SAN FRANCISCO, January 25, (THEWILL) – Stand-up comedian, Francis Agoda, aka ‘I Go Dye’, in his continued campaign against recycling of political leaders, has written to President Muhammadu Buhari over his likely second term bid urging him to leave when the ovation is loudest.
THEWILL recalls that Agoda, a United Nations youth Ambassador, had last year, written to former vice President, Atiku Abubakar, following his return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging him to allow younger Nigerians vie for the Presidency.
His letter to President Buhari comes barely two days after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s much publicized letter to Buhari on a similar issue where he also urged the President to forget about a second term in office.
In his letter, Agoda called for a process that will afford youths the opportunity in political leadership, as he advised President Buhari not to seek re-election as being insinuated in some quarters.
I Go Dye who took the President through some of the best moments of his (Buhari) youth, noted that “the youths of today are grieving every day, because so much has been taken away from them.”
He stated that he is making a passionate appeal President Buhari, not contest the 2019 Presidential elections and a clarion call to all Traditional Leaders, Ex-Presidents, Diplomatic Communities Elder Statesmen, Professional Bodies, Entertainers and Nigerian youths to lay their voices to end political recycling declaring that “a future bequeathed to Nigerian youths today, will be the best legacy.”
“We all have our different birth dates, yours was in 1942. You joined the Nigerian Army at the age of 19 in 1961,” he recalled.
“Just three years in military service, Nigerian government sent you and a few others to commonwealth military academy training at Aldershot in England, between 1962-1963, a testimony of how government cared and protected the youths at that time.
“At 22 years you were already the platoon commander of the second infantry Battalion. Thereafter, at the age of 25 years, you were the among the few soldiers that were involved in the counter-coup of 1966, which included your colleagues in service, Abacha 23 years, IBB 25 years and the oldest was Danjuma 28 years and a host of others.
“In 1975, at 33 years, you were already the Governor of North Eastern States. While in 1976 at 34 years, you were appointed as the Minister of Petroleum.
“Meanwhile, two years later, in 1979, I was born into this world; the story has been the same old story, ‘when e go better?’ In 1983, at the age of 41 years as a sign of displeasure with the Shehu Shagari led civil government, you conquered your fears and risked your life to overthrow the democratic structure at that time, at this young age 41 you became the Head of State.
“Today you are 75 years old, and President of Nigeria, nothing can be found to still be missing, apart from the fact that the youths have not been protected even in your administration.
“Let me recall, previously I wrote you a letter titled: logic and reasons without guns, I spoke on some issues affecting us as a people. If we don’t change our political process, sooner than later, the youths will demand for it, I just pray it’s not too late.
“I am not against your political ambition, neither am I opposing your interest but I am of the view that it’s better to leave the stage when the ovation is loudest.
“Honestly speaking, there is nothing new for you to conquer, the only sacrifice that will bring more honour to your personality, is for you to lead the process of advancing and transferring political leadership to the youths.
“The best gift that you can obviously give to my generation is to activate and set the process of ending the long and over -due political recycling’s that has denied the youths their rightful place in our political history as Nation.”
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