I write today in solidarity with our great leader (President Umaru Yar’Adua), with every sense of modesty and patriotism, because he is a dynamic and well-focused leader Nigeria has ever produced. Sickness, inevitable, does occur everyday and does not equal incapacity or incapability. I pray that God should restore his health and make Nigerians put aside ethnocentric interest and show solidarity, and not the present nation-wide thesis of discord, unpatriotic tendency, disrespect and contempt for life. The president will die when he will die. Our concern should be continuous prayer for him not to die; believe me, his death will bring lots of crisis. The president has promised to deliver and pledged that:”My abiding philosophy is that government should stay focused on service delivery and refrain from propaganda knowing that what comes at the end of the day is what the people see and not what they are told.” With this statement, my confidence in him for delivery and to deliver Nigeria is reinforced, and from what I have heard of him, he will perform his duties, even at the face of death. What any responsible citizens would do at this time of his life and in this situation is to pray and organize national prayers.

I am not paid to write this praise, neither am I a stakeholder in the present government, so please don’t get my sincere solidarity twisted, especially those that perceive Nigeria and the government as good-for-nothing. President Umaru Yar’Adua took over leadership of the country as destined, at the umpteenth time when Nigeria needed salvation from socio-economic and political collapse, in addition to near autocracy (of OBJ’s 3^rd and 4^th term bid). He joined hands with other compatriots that are now propelling and rebranding our country’s gallant image at all levels of government across the country, and on this plank of victory and people-centred leadership, the dividends of democracy are no longer a mirage- even though we can’t feel it. However, since that day you sincerely and faithfully took office, Nigeria’s new problem is the bunch of many clusters of educated fools, who think with their eyes and reason with their emotions, in addition to disjointed cliques of hard-hearted, power-drunk, immoral, wicked, devilish and dangerous men in the corridors of power, escorting you and your office. It is sad to note that instead of joining hands with you to blind a more cohesive and greater Nigeria of our dream, these saddists escort are pulling you down, and tagging you all sorts of names. Some repulsive Diasporas, out of cowardice, false image and indirect slavery in Europe and America are the culprits of this unpatriotic bandwagon movement leading the campaign. Their various acts of frustration goes to proof that in any society, there are those who watch things happen, those who wonder how things happen, those who are aloof to whatever happens, those who criticize negatively whatever happens no matter how good, and those who make things happen(always few). These categories of people pull you down because they don’t contribute constructively to what happens or care to what happen to Nigeria. They thereby constitute themselves into renegades, deviants, and charlatans of the status quo. My president, please do not be distracted by these elements of retrogression. Your vision and determination is the hope of Africa, your health not withstanding.

Why my solidarity for President Umaru Yar’Adua? He is the best thing that happens to Nigeria, and we can not forget in a hurry where we are coming from. We still remember the pains of yesterday whereby Nigeria was described as a pariah nation, and witnessed a nation on the brink of disintegration. I still remember a nation cancerously eaten by corruption, and political belligerence and a near autocratic nation. We saw yesterday, a nation whose political future was in a state of comatose. Let me not dwell long on the woes and travails of yesterday. This is not about PDP, or a rigged election, or sick president. This is democracy, and according to Franklin Roosevelt, “In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.” President Umaru, out of the lots, was found fit and capable to leads Nigeria to the promise land, so why can’t we just let him do his work? President Umaru Yar’Adua, in my opinion, his the best thing that have ever happen Nigeria since 1960, and I strongly believe in his reputation as one of the very few prudent people in public office in Nigeria, managing resources at their disposal with the fear of God. This is what Nigeria needs above all things. When Ribadu could found him faultless, never indicted or investigated for corruption, then I knew this is the man that will save Nigeria. As one commentator put it, “because he’s quiet, people mistake him for a weakling. But he’s someone who knows his own mind”. President Umaru Yar’Adua, because you’re the savour we need, you will not die and I continually pray that your efforts and political pedigree that dates back to the 1960s will guide you, and on these premises, I joined hands with all well-wishers of Nigeria and indelibly put on the marbles of history, your trail blazing and pace- setting achievements, and wish you speedy recovery. We are solidly behind you for a better New Nigeria. I believe we have not had the best of you yet. Go slow as slow as you can possibly go, but I know you shall win the race and make Nigeria an envy of her persecutors.

God bless you, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

By Rowland http://www.rowland-adewumi.com