Your Excellency Sir, though I love writing letters, I am not good at the formal ones. So I will try to make this semi-formal to be able to communicate well in order that I may be understood, if not by all then at least by most Nigerians.
I heard that the intended project on film village in Kano wasn’t successful, fortunate enough for the Kano people and unfortunate for the over-exited film stars. I’m writing this letter to tell you why it isn’t the right time and place to establish a film village.
First of all, the city of Kano to start with, is practically the seat of Islam in Nigeria if I’m not over-exaggerating, and yes, Kano is still a conservative society. It refuses to be civilized because majority of its inhabitants are more or less fanatics of Islam and it better remain so. If civility is copying the west in all they do; accepting and adopting their views of life with respect to homosexuality, adultery, fornication, alcoholism, nudity, secularism, freedom and all ugly things prohibited by God in the holy scriptures, then I strongly agree to their stance; let them continue to be tagged uncivilized. Since civilization, as it applies today has brought nothing but destruction, devastation and rape of sanity. Kano is however, trying to abstain.
The so-called Kannywood in whose name and advantage the intended Film Village were to be established in Kano are nothing but indiscreet, ludicrous, irresponsible fellows and a disgrace in the eyes of Kanawa (people of Kano). Sir, I strongly suggest you shouldn’t spend Nigeria’s fund on them because they don’t worth it. The money would vanish without return. It is better to Invest in what would generate and regenerate revenue and would be of benefit to Nigerians at large. They aren’t prepared yet, not even appreciated at national level let alone internationally. When they have transform their comatose, ramshackle and garrulous structure and system into something reasonable, then Nigeria can take the risk. When I came across a news article quoting an MD saying: “Kano state have been the nerve of movie production in Nigeria”, I paused and asked myself confusingly, when did that happen? Where is Nollywood? In absence of an answer, I simply murmured, “let the truth be told”. Where is that guy that invented a helicopter in Kano, and the Corper that recently invented a self-taught driving car? These are the kind of people our government should invest in.
It is becoming awful to read newspaper headlines these days, because hardly do one comes across any news with soothing effect as much as the catastrophic ones. With a glance at very few out of the many headlines that are attention-seeking from March this year till date, it is with much feeling of embarrassment that I’ll have to talk about them here. That Nigeria is still where it was, still battling with poverty, hunger, education, health and what have you. With all these, I feel it isn’t the time for a film village.
“SON Chief tells why Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system is poor”
“HIV control weakened by poor health systems”
“Sokoto Poly students protest over poor health facilities”
“The nation’s poor healthcare delivery has been blamed on rising cost, limited financial resources, inefficient health systems as well as the huge burden of diseases”
Sir, you see this headlines, they are so upsetting. When I close my eyes to think of Nigeria’s future, I only see NAFDAC struggling to confiscate local drug makers especially those that didn’t submit the usual thing. Rather than funding what has tendencies of causing chaos among the citizens, why not build a well-equipped medical school to help Nigerians educate and train ample number of students whose dreams are thwarted due to insufficient vacancies in federal universities. With that, slowly and steadily Nigeria can produce more health professionals in various specializations; and there wouldn’t be any need for the haves to go abroad on medical reasons. India has more than a hundred medical schools (govt. and private) in various cities with different specializations. You see why foreigners troop to India for treatment. You can guess how much revenue it is collecting, asides solving its citizen’s health issues which is primary.
In the same vein, Nigerians still battling against hunger and poverty should be considered first before other secondary projects. With a look at these news leads and headlines, I am not only terrified but also sympathetic for the future generations.
“Nigerians are suffering, there is so much hunger in the land, states are unable to pay salaries with a multiplying effect such that Nigerians are unable to settle bills, pay fees for their children and meet family needs… Anyone who says Nigerians are not suffering is only deceiving themselves.” Says Senator Shehu Sani, to a journalist who paid him a Sallah visit. July 8.
“It was observed that some workers, in a bid to cope with the harsh economic condition foisted on them by unpaid salaries, had devised different means to beg in order to fulfil their financial obligations.” April 14. Because of unpaid salaries, Bayelsa workers turn to begging for survival. In case you doubt this, please confirm from http://www.nigerianewsheadlines.com
America laments: Nigeria dying of starvation in their own country, July 3
Dangote appeals for help to tackle hunger in IDP camps, July 10
Hunger killing/biting Nigerians, March 7
Buhari please wage war against hunger, July 23
It is not wrong if Nigeria invest in food production and processing, Nigeria is one of the countries blessed with abundant and fertile lands, yet some of us wake and sleep without eating three square meals. It is quite appalling to realize that at this difficult moment for Nigerians, the FG seems imprudent with how to manage funds. I am not better thoughtful than it might be, but I am only a concerned citizen who wish to give some highlights to avoid Nigeria’s fall into the consequence of ‘the unadvised’.
When the media broadcasted “Buhari’s intention to release a billion naira for the kick-off of the 20-hectre film village, which will be modelled like a film centre in China and India”. I immediately thought that Chinese government might not have invested in film village while the masses are hungry, young primary-secondary school aged children in china make watches, handkerchiefs, toys, etc. which are imported by Nigerians. Copy the Chinese government in that respect. Similarly, In India, there are at least five colleges and/or universities in one city and at most ten or more, this is why India continues to produce an average of two out of ten world’s best Scientist, IT gurus, Artists, Engineers etc. why not imitate the Indian’s availability of education and research facilities. I’m pretty sure the Indian government didn’t invest in cinematography before basic needs. With recent news headlines like these, I feel Nigeria should do more in the education sector.
“Poor education leading youths into crime says Buratai” on May 5.
“Buhari’s Government has failed Nigerians - ASUU” May 6.
“Poor education crippling Nigeria” May 9.
Now that Nigerians are hungry, penniless and very close to becoming hopeless, what we need is not a film village. Baba, I know it’s not your fault all through. It is the member of the House of Representatives who proposed the project at the wrong time, because he is not hungry. But those people who voted him into office out of naivety are, just like majority of middle and lower class Nigerians. That is what happens when the wrong people are given the right chance. A person like him with such a scandalous past, only God knows his motive behind that project. I am not just saying this empty headedly. At least we all know that “Money laundering is a very serious offence, contrary to Section 14(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004. It is punishable under Section 14(1) of the same Act. The EFCC’s case against Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin and the rest of the gang is still pending in court. Were it not for the fact that this political prostitute managed to swindle his way into the APC to ride on the Buhari’s fame bandwagon and get elected as a Member of Parliament, he lacks the integrity to be elected even as a local councilor of his ward, let alone as a national lawmaker.” Not to talk of the most recent atrocities he is involved in, to which he is trying to play smart. If he is really innocent as he claims, why didn’t he expose the fraudsters earlier, why only after his expulsion from the chairmanship? Now he is looking for a soft corner from the masses, so claiming saint on the go. Why did he single-handedly diverted huge funds to his constituency? If defecting to APC is allowed to be a shield for such criminals, then Nigeria has taken a step to becoming lawless.
Mr President, should such a person and other like him still exist in your government? We entrusted Nigeria on you because we have trust and hope in you, we expect you to cleanse Nigerian system of governance by the grace of God. Such an imposter whose past and present is filled with fraud stories should have long been thrown out of the system, we know you can’t do it alone, we are with you. If Nigeria can’t scrap the senate, then at least it should be able to slash their salaries into two. Pay them fifty percent and cater for Nigerians’ needs with the rest. Nigeria needs to settle its school teachers and other civil servants better than these legislators whose being Nigerian doesn’t really matter. I feel legislators should have nothing to do with project money which is only fuelling corruption, let the ministries and other agencies do their work. Seriously, Nigeria’s constitution needs to be amended. Let them be paid according to the current assessment of Nigeria’s economy.
One major reason among others why it isn’t a good time is that a lot of Nigerian students are studying overseas, most of whose aim is to become beneficial to Nigeria’s education and economic system someday. Heartbreakingly, the Nigerian president, on 6th of March this year, said “Nigeria can’t afford forex demand for students” most of these students wore T-shirts with Buhari/Osinbajo boldly written on it, they raised Nigerian flag in the various countries they are, that fateful day you were declared the winner. All these not only for solidarity but also because they have hope in you, because trust is not a requirement for you.
Mr President, please do something before the weak-hearted among us become addicted to crimes. Crime rate has increased already. Nigerian universities produce thousands of graduates yearly, yet almost everything we use in Nigeria are made in somewhere else; China, India, Japan, Germany, Ghana, Cote D’voire, etc. when would we rip the fruit of our labour? Rather than NYSC, more and more factories should be made and graduates should be permanently employed.
All in all, my prayer is that immediate needs of Nigerians should be tackled based on priority. May God in his infinite mercy bless and protect you, give you strength, good health and guide your thoughts and actions, Amin. On behalf of myself and other Nigerians with feelings and thoughts like mine, I’m crying out our plea to Nigerian government, even though voices like mine are difficultly hard, to please do something on Nigerians’ penurious situation. We appreciate all that you have done so far, God bless.
Yours very frankly,
Sadiya Abubakar.
Thank you.
