THE TYPE OF PRESIDENT NIGERIA NEEDS

The Type of President Nigeria Need to Success as One Nation

I see a President as a presider, one who presides over the affairs and wellbeing of his people. A President is a father who loves, cares, provides, and listens to the call, request, or cry of his children (citizens). Of course, a President just like a father disciplines his erring children, but with love and the mindset to bring them back to the right track for the progress and betterment of the family (nation). Not with a mindset of hate, vengeance, insubordinate decisions/actions, stigmatization, or discrimination. A President as a father does not show favoritism; though like a father, he may have a favorite son or sons, but he is careful not to make it obvious less it causes division among the members of the family and jeopardize the family's unity, togetherness, and peace. A President like a father is the head of the family (nation); this is the veto vested on him by God and by the citizens (children) who, by virtue of the power of their vote or right to enfranchisement elected him as such. Hence, a President should understand that this power as the head of the family (nation) is for protecting, providing, correcting (with love), and preserving the lives, properties, rights, and actions of members of his family (nation). And not to mistreat, humiliate, stigmatize, discriminate or punish members of the family, just because he holds the veto as the head of the family (nation). Most times I wonder why the presidential candidates on their political campaigns will promise the citizens heaven on earth. Some will even be too exaggerated on their promises to the point of declaring to change the country and citizens, especially the poor, less privileged, and unlearned people's dilapidated lives within one or two years of stay in the office. But when they are voted in and they begin to enjoy the "glory" of political power, they become exactly like their predecessors, and most times, worse than their predecessors. And to justify themselves, they blame their failure on the past government they took over from. The question becomes; are they not aware that the past government was bad and fraudulent before they promise that they will better the nation if they are voted in? They fail to understand that they are voted in to correct the so-called menace that the past government is said to have caused. I am also flabber-whelmed when I see that our past government will see what they should and would have done when they are no longer in the office. But, when they are in the office, "political glory" and "luxurious enjoyment" will blindfold their sight to what should be done to truly better the standard of living of the citizens. These and more are because Nigeria is in need of a loving, caring, and working father as a President. 

The type or kind of President Nigeria needs is one that can sincerely see and treat all tribes in Nigeria as one or Nigerians. One that will not discriminate either tribe, culture, or religion; who will not discriminate in disciplining tribes that err (with the mindset to correct) with the same measure he will use on his own tribe when they err. One who will be fair in making presidential appointments and distributing allocations, etc, irrespective of tribe or religion. Nigeria needs a President who will not be a Christian or a Muslim, an Igbo man, Yoruba, or Hausa-Fulani man as long as he sits on the throne of presidential leadership. A President who will not just be a Nigerian, but Nigeria himself and therefore sit on the throne of the country as "Nigeria". Not as a Christian to favor only Christians, not as a Muslim to favor only Muslims, and certainly not as an Igbo man to favor only Igbos or a Hausa-Fulani man to favor only Hausa-Fulani, and not as a Yoruba man to favor only Yorubas, but as Nigeria; which will enable him to treat and favor all as one family, children from one parent and as one nation. It is important to note that whoever becomes the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ceases from being who he was, that is, as related to tribe, culture, and/or religion. The person automatically becomes both a Christian, a Muslim, and a member of all the ethnic groups in Nigeria. The way he treats one religion should also be the way he should treat other religions. And the way he treats one tribe should also be the way he should treat other tribes. There is a very big difference between religion and politics or political leadership. Nigeria needs a President who will understand the difference in the two- religion and politics and separate them in his leadership. One that is so much in love with his religion should not be involved or contest for political position, especially, presidential position. The religious love will influence the person's thoughts and actions to promote his religion, favor people of the same religion with him and treat with contempt and discriminate (directly or indirectly) people of other religions. A good President should not be one who favors his tribe and religion at the expense of other tribes and religions. Nigeria needs a President who will like Daniel of old, have and exercise excellent spirit (good knowledge and wisdom), like Joseph of old have and exercise a high standard of morality and like Jesus have and exercise the spirit of service, humility, and humanity. A President of Nigeria must be one who loves and places the utmost value on peoples' lives and wellbeing. Therefore, it is time Nigerians pray for a true President who will be a loving father for all those he is presiding over and it is also a time for our political leaders, especially of the presidential cadre to become a loving and caring father. Who will sincerely lead the nation to her proposed promised land of peace, unity, progress, tranquility, humanity, and tribal/religious liberty; which are the only effective tools to combat corruption and every other form of crime in the nation.

God Bless Nigeria, Amen!

Nwoko Solomon Ikechukwu (Pastor)