Letters To Buhari: Johannes Wojuola

Dear General Muhammadu Buhari,

Congratulations Sir! I have spent the past weeks since your victory was announced in near boundless euphoric excitement and propitious reverie. The reason is as crystal as ice. I had asked myself a year back, what the future would hold in the next five years. The answers that came sat with a frown on my face – as the realities and ostensible uncertainty of Nigeria’s future portended the worse. But that seems as only a page of mere fear in the books of history today. Your election bickers hope and joy to many Nigerians – if not all. You have been elected at a point in time where the fear of the unknown has blighted rays of hope the people once had. I wouldn’t want to cite specifics – but a dwindling economy, the dearth of security, our rusty international relations, leaking revenues, a raggedy transportation system, inadequate housing, a fiercely raging monster called corruption, a frail education system, and then a threatened united Nigeria do not tell an enjoyable story in this epoch.

You have a persona that Nigerians believe in. And that is why it was not surprising that Nigerians en masse voted you as their messiah to rescue them within the twinkle of an eye from this snake pit. You have asked us for time, and it is logical that we understand the import of giving you the benefit of your request. As Providence has brought you to our doorstep, we believe that you would do the right things: justly and fairly. And the monstrous corruption whose distasteful bite on our holistic system has brought our economy and social fabric to a haemorrhage would find a genuine adversary with you. Your position on corruption is known and undebatable.

But these are hopes and prayers of all Nigerians. The ride doesn’t seem to me as one that would be pleasurable from the start. But I am sure it would have a glorious ending.

I once tweeted that you had just taken the worse job in Nigeria at the moment. And true to the letter, it is the most unattractive and least favourable assignment a person may want to take in this point of our country’s history. Notwithstanding, I have the feeling – a very strong and certain one – that you are the best man for the job. I say this on two grounds; one, Nigerians have earnestly prayed to God for a deliverer, for one that God would send to rescue them from the mismanagement and unprecedented impunity of its leaders; my Bible teaches me that God is the one who chooses leaders. He answers prayers too. I can spiritually conclude that He chose you for this job.

Secondly, your personal characteristics have endeared these times to none other than you. Calm, calculated, fatherly, collected, incorruptible, circumspect and purposeful are words that do justice in describing your persona.

Several Nigerians in a time as this put their hopes, trust and belief in you – and the prospects of your administration.

Uniting the country is a move you must make speedily. The division that politicking has sown into our country’s citizenry is despicable and very wicked. For selfish reasons, many politicians have set tribe against tribe, group against group, friend against friend and religion against religion. It behooves on you our dear President-elect to treat us all as equal – a father to all, showing justice blindly without favour to anyone. This is the first step towards uniting us all.

Sir, you must be cautious too in selecting your cabinet. This must have been hammered incessantly by those who honestly seek your success in office. I would not dwell on the obvious. The palpable failure of the Jonathan government teaches anyone who wants to succeed in political office to surround themselves with the best men for the jobs. Those men who have only the interest of service to our nation and the desire to leave a worthy name upon their exit of office should be those your intuition should find meritorious of working in your cabinet.

I will end this brief letter with this; earlier this week, I took a stroll at the wee hours of the morning. A crowd of cab drivers were stationed at the bus stop already, prepped for loading, when I heard a taxi driver say this to his friend “things go better, money go dey, Buhari don talk am, corruption go comot and money go dey”. The confidence in which he made this asseveration must not be shamed. He represents the many an average Nigerian who look up to you as the redeemer from these melancholic times.

Like me, most Nigerians are earnestly praying for you – because we know that in truth, it is only God that can save us, but he would only but use someone to achieve that. May He who has chosen you to lead this great nation give you the strength, courage, wisdom, charisma, diligence, discipline, integrity and vision to lead us. Amen.

With love;

Johannes Tobi Wojuola.

A Citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.