WEEKEND SPECIAL: NOW THAT WE ARE THERE By Abdullahi Akanbi

NOW THAT WE ARE THERE, Baba, where do we go from here?

First, I congratulate you on the keenly contested election and of course, the most expensive the country has ever seen.
The victory, however, is not yours. The victory belongs to the Nigerian masses. The victory belongs to the ordinary Nigerian on the street.
Let not forget so soon, the honourable way the outgoing president carried himself. Even though many take the words of politicians with a pinch of salt. I for one want to believe he meant every one of those words. He will be remembered for the heroic deed.

For those who think my country, Nigeria, will fall after the presidential. Condolences!
For those who wish to disrupt the present peace we are enjoying.
Condolences!

Now, let's face it. Nigerians took records of all you promised. Thanks to you, we no longer have to tell the next generation the unmitigated tenacity of Abraham Lincoln. I took time to read up his legacy. He was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. Lincoln led the United States through its bloodiest war and its greatest moral, constitutional and political crisis. He abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and modernized the economy. His legacy will never be forgotten.

You have won the presidential election after contesting four times. I think it's well deserved. Am sure somewhere along the line you thought of quitting but you never did.

Just like many Nigerians, I think your return to this office is not to amass wealth, considering your age. Neither do I think you are in the office to add your name to the list of past presidents of the most populous black nation. That I think you already had. Then my guess is that you are really back to set things right in the country.

Excesses of the government, to start with, you promised to cut. We do not want a government that exists only for the political office holders.
Like I said in my first letter to you, we don't need a 10-point-Agenda. We only need you to focus on the most important things that can drive the economy. When these things are in a good shape others will fall in place. .

When power is stable and the country is secure, you would have created a conducive environment for business and foreign investors will be attracted. Recent research on ease of doing business in the world placed Nigeria on number 170. This is not a good indicator for our economy.

Let's not forget the decaying state of our education system. Currently, no Nigerian university is among the first 6,000 in the world. No country can develop when you produce unemployable graduates.

Even though Nigeria currently grapple with her decaying infrastructure and a poor regulatory environment, the country possesses many positive attributes for carefully targeted investment and will expand as both a regional and international market player.

We don't expect that you will fix Nigeria's numerous problems in 4years.
Nigeria's problem is not isolated or spontaneous. Rather it is a product of a long time political waste and negligence from leaders who prefer to line their pockets with silver and gold. We have travelled this path for 16 years. We understand that changing the course might be difficult but you knew the challenges before asking for our votes.

I will suggest you take a cue from President Jonathan's fall. Do not be distracted by the songs of victory. There is a lot of work to be done. A lot is at stake both for you and the party that has never been in control of the central. Rather, study his administration careful, key into where he missed it and intensify on his achievements.

We do not want abandoned projects. There are rails being constructed in Abuja, Airport being transformed and many other projects. We want to see them completed.

One major reason he failed, in my opinion, is that he really do not understand the people. He either takes the people's cry for granted, having being blinded by affluence or he has been lied to by the people around him.

The social media is one robust and staunch tool in the hands of the user. If properly harnessed, you will not be far from the people and you will understand and be able to tell their needs from their wants. The same tool that was instrumental in the fall of GEJ.

Mr President elect, I believe you are aware of the criticism President Jonathan faced in the hands of Nigerian youth through social media. Having placed the hope of the nation in your hands, you should know that yours will be worse if you disappoint Nigerians.

Contrary to the popular believe that you jumped on APCs stalwarts and its popularity to get this position, I believe that APC only used your integrity and steadfastness to get the party where it is today.

Remember we voted you for two reasons. One for sure is the complacent way the ruling party paraded itself. They acted like they own the country forgetting that we actually gave them the "keys to the door to the substance". We are tired of their repeated failed promises and we want a change. Secondly, your integrity that has remained untainted since your first military rule. It will be in your interest and Nigerians not to disappoint us. If you take the will of the people for granted, we will again use our votes to push you out. We will continue until we get it right.

A long journey awaits you. As you already know that we, in this part of the world, are very difficult to lead. We are adamant, indisciplined, unruly, obstreperous and inpatient. Impunity to us is bliss. We no longer know the difference between corruption and stealing. Bribes are referred to as PR.

As you steer the affairs of the nation, may your path be smooth.


Written by Abdullahi Akanbi