An Open Letter To President Muhammadu Buhari By Edwin Clark: A Rejoinder And Limitless Thanks To President Buhari, Governor Ganduje And Naval Chief Zubairu

An Open Letter To President Muhammadu Buhari By Edwin Clark: A Rejoinder And Limitless Thanks To President Buhari, Governor Ganduje And Naval Chief Zubairu

By

Abbati Bako,psc,bsis,UK

The open letter written to President Buhari by the one time Minister in the first Republic and old man of the First Republic doesn’t come as a surprise to any right thinking Nigerian. The open letter sounds as old as the writer based on the fact that it was written in an old style of English language, and again the writing was too long to be called an open letter rather, an article written by Mr. Edwin Clark to express his views on National issues; a form of freedom of speech, as is his right according to Nigeria’s Constitution of 1999 and the Democratic system.

Second, Mr Edwin Clark in his old wealth of knowledge still thinks military Naval Base can only be established in coastal areas, forgetting that the world has changed and will continue changing. This means that the world is now on “globalism system” that has digitalized information and made it easily accessible. The issue of establishing Naval Base is beyond the scope of coastal areas because of security challenges in not only such areas but everywhere around the world.

The good intention to build a Naval Base in Tofa Local Government area of Kano State is perfect and an excellent political will by President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (OFR) and the Naval Chief Zubairu, an indigene of Kano State. The current global Security challenges need to be tackled from every angle in the country. That is to say that formation of synergy by every security sector in the country is paramount so that Nigeria can be in peace, with economic prosperity and social happiness of all citizens. 

Mr. Edward Clark criticized the establishment of a Naval Military Base in Tofa LGA of Kano State by describing it as “Nepotism” and an egocentric tendency by the President Buhari’s administration. But this writing opines that Mr. Clark has failed to understand that a united Nigeria needs to be secured in all parts of the nation; for instance, each geopolitical zone be under protection of security personnels be it Military, Airforce, Naval, Police, DSS, Civil Defence and so on. On the security issue of any nation the target has to be the protection of all citizens!

Although there is political coloration in our body politics but President Buhari is doing his best to ensure Nigeria and Nigerians are secured and this writing is hopeful that before the end of the year 2022 Nigeria’s security establishments will tackle the security challenges in the country. Kudos to the Governor of Kano State of Nigeria Dr. Ganduje (OFR) for making all efforts to ensure that Kano State is the number one secured in the country. He allocated thousands of hectares of land for the set-up of military training in Falgore in Doguwa LGA of Kano State of which is a plus to the State’s security. And now, Naval Military Base in Tofa LGA. These are some of the reasons that Kano State is becoming more and more prosperous economically and socially. Land is (now) more valuable in Kano State than in Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos or any other State in Nigeria. 

This writing calls on global investors to continue to come to Nigeria especially Kano State for the establishment of industries and other commercial activities. Kano State can be counted amongst the largest economic hub not only in Africa but the entire world. This writing said it several times that Nigeria is an Economic Emerging Nation on the trial of economic reforms that we agreed and signed to implement in 1989 based on what Political Economists described as “Washington Consensus” designed for Emerging Economic Nations of the South South Nations of the world. Hence, Nigeria will not be in isolation based on the fact that Globalization Policy is a bandwagon system; although tasking during implementation, but many nations succeeded and are now enjoying economically and socially. 

Conclusively, Nigerians should understand that we are moving forward in implementing the policies on economic reforms (deregulation, removal of subsidy, privatization, tax reforms, protection of intellectual property and the rest) and this writing assures Nigerians that Nigeria is better than the Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and many emerging nations. For Nigeria and Nigerians to have Economic Security and Freedom of Wants; is a matter of time inshaAllah. Many Nigerians may not (currently) understand the logic behind the economic hardships until when we have achieved economic stability.

Dr. Abbati Bako,psc,bsis,UK Political Strategy and Communication Consultant and Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State on Public Affairs