Thirty minutes with President Jonathan

Finally stepping into the inner most parlor of the Presidential Villa was an energy consuming exercise. After leaving my car at the first gate, after passing two security checked points, yet I had to pass another four security checks, including three gates and finally inside the Press wait room.

President Jonathan

I didn’t saw Abbati, perhaps he has traveled to his village. Two men came stepped inside the room after staying there for about 30 minutes. The President wants to see you. It was already 11:00pm, I was then escorted inside a new SUV 2014 model to the quarters of the President. Two check points were mounted at the two gates. DSS agents were scattered all around. They were uncountable. We were escorted by a tall fair Nupe agent.

We passed two corridors, three parlors to finally met the President wearing a dark green Hausa half Jumfa dress. I wanted to greet the first lady as I saw her leaving.

Good evening Mr President. Evening he answered. You are welcome he continued. Have a seat. Thank you sir I groaned. A hot tea was already by our sides. Already in your time the President said ( general laughter).

Sir, good leadership as a result of free and fair elections have been among the longest aspirations of Nigerians since the return of civilian leadership in 1999. A question I asked President and this is what he got to say, “I set the stage for free and fair elections by constituting an electoral commission comprising of Nigerians with impeccable credentials for firmness and incorruptibility”.

I wonder what the sixteen thousand soldiers were doing in Ekiti during election this year. Most leaders only via for political offices to loot public funds so that they will continue living the lives of kings even after living office. I went further to ask Mr president about the issue of corruption and what he is doing about it.

” I charged our anti corruption agencies to speed up the war against corruption, and respect no sacred cows in the process”. But was the issue of the twenty billion dollars as reported by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi not taken serious and immediately investigated. The sixteen million dollars impounded money in South Africa?

Remembering the fuel subsidy removal crisis, I asked him, sir do you think Nigerians are happy with your administration? “If I read your message right, my government has not earned your trust. And without trust,

we have no moral authority to demand sacrifices from you. More so when we, the government, have not made sacrifices

ourselves.

I have come to realize that more than everything else, the Nigerian people want accountability from their leaders”. I quickly came in interrupting while I can see vivid anger in the eye of some aides of the president, but sir what…those that lost their lives, who is to blame”. I have seen the anger in the hearts of many suffering Nigerians. Your anger is well justified. The anguish of our youths, the despair of the old, can no longer be taken for granted. I fully accept the blame of all that happened”.

Mr President I continued, last week a United States based site rated you the sixth richest President in Africa, with a net worth of over 100 million dollars (16 billion naira) in your known accounts, from what is known allowance of the President by RMAF is 320 million naira yearly, what can you say about that? “I want Nigerians to know that I am worth 50 billion Naira(?).

My salary and allowances each year is about N320 million naira. That, my fellow Nigerians, is outrageous in a country where hundreds of millions of my fellow citizens live on less than N320 a day. To show how serious I am about the changes I want to put in place, I will forgo any salary and allowances for the rest of my term as president. Moving forward, I will pay for the feeding of my family and so will the vice president.

I am slashing the budget for feeding at the presidency to N300 million a year and that will be for visiting dignitaries alone. The 25% cut in salary that I announced two weeks ago for staff of the executive branch, I want to increase it to 50% for those making more than N2,000,000 a month. And it includes cuts to their allowances. I’m also cutting all other expenses in the budget for the presidency by half.

That alone will bring in N100 billion Naira back into the treasury. I have ordered the presidential fleet of aircrafts to be reduced to two instead of nine. We have serious problems in this country and we need to tackle them with all seriousness. Now, I cannot do it alone. I need your help for us to transform this country”. The president replied.

Mr President, with all the resources, forces and power of a government, with political, traditional and religious leader all round Nigeria, sir what do you think is the cause of moral decadence in Nigeria? ” I believe, one of the reasons why our society is not at ease is because we have neglected our ennobling traditional value system. There was a time in our country that when you were honoured with traditional or religious titles in any community, you were deemed to personify the highest ethos of that community”.

After more than 20 minutes with President, an aide came and dropped a note to the President. I observed the brief smile on the Presidents face. I was afraid it was over, I thought I will be asked to live. Please continue the president said while still smiling. Mr Presidents how do you see Nigerians contributing in seeing your transformation agenda come into effect? The President still smiling and nodding his head

” I thank the many individuals, stakeholders, groups, associations, non-governmental organisations, unions and political leaders from across the country who have, in recognition and appreciation of our efforts and commitment to repositioning our dear nation for more rapid growth and development, urged me to seek a second term in office. In deciding on an appropriate response to such calls, I will place the greater interests of national harmony, cohesion, unity, security, political stability, progress, equity, justice and fairness above any personal ambition or sectional agenda”.

It was only five minutes remaining, I still want to ask the President about 2015 general elections, insurgency, privatization, office of the first lady, etc.

Suddenly my phone ranged, and my 300 level law student brother was all over my head, have your phone is too disturbing. It was then that I understand I was dreaming, all said was a dream. (Laughter).

(All quotations were quoted from various speeches of the President – from www.statehouse.gov.ng)

Comrade Abdulbaqi Aliyu Jari

Katsina state

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Thirty minutes with President Jonathan