LETTER TO JONATHAN

Dear President Jonathan,

It is no longer news that you lost your re-election bid. Although it was a painful loss, yet a necessary one. Necessary because the peaceful co-existence of the Nation depended on it. The masses made their choices and with their voters card they voted. They voted you out. But, Mr. President this is not the purpose of this epistle. I saw it necessary to write to you, not because you lost but because you conceded defeat.

Leaders like you are difficult to come by. Especially amongst Africans. Africans are always known to be power grabbers. They serve as dictators and are usually resistant to change. This was evident in Ivory Coast. You proved otherwise. You congratulated the winner before INEC did. Hence, you immortalized the words of the great author, Leroy Eames which says; "A leader is one who sees more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others see." You saw the land sweep by the opposition. Even though you didn’t see it before others did. At least, you saw it. That was nonetheless heroic.

Just as the Holy book asserted, “Flee from every appearances of evil”; many were ready to flee Nigeria. They saw the country as a stock load of explosives ready to detonate. You changed all that. You made all the political prophets who had prophesied doom for this country bury their head in shame. You helped our democracy gained buoyancy and international relevance.

You showed patriotism in its best act even if it didn’t please some of your aides like the now popular Godswill Orubebe. Just as my mentor, Gilbert Alasa crooned; “You owe yourself a duty; to be truthful to your belief, your inner self, no matter whose horse is gored”. You acted the truth. Even if it crippled Orubebe’s horse.

You had put all your fanatics and fire spitting irascible supporters at bay. Your congratulatory message to the president elect was actually a congratulation to Nigerians. It was a sign that we could still go on with a one Nigeria. You shocked Nigerians by your exemplary display of statesmanship. It shocked the World and most intriguing, it shocked me.

Mr. President, many students were prepared for another session of forced academic holiday. They thought the chaos from the election would make Universities shut down. Our schools were deserted. They thought the election would breathe down fire and brimstone on us. But they were disappointed. It was a good disappointment. This was the kind of disappointment we all longed for. But we were starved of it. We needed to be disappointed about the reality of the Boko haram insurgency. We were not. Instead, every bomb blast reminded us that they were a predicted reality. Sir, all these led to the final disappointment-- your election loss.

Mr. President, I grieve for your loss. I seriously do. I loved your mantra, your control and style of leadership. Where others saw trouble or looming danger you saw hope. I campaigned immensely for your re-election. Although, not immensely enough to convince my parents and my siblings. I must apologize for that. Each time I tried to convince them to vote in your support, they expressed grieve for series of unpaid allowances. They called it ‘hazard allowance’. They told me that, if that money had been paid, they would have not been under the plight of an overbearing landlord.

Anyway, I was not deterred. I continued campaigning for you. I tried to convince others. But, I found it more difficult to convince anyone better than my friends did for your opponent. They won supporters by just the shout of ‘change’. I had to engage every individual I met in a long documentary of the works you have done. Most of them seemed so comfortably tucked in under the duvet of their stereotypes. They couldn’t bear any dissection from their misconceptions or flawed generalizations about you.

That made me wonder, why was it hard to convince the masses for your re-election?

The answer, of course, was not farfetched. You were surrounded by bad marketers. They could not sell you to the public. You did so much yet we knew so little. You were surrounded by lip lickers, egregiously mouthy individuals who needed your office for show of glamor and affluence. Pity. They heard from the masses and gave you wrong messages. They also, heard from you and gave us a wrong directives. They were political hangers on. Instead of campaigning for you they were busy throwing without caution, outrageous expletives at your opponent.

Surely, those hideous comments that came from your campaign speakers exhibited a rare form of intolerance and bigotry that should never be allowed in the 21st century. I was really disheartened that we have become a generation that cannot throw jibes at each other or sustain simple civilized debate without resorting to ‘naked’ insults. I was truly shaken by the effusion of animosity over this matter.

Many also said you were herbaceous. And that, you didn’t have the gusto to lead this country. Anyway, that was their opinion. Let us watch on Mr. President, as someone who does has this ‘gusto’ takes charge. Those who accuse you of lassitude, do not know the power behind the adage; ‘Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown’.

Journalism had flourished during your tenure. I hope the incoming government do not have any reason to interfere with its growth. I would surely miss your smiles and your humility. You cared for the next generation, which reminded one of James Clarke’s words; “The difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician thinks about the next election while the statesman think about the next generation.”

Even in defeat, you re-iterated; “No body’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian”. That was wow. If only your opponent had learnt how to make such statements during all those times he lost. Then, we wouldn’t have lost those dear Youth coppers during the 2011 post-election violence.

I also heard all your friends have deserted you. Not to worry Mr. President, I, Ezekiel Efeobhokhan would always remain your true friend. Come rain or shine.

Finally Mr. President, I want to sincerely ask, that you ensure a smooth and peaceful handover ceremony. I believe you can replicate the statesmanship you displayed during the collation of the election results. Call your troublesome supporters to order. God bless you as you do so.

Welcome back to being a follower. Let us watch on as APC leads. I sincerely hope you assist the incoming government in every way you can.

Yours friendly,

Ezekiel Efeobhokhan.