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Gen. Sam Momah |
A former Science and Technology minister, retired Gen. Sam Momah, has
drawn up a list of five things President Muhammadu Buhari should do
this year in order to remain in touch with Nigerians who repose their
confidence in him.
These, according to him, include making a monthly broadcast, visiting
states more often, setting up a national conference and using recovered
looted money to pay for low-cost housing.
Momah was a principal staff officer to Gen. Buhari in the 1970s, and the
to-do list of five is contained in his latest book “Nigeria’s Break Up:
Grave Consequences & Solutions.”
According to him, “A monthly broadcast by the president is important because there is a communication gap.”
Momah also told newsmen,
while talking about his book in Abuja, that “There is a need for a
monthly broadcast as the people will like to hear from him (Buhari)
because they so rely on him; they believe he has the magic wand. So,
whatever word he utters is like gold to Nigerians.”
He said frequent state visits would allow President Buhari “know what is
on the ground,” adding, “It will energise the change mantra. It is
stressful, but he’s visiting outside Nigeria.”
According to Momah, “The people want to see their president. The
governors alone cannot do it; some of them might not even share his
ideas. But, by visiting their states, he can push them to work and carry
out his ideals,” he said.
For a national conference, where possible restructure of the country
should be on agenda, Momah said the president could use recommendations
from previous references as terms of reference.
“He doesn’t have to take verbatim what (former President Goodluck)
Jonathan was given, but he can modify them and move on,” said Momah.
Momah suggested that restructuring should include reducing the size of
the National Assembly and the number of local government areas, even as
he called them avenues for squandering public money.
Momah also advised the president to set up an ethical reorientation
system, where Nigerians can be asked what they want to do, and how they
want to do it.
-Dailytrust