By Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has asked the federal government to avoid the use of force to resolve the various agitations by the component parts of the Nigerian federation.
He said instead the president should initiate a process of addressing those grievances in a well coordinated manner.
Okupe expressed this view in an open letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari and made available to journalists in Abuja.
The former presidential aide said that history has shown that when agitations are real and genuine, in just a matter of time, they would eventually be resolved; either positively or negatively to the detriment of the nation.
He described the agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra, restructuring and resource control as products of genuine fears corroborated by clinically evident actions and inactions of the government that need to be addressed.
While commenting on the recent broadcast of the president upon his return from medical vacation, Okupe said Buhari’s speech did not help to calm frayed nerves and provide hope or the country,Â
Okupe said if Buhari must leave a good legacy for himself and his administration, he would have to increase and widen the scope of consultations nationally and be prepared to adopt and employ new approaches in this rapidly changing world.
On the fight against insurgency in the North-eastern part of Nigeria, Okupe suggested a deployment of additional 20,000 troops in the region within 90 days as well as leasing of fighter jets from friendly Nations as a way of boosting the fighting power of the military and ensuring that the war does not prolong beyond the lifespan of the Buhari administration.
The former presidential aide also advised Buhari to take cognisance of the need to make significant impact with the remaining months of his administration.
He made specific reference to key projects like the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the East-West Road, the Second Niger Bridge as well as efforts aimed at boosting the generation and distribution capacity of electricity to 10,000 megawatts.
“This administration has a maximum of 16-18 months of rain free period for active construction. Government must carefully select one or two major road projects that can be completed within the next 18 months in each zone,†he said.
