[OPINION] Let The People Win: A Passionate Letter To President Goodluck Jonathan By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

Dear President Goodluck Jonathan,

My sincere commendation goes to you- The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, on the successes made so far by the military in flushing out the insurgents in the North Eastern part of the country. Achievements like this are commendable and the people would appreciate it if the exercise completely achieves total success such that the insurgents are completely wiped out of the region and the country at large.

Perhaps after the end of the ongoing 6 weeks of military operations, if the results achieved are enormous and tangible, the people might be glad that the postponement of the general elections was not in vain, so long it does not affect the elections again.

Your Excellency Sir, I have resulted to using this medium to write to you because it is the fastest and surest medium I can afford. Hence, pick no offence that it was made public and not personally delivered to you.

Four (4) years ago, you were elected by the people in good fate, full hopes and aspirations for a better Nigeria. Four years on, by and large majority of the people have been victims of broken promises. The same set of promises that were used as manifestoes four years ago remains the same four years after. And like so many experiences of the past, the people have been confronted with blasted hopes, and the dark shadow of a deep disappointment settled upon them. Hence, they are now forced to end up with the alternative- Change.

Though on several occasions, I have been saddened with some of your actions and inactions and with some of the policies under your watch. These include; the delay in using all it takes to fight the insurgents in the North Easter part of the country not until now and sometime on your silence on issues that are germane to national interests. This sadness sprang up annoyances in me that are not borne out of personal beef for you, but out of passion for the country.

Indeed, I understand a lot of things would be going through your mind and brain as regard the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. Sir, I know you might not stop thinking of what actually went wrong and how you finally got into this mess. However, I have these messages for you; whatever the outcome of the election is, please do not be forced to take decisions that would make you the last president of Nigeria.

There are no doubts that the polity is currently fragile and the political atmosphere is so tensed, but the truth is, Sir, the absolute power to make it calm is in your hands. Let the Military do their jobs professionally, let the Policemen do their jobs professionally, let the (wo)men of the State Security Service do their jobs professionally and let other security agencies do their jobs too professionally, without partisanship and undue interferences by politics and politicians.

The election will come and go, but whatsoever the outcome is, Dear Sir. kindly accepts it in good fate. God made you the President in the first place and not because you were the best at the time. And if it is in his interest that you remain in office for another four years nothing can stop it. But if otherwise it is still his` wish.

Additionally, do not be deceived by the selfish advice of those that surround you, majority of which are not in for the interests of the nation but for themselves. In the first place, they brought most of these woes on you.  They sought to answer all criticisms that come your way in an attempt to prove absolute loyalty to you. Hence, have no time for constructive works that should have promoted your good jobs. They scare your supporters away and left you with few ones. Perhaps if you had worked with fewer men, you might have gained more friends than foes.

Your Excellency Sir, whoever the election favours, either you or any of your opponents, history will definitely remember you, either for good or for bad. Nevertheless, I personally wish that it absolves you and not condemn you, but the choice is yours. Therefore, do not allow the ongoing political crisis to deteriorate into violence. The country is under your watch, at least for now you have the last say.

Although, I understand when you feel you have done so much for the country and do not deserve what you passing through now. I do not intend to mention or bore you with how and where you got it wrongly but you must understand that human`s wants are insatiable, so you should have done more to deserve those praises you look forward to.

Meanwhile, as it stands now, please remember that you are the boss on the top, and no one can force you to do what you really don’t want to do. If things go wrong under your watch, none of the men in your cabinet would be held responsible but you.

Furthermore, I want you to remember that as a true believer, all powers belong to God and he gives it to whosoever he wishes. Hence, whatsoever the outcome of the presidential election is once again, do not force yourself on the people, let the people win. That’s the only way Nigeria will survive.

Yours sincerely,

Ogundana Michael Rotimi

I tweet @MickeySunny