Further to my previous letters written on the platform of Leadership Rescue Initiative [LRI], dated 8th April 2013, delivered and acknowledged by the presiding officers of the Parliament [National Assemble] copied the Inspector General of police and the Attorney-General of the federation. Also the petition became a subject of International interest. Subsequently an addendum was added to the original open letter during the open letters saga late last year; this was also well publicised in the local and international media.
From time to time, on this journey of life, a man taking refuge under the canopy of a tree, at the bank of a river, pauses to take stock of his bearings. In this case, as a nation crawling under the burden of mis-governance, maladministration, ineptitude, corruption and insecurity. As a Nation we may not be exactly taking refuge under the canopy of a tree, neither are we at the bank of a river. However, we are as a Nation bogged down in a social, economical and political logjam.
After nearly sixteen years of Stewardship, the political class, specifically the present gladiators, including the ever vibrant citizens of my great country Nigeria, need to take stock and appraise our situation holistically, so as to address the inglorious past , so that our past will not begin to address the future as a Nation.
Therefore I stand on the platform of Rescue, to begin a series of presentations to my fellow compatriots, at home and in Diaspora, so as to rescue and re-build our Nation. At the inspection of the present democratic dispensation, I was deeply involved and played a critical role, such as my role in the inaugural committee headed by the erudite scholar Prof. Tunde Adeniran. Following discreetly I became an errand boy of the big masquerade, which placed me in the best position to reflect on the past and appraise our success and failure.
It started on a very solid foundation, with the government of Gen. Abubakar Abudulsalam GCON. The real child of necessity, who with all sincerity superintended the shortest transition ever, and handed over power to a new democratic government headed by Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo.
During this transition period, I played a very important role, including liaison between the in-coming and out-going government. I remember my very first assignment immediately after the inauguration of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, as a new head of state. I was saddled with the responsibility to provide logistics and the platform to execute the agenda of imposition on the leadership of the parliament (National Assemble), this was clinically achieved, the result produced Sen. Evan(s) Ewerem and Rep. Salisu Buhari, as against the popular choice of the in-coming members in the person of Sen. Chuba Okadigbo of blessed memory. This clearly was the beginning and foundation of Executive interference and meddlesomeness in the internal affairs of the Legislative arm of government. Little did I know that I was lending myself to an undemocratic venture that would set the pace for what we are witnessing today.
I remember staying on the same floor of the Hilton Hotel Abuja, with Chuba Okadigbo, my room number 185. After the event I met the Late Sen. Chuba Okadigbo in the corridor of our floor at the Hilton hotel, I could only just say to myself, after all, I’m just but an errand boy. This clearly set the pace for executive skull duggary, impunity, dishonesty and tyranny of the executive arm of the government.
Today I stand to say that I am not surprised with the present state of the Nation, misadventure and carelessness in governance, has its foundation in the maladministration’s past particularly, the arbitrariness and corruption in all ramifications of the Obasanjo party/administration.
Therefore, I shall be presenting a weekly report sheet to my compatriots, from now until the next General Election, this will provide the necessary information, for the benefit of choice, so as to guide and help us in the choice we must make. A selfless leader like Nelson Madela is desirable for us as a nation at the cross roads.
I wish to solicit for maximum input and co-operation of my fellow compatriots in this task of Nation building, so that we can re-build our Nation. I will reach out to great men of honour and like minds, home and abroad. Particularly My senior brothers who share similar providential grace with me, Sen. Ike Nwachukwu, Sen. Adetunji Adeleke, Dr Adedeji Adeleke, my friend and brother, Risqua Muritala Mohammed, Aisha Oyebode And our mother the real conscience of the Nation, Mrs Ajoke Mohammed. I am a miniature map of Nigeria, an Ijebu man from the South West of Nigeria, born in the South East of Nigeria, by a mother from the Northern part of Nigeria and happily married to my wife of inestimable value from the South East of Nigeria. Therefore, I live, sleep, think and speak Nigeria. So I am an incurable optimist in the Nigerian project.
Conclusively, I like to place on record with extreme assurance of the resolve to turn our diversity to strength, so that we can re-build our Nation, and avoid the pitfalls of other Nations in turmoil, Sudan, Central African Republic and other troubled Nations at war. Today as I unveil the uniqueness of my person and declare the platform for rescue, on behalf of millions of my compatriots, I salute our heroes, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa, Moshod Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO), St James Ajibola Ige(CICERO), the Kaduna boys, Papa Alfred Rewane, Kudirat Abiola.
They will all rise again!
Richard Olanrewaju Odusanya
Executive Chairman
Leadership Rescue Initiative
