The Nigeria of my dream is a Nation founded on justice and honesty of purpose. This is so because all great Nations of the world thrive on justice. I want a Nigeria that has zero tolerance for corruption, religious and tribal bigotry. Indeed, I want to see a Nigeria where people will proudly say “I am a Nigerian living in so, so state” and not a Nigerian of a particular state of origin! This arrangement will unite the people, eliminate mutual suspicion among the people and remedy the indigene-settler induced crisis ravaging Nigeria especially in the northern parts of the country.

I have a dream that sooner than later, the votes of Nigerians will count and we shall bid adieu to electoral fraud. I envisage that in no distant future, our democracy will be built on one man,one vote – the only condition for the sustenance of constitutional democracy. I believe that if the people’s votes count, the leadership will be more accountable to all Nigerians. This will positively impact on all sectors of society because politics is the super structure upon which the economy rests. Once you fix the polity, you remedy so many socioeconomic problems plaguing the society. Though this sounds like a tall dream, it is possible with electoral reforms, empowerment and positive attitudes by Nigerians.

Even in the best of systems, it is the operators that make it work and not the Constitution or Act of Parliament per se. The implication of this is that irrespective of the constitutional review and the electoral reforms carried out by the National Assembly, if Nigerians stick to their old ways of doing things, the system will still not work effectively! It is thus left to our leaders to take the baton of leadership and spearhead a change that is needed and must come. 

The Nigeria of my dream is a country where Nigerian citizens enjoy critical infrastructure such as Security of life and properties, good road, water, and uninterrupted power supply, to mention but a few. Power will power the economy and help the country to attain the Millennium Development Goals. With power, industries including large and small scale businesses would yield optimum results. I want to see a Nigeria in which a vibrant railway network is an integral part of the transport system. This will make our roads last longer because most of the cargoes carried on roads will have to be transported by rail. This has far reaching short and long-term impact by reducing the cost of transport and subsequently of foods and other goods transported, which will ultimately lower inflation. 

I foresee a Nigeria devoid of alarming unemployment and insecurity. This is the kind of country for which Dr. Olusola Saraki strived for but sadly, never lived to see. It is possible for us to achieve this vision in view of the abundant human and material resources that God Almighty has bestowed on us.

I know the Federal Government and the 36 states of the federation are striving hard to make the country one of the 20 most developed economies in the world by the year 2020. Even if we are not able to achieve this, it is my sincere hope that we come close enough towards doing so. The Nigeria of my dream is one in which all Nigerians join hands to build the Nigeria we earnestly yearn for since government alone cannot do it. 

I want a Nigeria where citizens are proud of their citizenship and can actually take it to the bank. To achieve this, I believe we all need to roll up our sleeves and soil our hands in work. There is no short cut to success than hard work! Dreaming dreams alone will not make it happen. Endless criticisms without providing viable alternatives will not make it happen either. It will happen only when we subsume our self interest for national interest. It will happen only when we say: ‘Enough is enough!’

Your Excellency Sir, I believe this is equally the Nigeria of your dreams. I know you are committed to it even at the expense of your life. It is this vision of Nigeria that has shaped your outlook and actions so far at the National Assembly. It was what almost cost you your life when your expose the. Subsidy fraud, it was what propelled you to seek election as a Senator representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly. What is more, it was this vision that motivated you to run a clean presidential campaign in the year 2011, to refuse the use of even a single thug. It was what propelled you to explore constitutionally-stipulated legal means to seek redress anytime you are humiliated. 

It was what propelled you after being denied the Northern elders support in your quest to seek the ticket of PDP in presidential primary, rather than given up on Nigeria you deem it fit to renew your zeal to work towards the emergence of President Ebele Jonathan in your believe that in President Jonathan, a new Nigeria where justice and equity shall prevail will be achieved

Obviously this vision of Nigeria is alive in your heart, I can see it. In summary, what we need to do as a people is to get the polity right, shun corruption, be patriotic, believe in God and every other thing shall follow. That was the Nigeria of your father's dream. It was for this that he lived and died.

Finally your Excellency, come 2015 you just need to lead, what this country needs is a leaving & tested president with ideas. We know you are one of the few Nigerian that can give us the Nigeria of our dream

Thanks and God bless

Yinka Dallas wrote from Ilorin