An Open Letter To The Chairman Of The Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu -By Dokpesi Timothy Adidi

I am writing to you Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at this crucial moment of our Nation’s history and significant decision. It has indeed been a long walk to freedom from the inception of our democracy from 29^th May, 1999 up to 25^th February, 2023. This long walk to freedom is quite hectic and frustrating to the majority of Nigerians. As such, I am writing to you this moment to understand the pains and worrisome moments that has brought us thus far. I hope this open letter to you will be brief considering the urgency of what this letter hope to achieve.

Mr. Chairman of the Commission (INEC) we are all at a crossroad in Nigeria; and at this very crossroad you are a deciding factor as to choose between good and evil as the umpire and Chairman of the 2023 elections in Nigeria considering the critical moment you have found yourself. This is an opportunity to either allow the forces of darkness prevail or the forces of light. At this moment in our Nation’s history there seems to be a sense of Divine Providence to have you as the INEC Chairman to help Nigeria move forward to a land filled with milk and honey. It is either you make Nigerians remain in slavery or arrive at the freedom our forefathers built this Nation. Nigeria must indeed be free as we place the ball in your court. I just hope you understand the extent Nigerians need this freedom under your watch. Our children and your grandchildren and also great grandchildren would be beneficiaries of this freedom we are about to arrive at. Hence, I encourage you to look into the current electoral process with a critical eyes and hoping that you would not be misled.

The emergence of a winner in this 2023 election is not as important as the fact that Nigerians must decide who should rule them. The decision to rule must be the exclusive and inclusive rights of Nigerians and not a few political class. You therefore must resist every temptation not to be induced towards frustrating the wish of the Nigerian people. The wish of the Nigerian people supersedes that of a common class of people. The chances of putting your name in the good records of Nigerians will impact positively on your genealogical futuristic endeavour once your name is mentioned as the man who made Nigerians decide their own political future. As such this will put your children’s name and even your grandchildren on the sands of relevance and the footnote of history. Therefore, I urge you to be guided.

Mr. Chairman, this election is an election like no other election. This election represents the yearnings of the African States. The African Community and the global world are much interested in this election like no other election in Nigeria as the world is waiting for Nigeria to get it right. This is an opportunity to make your name in the global community as the man of year as you put things right in their proper place. Nigerians have confidence in the electoral process and it is believed you will not disappoint Nigerians. It seems to majority of Nigerians that you are under pressure even as you try to manage the pressure in the public sphere. Nevertheless, be rest assure that any pressure that will make you to avoid doing what is right will only destroy your good name which is better than riches.

I want you Mr. Chairman to also have it in mind that you are representing the academic community as a Professor. A Professor represents doing what is always right and not tilting doing what is wrong. As an academia you understand the rudiments of what constitutes character and learning as the hallmark of scholarship and education. I hope as you bring Nigeria into the light of freedom to decide their future after this long walk it shall end with the principles that guide academic pursuit. Always be conscious of the fact that temptations are necessary to make you an exact man that you are with a proven character; and as such do what is better for the common good of Nigerians for posterity sake.

Mr. Chairman, I wish you the best as you put Nigeria on the road to freedom towards the consolidation of what we began at the polls.

Yours Faithfully,

ADIDI, Dokpesi Timothy