FAGRO FLAYS: Letter to Monsieur President

‘Sola Fagorusi

Mr President, let me start by wishing you a happy democracy day. When the May 29 day was chosen as against June 12 as the official day to bask in the sun of democracy in Nigeria, no one would have thought you would be the one holding the reins of office today given the way Nigerian politics is permutated. Truly, God ordains kings; and you deserve to lead the celebration of 14 years of uninterrupted democracy.

Sir, you will recall that you have been at the heart of happenings in our polity since 1999 – from your humble beginning as a deputy governor (where in Nigeria, it is a designation with no comprehensible brief) to your present standing today as the number one citizen of a plural society like Nigeria. Indeed Sir, only a fluky person could have dodged the several mines on the path leading to your new office one you official resumed May 6, 2010. Like others, I felicitate with you and the country for this democratic feat.

Dr. Jonathan, I thought to spare time and compellingly draw your attention to the state of the nation you preside over. I think it is high time you stepped out and see things in their true colour. For some reasons, I think you are being fed the wrong impression of how things currently are and that may have explained why you earlier this year claimed that the average Nigerian knows that power has improved.

By now, I had hoped local and international publishing organisations would be disturbing you with request for exclusive publishing rights to your memoir which possibly would be titled – Top Secrets of Nation Building: The Nigerian Example – with forward written by a now frail Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. As it is now, nothing of such is happening and at this pace, it might end up a wish. But then like my friends who are football aficionados always say – anything is possible even in the extra minutes. Sadly, while a football match is a 90 minutes affair, nation building is not.

Mr President, you are not an old man. At 55, you still deserve to envision a Nigeria that would be the pride of all. You have no business with dreaming; it’s the stuff of old men who would not be around to see things happen or make inputs in actualising them.

I know the coordinating minister may possibly be feeding you fat on statistics that pleasures the mind. I am certain your ministers at the Federal Executive Council meeting always have reports as to how things are being transformed. I understand that your retinue of aides may even encourage you to whistle while you have your bath on the assumption that all is well. The truth is that all is not. I know so because I am an official citizen. If you truly care to know Sir, reach out to your friend the former governor, you can learn a thing or two in the art of street disguise (no pun intended).

Besides, resources would not be a hindrance. Find your way to Egbeda in Lagos or Kabala Coastain in Kaduna or Okitipupa in Ondo State or HolyGhost roundabout in Enugu without the appurtenances of the office you hold. Sir, all you need do is possibly find a local restaurant (Ayo Fayose may claim political plagiarism though) or a newspaper stand and eavesdrops on the conversations. There, you will find the true assessment of your 3 years presidency.

Mr President, in Nigeria, it is not difficult to make a name. All you need do are the ordinary things. Ask Fashola, the poster boy of good governance in Nigeria and he would share with you. His effort thus far is no feat but then is classified as one because we are so used to seeing mediocre performances that any departure from it is hailed with frenzy. For a moment Sir, imagine you were president of a country like Canada; a nation of a paltry 35 million people. What would be your manifesto – light, good road or water? They are well past that.

Sir, don’t mind those liars who say there are no roads in Nigeria. They must be blind. There actually are Sir, it’s just that the roads are bad! Sir, of a truth, there is power supply. It’s just not enough and where it is, you can be sure it is generator powered! Sir, children are getting educated. It’s just that they are not taught enough to compete with their global contemporaries. By the way, I read reports of your commemoration of the Children’s day with plans to establish a child helpline. Interesting! I still wonder though why children in Nigeria cannot embark on excursion to Aso Rock like their counterparts in other democracies do.

Mr. President, I am sure you know Mo Ibrahim – the wealthy business man of Sudanese descent. He still has the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership going. It is a worthy one to aspire to especially as it is a miniature of your transformation agenda since it measures delivery around security, health, education and economic development. I am hoping you will follow in the path of Pedro Pires, Festus Mogae and Joaquim Chissano, and win this prize with financial benefit almost 4 times more than the Nobel Prize. And Sir, I was a bit relived after reading your reason for missing your presentation at the opening ceremony of the 50th anniversary of the African Union in Ethiopia. Earlier reports made my eyes wet.

Dr. Jonathan, I wonder what must have been going through your mind at the burial of the literary Iroko – Chinua Achebe especially remembering that this was one conscientious Nigerian who had rejected the national award you offered him same way he did to your predecessor in 2004. Mr President, you will recall he accepted similar ones in 1979. Since he said he was rejecting yours because the condition in 2004 was similar, Sir you may well have a tip as to how to embark on your leadership of this nation. All you need do to ask yourself is – would Achebe now have accepted a prize! From today, minus your 2015 ambition, you have two years for this. By the way, I chanced on a non-partisan insider’s account on the YouWin programme. I salute you for this and only ask that you sustain the little success hitherto achieved.

Sir, in Nigeria as of today, you are the real Oga at the top! It explains why the headache of a child in Zaki Biam is blamed on you. It also explains why any success is also alluded to your office. By the way Sir, how’s your wife’s health now? More than anything Sir, the health institution in Nigeria is a mess. Nigerians literally disturb God with prayers over health related issues when already human kind has been blessed with knowledge to address same. Whatever ails or ailed our first lady ails several others and for the ‘average Nigerian in Lagos’, he or she may as well just be awaiting death since there is no access to first class healthcare like your wife had.

Our founding fathers left a will at independence. They hoped for a nation of class and strength. Sir, take a look at the coat of arm and there you will find all that Nigeria needs to be and become. Even as the army of unemployed youth continues to grow, I wish you well Sir even as I mouth happy democracy for the rest of the day.

@SolaFagro on Twitter

Other articles by Fagro:

God will never forgive my teachers!

Letter to my Future Wife