Open Letter to President Tinubu by Asiwaju Coalition of Yoruba Youths: A Call From Home - Your Children Are Dying

The National Coordinator of the Asiwaju Coalition of Yoruba Youths (ACYY), Ayinde A. Abduljaleel, has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider the plight of the common man in his administration's policies. 

Ayinde emphasized that the high cost of living, unemployment, and economic instability have made life unbearable for the average Nigerian, and as a leader, the President is in a unique position to alleviate their suffering.

In a press release on Wednesday titled, “A Call From Home - Your Children Are Dying”, and addressed to the president, Ayinde acknowledged President Tinubu's efforts in developing the country, particularly in the South-West region. 

“We recognize and appreciate your contributions to our economy and the empowerment of our people,” he stated. “However, we are deeply concerned that some of your policies have brought hardship to the masses. As young Nigerians, we believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that our government is efficient and accountable to its people. Therefore, we would like to offer our advice on how to address the issues facing this administration,” the statement read in part.

Read the Full Press Release Below:

A Call From Home - Your Children Are Dying

Dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,

We, the ASÍWÁJÚ Coalition of Yoruba Youth, are writing to you on behalf of the Yoruba people. As a youth organization committed to the progress and development of our people and as your Children, we cannot remain silent while our fellow citizens suffer under your policies.

We recognize and appreciate all the efforts you have made towards the development of our country, particularly in the South-West region. Your contributions to the growth of our economy and the empowerment of our people cannot be overlooked. However, we have noticed with great concern that some of your policies have brought hardship to the masses. We understand that as a leader, you have to make tough decisions for the betterment of citizens.

However, we urge you to consider the plight of the common man in your policies. The high cost of living, unemployment, and economic instability have made life unbearable for the average Nigerian, and as a leader, you have to alleviate their suffering.

We call on you to lessen the hardship on the citizens through your policies. We urge you to create more job opportunities for the youth, provide affordable housing for the masses, and improve the standard of living for the people.

We also implore you to use your influence to advocate for a more inclusive government that reflects the diversity of our country. The Yoruba people have always been known for their hospitality and inclusiveness, and we believe that you share these values. Therefore, we urge you to support policies that promote unity and cohesion among all ethnic groups in Nigeria.

We would also like to express our concerns regarding the high cost of governance in our country. As young Nigerians, we believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that our government is efficient and accountable to its people. Therefore, we would like to offer our advice on how to address the issue of the high cost of governance.

One of the key areas that we believe needs to be addressed is the size of the cabinet. Currently, we have a large number of Ministers, Directors, Chairmen, and their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, which creates a significant financial burden on the government. We understand that each MDA is important for the smooth running of the country, but we would like to suggest a cabinet reshuffle or merging of some ministries to reduce the cost of governance.

We believe that some ministries can be merged without compromising their effectiveness. 

For example, the Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing can be combined into one ministry as they all deal with infrastructural development. This will not only save costs but also promote better coordination and efficiency.

Similarly, the Ministry of Transportation and Aviation could also be merged into one, as they both deal with the movement of people and goods. This will not only cut costs but also promote synergy and better decision-making.

Furthermore, we suggest combining the Ministry of Water Resources with the Ministry of Agriculture. These two ministries have a significant overlap in their responsibilities, and merging them would not only save costs but also promote better collaboration for the development of our agricultural sector.

We also recommend merging the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Science and Technology. In today's world, communication and technology go hand in hand, and combining these two ministries will not only save costs but also promote innovation and growth in the tech sector.

We understand that any changes to the cabinet can be a sensitive issue, but we believe that the government must lead by example and show its commitment to reducing the cost of governance.

In addition to cabinet reshuffling or merging, we also suggest that the number of special advisers and aides to the President and other government officials be reduced to a more reasonable number. This will also contribute to cutting costs and promoting efficiency.

Mr. President, we believe that these changes, if implemented, will go a long way in reducing the cost of governance in our country. We urge you to seriously consider our advice and take necessary actions for the benefit of our nation and its people. We appeal to you to use your position of power and influence to bring about positive change for the people. We believe that with your leadership, we can achieve a more prosperous and equitable society for all. Thank you for considering our plea.

Yours Sincerely,

Ayinde Akorede Abduljaleel.

National Coordinator,

Asiwaju Coalition of Yoruba Youths.

25th September, 2024