In a heartfelt open letter, Ambassador Tony Young Godswill has passionately appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the mounting discontent among Nigerians, ahead of a planned national peace protest slated for August 1, 2024.

Amb. Godswill, in his letter, expressed deep concern over the current state of the nation and highlighted the importance of the President’s role in easing the nation’s tensions. He drew a compelling parallel between Nigeria’s current situation and the biblical story of blind Bartimaeus, emphasizing the need for President Tinubu to listen to the people’s cries and take decisive action to address their grievances.

“Nigerians have been crying out for attention and action,” Godswill wrote. “Asking us to calm down and keep quiet without solving our immediate needs will only worsen the situation and may turn violent.”

Amb. Godswill began by emphasizing the love and support many Nigerians, including himself, have for President Tinubu and their collective desire for his success in office. He urged the President to see the current unrest as a call to action, akin to the cry of blind Bartimaeus who sought help from Jesus. Just as Bartimaeus’s persistent cries were eventually heard, so too must the cries of Nigerians be acknowledged and addressed.

Immediate Steps Recommended

Amb. Godswill laid out several specific recommendations for the President to consider in the days leading up to the planned protest:

1. Acknowledge the People’s Cries: Just as Bartimaeus’s persistent cries drew the attention of Jesus, Nigerians are crying out for the attention of their President. Ignoring these cries or simply asking for patience without taking concrete steps to address immediate needs will only intensify the unrest.

2. Initiate a Stakeholder Meeting: Amb. Godswill advised President Tinubu to convene a meeting with respected leaders of the masses to peacefully discuss their demands. “This move will show the masses that we have finally gotten the attention of Mr. President and create immediate calmness across the nation,” he stated.

3. Address Pressing Needs: While acknowledging that Nigeria’s problems cannot be solved completely within a four-year term, Amb. Godswill emphasized the need for the President to begin addressing the most urgent issues. “Nigerians need to see that you understand their pressing demands and have begun to make necessary moves to address them systematically,” he added. This, he argued, would restore public confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership and his promise of renewed hope.

4. Be Wary of Internal Saboteurs: Amb. Godswill highlighted the presence of potential saboteurs within the President’s cabinet who may secretly wish for his administration to fail. He warned that the use of force or threats to quell the planned protests would likely backfire, as many Nigerians already feel threatened by the government. Instead, he recommended initiating a peace dialogue with key leaders of the masses.

Amb. Godswill’s letter is both a plea and a roadmap for navigating the nation’s current challenges. He stressed the importance of empathy and genuine engagement with the populace, urging the President to act as a father figure who listens and responds to the legitimate concerns of his children.

“It is crucial now, more than ever, for you to listen to the voices of the people and address their legitimate demands,” he wrote. “We Nigerians urgently need a genuine show of empathy from our number one citizen and President. This will calm our nerves and give us RENEWED HOPE.”

The Role of Trusted Advisors

In his concluding remarks, Amb. Godswill underscored the value of listening to trusted advisors, specifically mentioning Prophet Dr. Isa El-Buba. He described Dr. El-Buba as a man of proven integrity and genuine love for the masses, who desires nothing more than a better and brighter Nigeria for all its citizens.

“I pray that God restores peace and prosperity across Nigeria, and bless you with more wisdom, good health, and strength to lead this great nation to the promised land,” he wrote.

Amb. Tony Young Godswill serves as the National Secretary and North Central Regional Coordinator for the Initiative for Better and Brighter Nigeria (IBBN). His letter reflects a deep commitment to the well-being of Nigeria and its citizens, urging President Tinubu to take immediate and compassionate action to address the nation’s current challenges