ἐκον βρω

Greetings, Professor Utomi. This is Aliyu Bin Abbas, the presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party, and a fan of your work. YES, POWER MUST BE FIXED. However, I fear the speaker might have understated the extent to which electricity costs could rise if power is sold at market prices rather than subsidised. I caution against promoting ideas that downplay the potential hardships this could cause. It will not be as simple as he suggests, and you should not stake your reputation by lending unqualified support to his position without also adequately explaining the potential consequences.

Nigeria's cost-of-living crisis is a consequence of policies that undermine the value of the Naira, restrict production, and make it needlessly expensive to do business. I'll uproot these problems through common sense monetary policy, lower taxation, non-restrictive regulation, and secure private property rights. Monetary Policy I'll end the practice of financing government deficits by creating money. Money creation erodes the naira's purchasing power, making goods and services increasingly expensive. By requiring government to live within its means, ending monetary financing, and allowing the exchange and interest rates to reflect market conditions, I'll restore true monetary stability, not this yeye thing the current government is doing. As inflation recedes and confidence in the naira returns, Nigerians will be better able to preserve the purchasing power of their earnings and savings. Simply put while I serve, Nigerians will escape this government imposed never-ending 'brokeness' Lower Taxes, Lower Costs Taxes increase the cost of economic activity. Businesses must account for taxes when deciding what to produce, how much to invest, and what prices to charge. Although businesses do not automatically pass every tax on to consumers, taxes can increase consumer prices, reduce investment, and discourage production. I'll simplify our tax system by reducing federal taxation to personal and corporate income taxes of 5% each and abolishing other federal levies, including VAT and property taxes. Lower taxes will leave businesses with more resources to invest in equipment, expand production, employ more workers, and improve efficiency. The resulting increase in competition and supply will put downward pressure on prices, while consumers will retain more of their income. By also eliminating deficit spending and wasteful subsidies, I'll reduce the pressure to finance government expenditure through inflationary monetary expansion. Non-Restrictive Regulation, Cheaper Goods As @magattew keeps emphasizing, every unnecessary licence, permit, inspection, and bureaucratic fee adds to the cost of running a business. Businesses must either absorb these expenses, reducing their capacity to grow, or pass some of them on to consumers through higher prices. Regulatory barriers also prevent new competitors from entering markets, allowing existing businesses to face less competitive pressure. I'll abolish unnecessary regulations, eliminate overlapping agencies, simplify business registration, and remove arbitrary licensing requirements. Regulation will focus on protecting people from fraud, theft, pollution that causes demonstrable harm, and other genuine violations of their rights. By making it easier and cheaper to start and operate businesses, I'll encourage competition, increase production, and make goods and services more affordable. Private Property, Greater Supply Secure ownership gives people the confidence to invest and produce. I’ll restore permanent land ownership, protect property from arbitrary seizure, and recognise landowners’ rights to the resources beneath their land. When farmers can securely own their land, they have stronger incentives to invest in irrigation, machinery, and storage. When developers have secure property rights, they can build more homes and commercial spaces. Greater investment and production will expand the supply of food, housing, and other goods, easing scarcity and putting downward pressure on prices. Conclusion My plan is to truly strengthen the currency (not that wuru-wuru Cardoso is doing), reduce the tax burden (unlike the two-faced Oyedele), remove unnecessary regulatory obstacles, and protect private property (because I’m not Umahi or Wike). These reforms will not make every price fall overnight, but they will create the conditions for greater production, stronger competition, rising productivity, and a sustained improvement in Nigerians’ purchasing power and standard of living. THIS IS MY PROMISE TO NIGERIANS

Imagine saving for 30 years to build a house, only for a government official to show up with bulldozers and behave as though you built it on his father's land! Welcome to Nigeria, where some politicians appear to have mistaken public office for a promotion to Supreme Landlord of the Federal Republic. Consider Nyesom Wike; the commander-in-chief-of-excuses' barely restrained snarling cur. A man surpassed in odium only by the one who appointed him. He oversees the nation's capital. His administration has been mired in disputes over land grabs, with property owners alleging unlawful destruction and contesting the government's claims over their land. Then there's Dave Umahi, another blight on our collective existence, imposed on the nation by the "mAsTeR sTraTeGiSt" who – apart from allegations of women dying under mysterious circumstances in his home – has also faced allegations and disputes over land acquisition and property demolition. Ordinary Nigerians save for years to buy land, obtain documents, and build their homes. Meanwhile, some find themselves in battles with government authorities over whether the property they bought, paid for, and built is truly theirs. What exactly is the point of working hard to own a home if a government official can turn your investment into a pile of rubble? Are Nigerians citizens, or are we medieval peasants who must hope the local lord doesn't fancy our land? Perhaps we should introduce a new qualification for public office: before becoming governor or minister, every candidate must demonstrate that he understands the difference between governing a territory and owning it. The distinction appears to have escaped certain people. Under an Aliyu Bin Abbas government, this injustice will end. I will restore permanent land ownership. Your home will not be a temporary favour from a governor, a minister, or any other official whose ego has grown larger than his understanding of the law. No politician will be permitted to treat your property as his personal chessboard, moving people around whenever a new plan occurs to him. Where land is genuinely required for a legitimate public project, the government must respect the law and provide fair compensation in accordance with the applicable legal framework. No arbitrary seizures. No intimidation. No bulldozers serving as substitutes for due process. Secure property rights mean farmers can invest without fearing dispossession, developers can build more homes, and entrepreneurs can commit their resources without wondering whether their next business partner will be a government demolition crew. When I win, I will fight for the repeal of the hellish legislation known as the LUA Your home isn't a political favour. Your land is not a governor's inheritance. And Nigeria isn't anybody's personal estate.