The President

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Re: Convoy of Death

Your Excellency,

Being my first letter written to you since your second coming and ascension to the seat of power, I congratulate you on this no easy feat. It becomes more intriguing that you are the number one citizen after your undue incarceration by the Abacha regime, which could somehow be likened to Joseph's episode in the Bible. No matter how it is viewed in both low and high places, you had a destiny with the presidency twice in your lifetime and also with a divine purpose for the evaluation and redemption of those you govern.

Let me kindly remind you that when God grants us opportunities and privileges, they also come with responsibilities that are sometimes very enormous and demanding. You cannot revel in the privileges and ignore the responsibilities unless you will be defying the will of the God and thus probably incurring his wrath from time to time. I want you to also realise that to whom much is given, much is expected and in this case of mine, I am demanding justice and nothing but absolute justice.

On the 26th of December (Boxing day), A good friend of mine (Victor Umoren) and Alumni of Federal Government College, Ikot-Ekpene and his newly married wife (Naomi) were coming back from a retreat in Epe during their honeymoon and were unfortunately crushed to death by a ministerial convoy conveying your interior minister - Chief Dapo Sarumi. I can understand that the act was not fully deliberate on his part but, for the mere fact that his aides only ferried his injured men while abandoning the late couple to die in cold blood is nothing but satanic.

How on earth can one explain this irrevocable and irretractable disposition of your minister with human life? How do you feel with the continuous recklessness of government drivers on our highways and even our small roads? Are you aware of the precious and irreplaceable great lives that are being lost because of our VIP's insensitivity and sheer pomposity? Why are government officials above the laws of the land with reference to the Federal Road Safety Corps? When are we ever going to live in a normal society where law and order reign supreme irrespective of sacred and unsacred cows?

I have to also remind you that the very populace are beginning to loose faith in your regime if events like this go unabated and unreduced. The Justice Oputa Panel that you have instituted is a welcome development but it not should begin and end with atrocities of the past but the present with a view to the future. Sometime ago, in Anambra state where you wife - Mrs. Stella Obasanjo was visiting, a security official physically manhandled the wife of Late Nnamdi Azikiwe because of an illicit and undefined security protocol. That was as well too bad an event but this incident involving your minister is catastrophic and appalling to say the least.

I have every reason to be very bitter over this issue not because the affected were a close friend of mine but, because the value of human seems to be at it's lowest ebb so far with you as the commander-in-chief which should be very worrisome to you. There is nowhere in the world (civilised) that this deed would be treated with contempt and little attention most especially when a government official behaves in such a disdainful manner. Mr. President, these idiosyncrasies exhibited by your assistants in power MUST stop henceforth with this unfortunate total annihilation. I demand a high-powered investigation into this matter, which should lead to the inevitable resignation of Chief Dapo Sarumi.

We cannot continue going like this in a country where diverse and multiple calamities are the order of the day. We cannot continue to say we are holy when we are surrounded and advised with unholy vessels. The truth of the matter is that your first coming witnessed a lot of human rights abuse, which culminated in the vicious killing of Lady Anikulapo-Kuti and also denied you the UN Secretary-General position. Your second coming should be a second chance to write your name in gold if in nothing else the safety and protection of human live at all times. The families of the Umorens and the Wigwes need succour, equity and fairplay in this issue as retribution and compensation for the thorny yesteryears of parental tutelage.

Already, it is being insinuated that because the dead did not belong to the elitist category, justice is being delayed and slowly denied. When Damilola Taylor was killed a few meters from my residence in London few weeks ago, you acted swiftly and rightly prompting the British government to swing into serious investigations at the highest level. Regrettably, you now have a similar or more serious case, which involves two lives maliciously exterminated by the crude attitude of your personnel. Mr. President, please kindly remember that charity begins at home and that he who cannot put his house in order has no business in putting another's in proper place.

Nothing else other than justice is what I am crying for. The melancholy of your fellow citizens must cease with nasty and unpleasant occurrences like this. The onus is you to redeem the polity and entity called "Nigeria". If for any reason this matter goes unresolved, it will be confirmed that your second coming was a total failure in all ramifications and your promises to uphold fair play and equality a mirage. God bless Nigeria!

Uwem Inyang London

N:B This letter was written in my personal capacity and not as the secretary of the Alumni association (London Branch)