That 18-Page Letter To Jonathan

At a time the world was celebrating great leadership capabilities in the person of Nelson Mandela the great, some Nigerians were falling over themselves to destroy some of their leaders and desecrating the office of the President.

Since the publication of the now famous 18-page letter, neither the author, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo nor President Goodluck Jonathan had been accorded the honour they deserve in the media and across the country.

Preceding the letter were other matters of impropriety levelled against the Federal Government. There was the matter of unpaid oil revenue from the Central Bank of Nigeria; there was the demand for an easier way to impeach the President by the National Assembly among others.

Then, the 18-page letter went to town and immediately, it had support from very important Nigerians some even ordered the President to respond to the issues raised in that letter as though the legitimacy of the administration lay on those issues. To say the least, the disregard for the highest office of the land was at the highest so far.

Even as the author of the letter was not just a two time leader of Nigeria, but an eminent personality of the world, the co-incidence of the bitterness against the Presidency under Dr. Goodluck Jonathan exposed something close to a conspiracy that seems to target some persons in the country.

While we cannot question the wisdom behind that letter nor the intent, we think that it was not the best way to celebrate leadership. Certainly, it did not try to encourage the President or garner support for the Presidency and the little they are doing to transform the country that had been so badly led for several years.

The letter accused the person of the President of nearly all the woes of the country. He was accused of ethnicity, administrative incompetence and even insecurity. Are these things true or are some persons allowing themselves to be used to prepare the ground for the breaking up of Nigeria as predicted?

On the other hand, Nigerians are preparing a precedent for the knocking of our presidents, because Goodluck Jonathan will not be there forever. If Nigerians think the best thing to do is to achieve easy impeachment and destabilise the polity every now and then, those who are to come after Jonathan should be ready.

Even more worrisome is what some people are leading the country to do to the psyche of the children. No matter what, we cannot become Europeans; we are Africans whose culture is based on respect for elders and leaders. If it is okay today to insult the President, even plan to boo him on the floor of the National Assembly, what is Nigeria telling the children?

The Tide will not ask whether the President deserved these attacks. Of course, President Jonathan must carry his cross but Nigerians must ask themselves what the holy books say we should do with and to our leaders. The Holy Bible for instance says honour thy leaders… Submit to constituted authority… Pray for the good of your leader.

We think that this abomination in the land should stop and now before God is offended. It is not appropriate to make small our leaders. If it is okay for the President, then, the Governors, the legislators, the local government Chairmen and other public office holders will soon become footmats for all. God forbid.

The tenets of democracy require the citizenry to make demands on their leaders, but not assassinate their characters, make them look unfit for the office they occupy or incite others to hate them. Worst, when such comes from another leader that should know better. One who many people still fear to disagree with.

Our concern is the way some Nigerians play with fire in a house loaded with combustible materials. Until Nigerians sit at a conference and decide to go their separate ways, Nigeria remains a united country which peace and prosperity should interest her patriots. The peace and wellbeing of Nigeria should not be sacrificed on the altar of petty politics.

If in our wisdom, Nigerians cannot build leadership and give respect to each other, nobody should reduce the honour vested in our political offices or antagonise, distract and frustrate occupants of such offices, no matter the temptation to do so.