied by your government where funds are allocated based on program efficiency and necessity rather than budget history?
Finally Sir, NNPCL told us on September 12, 2022, that Nigeria loses 700 million dollars monthly to oil theft!
The immediate past senate president corroborated this information when he said we lose 1,000,000 barrels of oil daily to these national saboteurs.
At today’s rate, that is approximately $74 per barrel, it aggregates to $74,000,000 dollars daily.
If $ 10 billion was spent on Subsidy in 2022, do you realise that were all the oil produced to be exported, we would recover 9.4 billion dollars worth of oil?
It means that if crude oil theft ended, and we even maintained the subsidy regime, we would be spending approximately 600 million dollars on subsidy rather than 10 billion dollars!
So, what if you tell us that within your first 100 days in office, you will stop the hemorrhage of oil theft and this blatant unabated stealing of our commonwealth?
What if we can see from your eyes, words, and actions that you really mean business of saving the nation from its definite deficit status?
This in my opinion is how to sincerely feel the pains of Nigerians Mr President.
Yours faithfully,
Charles Okeibunor
