AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENCY UNDER THE ASTUTE LEADERSHIP OF HIS EXCELLENCY, ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED ADEKUNLE TINUBU, GCFR
Your Excellency,
EMBRACE FORGIVENESS, EMBRACE LIFE.
Recent viral video clips on the public presentation of the autobiography of the former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), GCFR have provoked deep thoughts in the minds of many Nigerians including me on the state of our beloved nation in relation to its past, present and future as well as the role of forgiveness in both leadership and followership.
Inarguably, our dear nation has, for time immemorial, been beset by a dark past partly expressed as regret by the elder statesman, General IBB in his autobiography. More worrisome, however, is a greater expression of the past in the form of lingering anger and resentment among many Nigerians today!
Nevertheless your Excellency, I am of the view that the darkness associated with our ugliest memories still accords us a choice: to either let the past define us or rather use it as a catalyst for growth.
Forgiveness is the bridge that is capable of closing up the chasm between the past, the present and your Renewed Hope Agenda. It has the potency to set us free from the negative emotions triggered by the pain experienced in the past by the SOUTH EAST, SOUTH-SOUTH AND SOUTH WEST. Forgiveness is the chance we have at healing and moving forward as a nation. It is high time we all–leaders and followers’ alike–embraced forgiveness.
The present is a gift, a chance to start anew, to rewrite the narratives of our lives. It is the opportunity to practice compassion, to acknowledge our flaws as leaders and followers, and to work towards becoming better versions of NIGERIANS and making NIGERIA great.
As NIGERIANS embark on this journey of forgiveness and self-discovery, we will begin to unlock the doors to a brighter future–a future where the lessons of our past, though inform our decisions, no longer dictate our lives. In that future, we will be free to love, laugh and live without the burden of our ugliest memories holding us back. In that future, we shall be free to lead a life and build a nation that is indeed meaningful and beautiful–a NIGERIA that is truly ours!
Your Excellency, Nigerians choose forgiveness. Nigerians choose life. We leave the ugliness of our past where it belongs–i.e. in the past–and step into the radiant light of our present led by you, eagerly hoping for the incredible future that awaits us as NIGERIANS. We count on you as a true and courageous democrat, economic technocrat and leader to initiate a working and truly united NIGERIA NIGERIANS DESERVE. We desire a Nigeria that will not only witness economic growth (symbolised by nominal indices) but also economic development (characterised by such real indices as remarkable improvement in quality of life / standard of living and equitable distribution of common wealth). We trust God to help you deliver this nation from the current shackles of despair felt by many Nigerians, especially the youth! We earnestly desire a Nigeria which citizens of developed nations would wish to “japa” into. Your Excellency, may God Almighty empower you to give us this glorious Nigeria.
Kind regards, your Excellency.
Bldr. OLUWA Daniel Oluwaseun
(MNIOB. R. Bldr.)
danieloluwa@gmail.com
08139293882
24th February, 2025
