Omotayo, J. A.    Lagos, NIGERIA    January 06, 2007

Thanks for your article Mr. Olusegun Mokuolu. In the past, I had my fears about the future of this country, but today, I have my trust in this country.

Why? Our past body politics was characterised by evilly motivated desire to gang up against an honest and trustworthy leader in the midst of mediocres or corrupt politicians.

Today, we have Mr. Yar'Adua and Mr. Buhari both of whom are equally competent for the highest office in the land.

I must stress that the choice of Mr. Yar'Adua by the PDP has made other political parties to pant thus forcing them to search for credible candidates of almost equal or more rating. In the ANPP, this has produced Mr. Buhari. And for the first time in our history, we have two individuals who have not been stained with corruption leading the presidential campaigns of two foremost political parties in Nigeria. This is a turning point in our body politics, and it is very good for our democracy.

In answering your question then, I will write that come May 29, 2007 the man who rules Nigeria will be an educated, intelligent, trustworthy and generally well accepted candidate. In this modern day, sound education cannot be waived aside in the choice of a good leader. So also is intelligence. Up till now, most of the heads of government whether military or civilian have been a motley collection of intelligent semi-illiterates. That was where the problem lied.

Apart from his money, it was intelligence and knowledge that made Mr. Henry Flagler to conceive of the construction of the "Over-Sea Railroad" in the late 1800s. Initially, the project was nicknamed "Flagler's Folly" because nobody believed that it was possible to build a rail road from Jacksonville in USA across the ocean to "Fort Dallas" now called Miami. But when the project was completed in 1912, it became known as "The Eighth Wonder of the World".

This little information above will no doubt show you that those trying to make a car fly are those with sound education and intelligence. They are not mediocres or intelligent semi-illiterates. Our own late Mr. Awolowo once said that while others were busy "carousing men and women of easy virtue" that he was always busy by his "post" trying to find solutions to Nigeria's problems. Whereas mediocres will often be interested in celebrations, carousing himself (not gender sensitive) until the unwanted happens, the intelligent beings find pleasure in seeking more things of interest and comfort to the generality of the people.

Nigeria has come to that point now. No matter what anybody may say, Mr. Ribadu of EFCC has brought some sanity into the financial aspect of the federation's life. Cleaner hands are emerging for presidential election. Those who have used their God given intelligence to deceive the federation have been shown the way out. Does that not point at something that the future of this country is indeed very bright?

My heart is filled with joy because we can now start to dream of having a leader that will not be globe-trotting while the enormous official duties of the federation are left unattended to as and when due. We can now begin to have a sigh of relief that the next head of state will be able to delegate functions and demand results from those appointed as Advisers, Ministers, Chairmen, etc. I think that the man who rules Nigeria is a “born again” politician with little or no blemish. The choice, of course, lies in our ability to vote and monitor the results.

God bless Nigeria.

Andy kajang    London, United kingdom    January 05, 2007

If only nigerians and their representatives ( presidents, governors, senators, etc)
were educated, reasonable and refused to tolerate sub-standard
leadership, the nation would have gone far. A people who put region, religion and
ethnicity above all else are destined for doom.

Let us be realistic: unless the nigerian people refuse to tolerate, condone and accept these senseless, selfish, evil, greedy and callous people called ( presidents, governors, senators, ministers etc) that nation will remain were it is.