Before I start, let me also pray, may the soul of ‘Tata’
Nelson Mandela rest in perfect peace.
Now, I do not want the tone of my message to be misinterpreted
for a criticism, no, since the National Assembly are tirelessly working on
making social network criticism a national crime. But I want to tender an advice
to the ruling party PDP (National) and to my humble President, Dr Goodluck
Jonathan.
Just when condolence registers were still open and tributes
were still read for the late President Nelson Mandela, the headlines of the Nigerian
national dailies got a little distraction with the enlisting of Late Dr. Nnamdi
Azikiwe and President Goodluck Jonathan as the number one and two “Mandelas of
Nigeria” by the PDP in what they claimed to be a result of public poll on
social network, at least that will not be a national crime. Ordinarily I will
ignore this effort of the party since they are merely exercising their right to
freedom of opinion as everyone is entitled to the right to freedom of
expression and the press (Nigerian Constitution Chapter 4, Section 39 Subsection
1). But for my great respect for Late Madiba, I do not wish his name to be
diluted, so under the stated privilege I wish to express myself to the PDP and
the President.
My respected leaders and congressmen, there can never be a
Mandela of Nigeria, take note of that. Mandela was a freedom fighter who fought against
Apartheid, a racist system in South Africa, got suspended from college for
activism, got jailed for 27 years for freedom fighting and with the prison number
466/64, later secured an unconditional freedom, elected first black President of
South Africa, successfully led the whites and blacks into oneness, served just
one term in office and had two democratically elected presidents after him,
died and whose death attracted greatest of world leaders to South Africa and
buried in the manner of Mahatma Ghandi of India. Now these are just few lines
to describe Nelson Mandela and if you think any Nigerian is fit into the lines,
all of them, then he/she is Nelson Mandela.
But should we be bent on producing a Mandela of Nigeria? In
my opinion, I think it is an act of imitation. Rather, I want the president to
be a Jonathan of Nigeria, to be original. How can this be done? Mandela
identified the root cause of sadness in the land and fought it, Apartheid was
the plague in South Africa then but there is no apartheid in Nigeria, what we
have as our plague is CORRUPTION. Apartheid was not a simple issue to fight and
so is corruption, though I must admit, corruption is more complex since it is
now generally accepted and according to some folks, officially recognized in
the country. But in the words of Mandela “it always seems impossible until it
is done”. Jonathan of Nigeria could be recognized
for his bold steps in fighting this plague in the country.
Corruption is now in all sectors of the country: executive,
legislature, judiciary, religion, politics, media, education and name it. It
did not start today and perhaps it will not end today, but if the president can
take it seriously, which he can, it will surely reduce today. Corruption is a
factor in unemployment, poverty, insecurity and economy. It is the main cause
of embezzlement and extravagant spending of our leaders and the people are accepting
it. To talk about corruption now in the country is another issue for a high
volume book. So we need someone who is ready to fight this course and earn
significant success before we can have such a person of Nigeria. Therefore to
my ruling party PDP, I do wish you allow the president to concentrate in making
the country better and not distract him with issues like this. Recommend for
the president tactics and plans in launching an effective “War Against Corruption”
in the country and then we will together name him the JONATHAN OF NIGERIA. Thank
you and GOD bless you.
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