I wrote this article about 3 weeks ago, and it seems to have made the rounds, and is gradually becoming viral. I wrote it on the BB2011 Volunteers Group forum and titled it it, “Why We Will Win!”. I’m glad it’s creating the much needed buzz, and circulating fast. People have developed slides with it, made videos with it, and cut out some part of it for emails, bb chats e.t.c. While my loyalty to great men like Prof Pat Utomi is still intact and unwavering as someone who will lead this nation in it’s near future, I humbly submit with the words of Donald Duke, that the current terrain requires firm and strong princes to clear the cub webs and create a level playing platform. The duo of these two honest men wins my vote this year, and hopefully 10 million others with me. Enjoy reading.
I am glad to announce to you, that the future of our burning desire seems even brighter today. I don’t know if you feel the energy or if you know what is going on around the country. The chances of our winning are getting higher by the day. In 2007 without us, the General Won in Oyo and Ogun State, thanks to a team of ardent believers in the leadership of GMB. In seeking the rule of law in contesting the elections, 3 judges ruled in his favor for having also won the entire elections- these rulings were based purely on integrity of the Judges, as GMB could not afford to hire a lawyer, much less bribing his way through.
In 2011, GMB is not alone. He’s supported by a team of volunteers online and offline like me, who never voted for him before. We didn’t vote for him, because we didn’t know. We didn’t know that he supervised and birthed our only existing refineries. We didn’t know that what he did in road construction while in the PTF hasn’t been matched by 12yrs of the PDP, even though we claimed they were lopsided. We didn’t know that in his time as head of state he reduced inflation from 23% to 4%, by fiscal discipline and a homegrown economic team (not achieved under any other era, even military). We didn’t know that there was no religious crisis while he led. We didn’t know that JJ Rawlings of Ghana took over 2yrs before him, and killed all the corrupt leaders, while GMB merely gave his own, long-term jail sentences. We didn’t know that the hospitals and universities around the country never witnessed as much benefits they got from the PTF from any government after or before his time. We did not know, that this man haven been in all the oil sectors in Nigeria, has no petrol station, much less a refinery or an oil rig like so many of our leaders. We never voted him, because we did not know.
But now we know… We know that he has followership in the north that money can’t buy. We know that those who follow him are poor, and follow him out of hope and belief in his values. I have met old men who know him, who have said… “All I need from Buhari is his word, I can take it to the bank”. Now we know that here is someone that has been in everything to make him a Dan-Something, but didn’t take the road. We feared he was an Islamic fundamentalist, but he challenged us to provide any human being who can point at anything he did to show the same. His Cook and Drivers… two roles that can be influenced to have your life are Christians. In his passion for discipline, he has pulled down mosques, punished emirs, and followed principles over the respect of people. Then this year, to the utter shock of the world, he picks the most radically outspoken no nonsense Christian Preacher in Nigeria to be his vice. Now we know, that it’s about the values, not religion and certainly not the fact that he becomes the first (correct me if I’m wrong) Nigerian president without multiple wives or an array of concubines.
On the other hand, we analyze the man, Pastor Tunde Bakare, and every interaction with him is inspiring. His words are laced with wisdom, and his actions show he didn’t only read Awolowo…he follows him. Very personable, very charismatic and yet so very humble and approachable. No nonsense no doubt and honest to an extreme. One day he spoke of how he had the opportunity of saving a few millions by accepting the favour of a government official… he turned it down and gladly lost the millions. A good name to him, is more than silver or Gold. I judge myself patriotic, but sometimes I wonder if it was not Pastor Bakare’s Patriotism that inspired mine. One thing is sure; our treasury is safe under these men. Another thing is sure, the expectations we’ll have of them, and what they will set out to do, will radically turn Nigeria forward.
I long for light in Nigeria. I long for when we will travel overseas without humiliating ourselves early in the morning to queue at embassies for VISA. I long for when our roads will be motor-able, and when the best of our men and women will find it normal to go for political office.
I have never carried the card of any party or taken sufficient interest. Now I have.
Ladies and Gentlemen… We Will Win… Oh Yes we will! I saw we, because it’s in the best interest of our future and collective destinies, that we reset the button on corruption and start building the Nigeria of our dreams. This time it’s not about empty promises, it’s about promises with a will and character to execute it.
– Adeolu Akinyemi
