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Dear friends,
Happy New Year! By God’s grace this will be a year of positive change for you and all yours.
I am Professor Yemi Osinbajo, vice-presidential candidate of the APC. Please permit me to take a bit of your time as you read this letter. February 14th 2015 will be a decisive date for our dear country.
That day, you will cast your vote to decide who will lead Nigeria from May 2015. It is my humble opinion that it will be a landmark opportunity to change the fortunes of Nigeria, it is entirely possible to change from the old way of doing things that has neither worked nor benefited the citizens of this great country. At stake for Nigeria is the choice between two visions of Nigeria –one that, today, leaves the vast majority without hope; or another that creates a new future where prosperity is not only a dream, but a common reality.
General Muhammadu Buhari and I are committed to doing the hard work of nation-building that puts you and other Nigerians first. Knowing General Buhari’s track record of honesty, selflessness and bravery, I am confident that our government will be beneficial to Nigerians. Here are some of the aspects of our national life that we will focus on:
Jobs– Our Government will intervene in the massive unemployment crisis and immediately employ 740,000 (20,000 per state +FCT) young graduates in an Employment and Empowerment scheme. Also, after NYSC, exiting corp members will continue to be paid stipends for one year under a business and works training programme.
Health– Our government will provide universal basic health care to families with a N500-N1000 annual contribution per family in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Education– Our government will provide free relevant education at primary school level with free school meals. In secondary and higher education, we will place special emphasis on Science, Technology, Mathematics, Engineering, Education and Entrepreneurship.
Housing– We envisage four million new home owners / occupiers by 2019. Our plan is a mix of government provided low-cost housing and the establishment of a national mortgage at less than an interest rate of 10%. Average Nigerians could easily qualify with realistic collateral and can spread repayment from between 15 to 30 years.
Power– Our government will take radical steps to tackle the emergency in the power sector. We will decentralize power generation to ensure that more specific action is taken at the community level, outside the grid, to address local business and residential energy needs.
Agriculture– A major plank of our policy is that government will buy food crops from farmers at a minimum price. This will encourage farmers to keep producing knowing that a return is guaranteed. This will also create jobs in agriculture.
Social Security– In different phases over 4 years, our government will make conditional cash transfer to the 25 million poorest and most vulnerable citizens. This will be at a minimum of N5,000 per month, if they immunize their children and enroll them in school.
Terrorism and Crime Squad, fully trained to take the battle on to insurgents, kidnappers and pirates.
Corruption– Eliminating waste and corruption is the one crucial way for our government to pay for all our ambitious plans. We have zero tolerance for corruption. Any government official who has unexplainable wealth or lives above their salaries, must justify the source or face the law. All Government contracts would also be publicized before award.
“Change” is not just a campaign slogan. General Buhari and I, if elected, will work tirelessly for each and every Nigerian regardless of tribe, religion and gender. May I respectfully request that you join us to bring about this great change that Nigeria deserves by voting for APC on February 14th 2015.
Thank you and God bless you. Long live Nigeria!
Sincerely,
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN