Sir, by your not so humble proclamation, I am a member of the “Collective Children of Anger” and I must say, I am proud to be one. Thank you for that honor done to me and others like me – we, who do not trust that the (present) government can be left alone to take all the vital decisions that directly impacts on our future. Sir, let me assure you, we would not relent neither will we stagger till those in government act justly for the collective interest of the governed.
But this open letter is not to debate “our” tenacity in the quest for good governance, no it is not. This open letter is to brief and debrief you on your utterances & mannerism as regards national issues. With all due respect Sir, the governed or “Children of Anger” do not ask for scrums of bread from the tables of the government, therefore we reserve our rights to question the way and manner in which a government official that is “paid, fed, transported and clothed” by Taxpayer’s money addresses us.
Need I remind you, Sir, that when you address the citizens of Nigeria, you are neither addressing your students in the university nor your former subordinates while you were with the Guardian Newspaper. When you address us, Sir, please note that you are addressing those that gave your boss a job to do, as well as provided room for you in the corridors of power. At least extend to us the courtesy due Stakeholders or joint shareholders in the Nigerian commonwealth; the same commonwealth to which you owe your monthly pay as of today.
What is in Kastina Windmill?
Sir, this question is not centered on the arrest of Mr. Egghead Odewale and his Friend at the Kastina Windmill on Saturday, no it is not. Rather, this question is about your response to questions asked by Nigerians on the social media platform, Twitter, as regards their arrest.
Without a flicker of doubt, you have more insight into the intelligence and security reports of the nation than any of us. I believe your response to questions/comments on Saturday is a reflection of this knowledge. You said and I quote: “FYI Egghead and Ibrahim were taking pictures of locations which have implications for National security and Foreign Relations”
From the above, the question to ask therefore becomes: What is Nigeria “hiding” in Kastina Windmill? What is at that location that if it becomes public knowledge can cause severe damage on our National Security and Foreign Relations? I understand from the arrest that there was an abduction of a French Contractor some weeks back at the same site of Kastina Windmill and everyone found around the site since then has been treated as a suspect or something close. If the abduction of the French citizen is a cause for National security concern, this is understandable and if this can/will affect our Foreign Relations, it is equally understandable.
What is not clear is why a harmless activity such as taking pictures of the Kastina Windmill can result in National security or Foreign Relations threat?
If Mr. Egghead Odewale and his Friend were not taking pictures of the windmill – according to you – then what really is ‘behind’ the Kastina windmill? At least we can insinuate by your utterance that there is more to the Kastina windmill than the windmill itself, and that Egghead Odewale knows more than he claims to know, hence his mission at Kastina.
For all our sakes, I sincerely hope that you have an intelligent answer to this question, because if not, am sure you know that you have put the entire nation at a great risk by your very careless utterance – an utterance am certain a year one international relations undergraduate will not make.
Moving on…
The Presidential Media Team
What went wrong here? How did you and your team succeed in a very short period to make a once “loved” President become the most hated in the history of this nation? I must say Sir; your Presidential Media team has to be the most porous ever in the history of our nation.
I have not been here long enough to relate first-hand the media team of President Sheu Shagari but I recall vividly the media head of some of the worst Military Junta in this nation. And I must confess they did perform better than your Team has done so far. Sir, Senator Uche Chukwumerije who served as Minister of Information and doubled as the Spokesman for ”Maradona” Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida would never have uttered some of the statements that have been credited to you in this democratic setting.
Sir, you and your team have belittled the Presidency so greatly that even the loquacious era of Femi Fani-Kayode has nothing on you. If you must know Sir, indeed you have “sold” the entire presidency in such bad tastes that even Ima Niboro now has bragging rights that he did a better job while in the office.
I want to believe you know your job but the ability to perform excellently seems to be lacking with you, after all your boss “does not give a damn” about your performance. It is quite sad (well, not for someone like me) for people who used to look up to you either as a role model or an example of brilliance to realize that you really are not what you seemed.
Dr Reuben Abati, if one is to predict your reaction to this letter on the basis of your past responses & utterances – usually borne out of misplaced loyalty, anger and arrogance – then it is certain you will not disappoint this time either. I can only hope against all hope that somehow you’ll manage to prove us all wrong and try to redeem your image and that of your boss while you’re at it.
‘Wale Babatunde is a TechnoPreneur and Social Entrepreneur, with a keen interest in Politics.
Follow him on Twitter: @BabatundeJnr
