Beginning of a New Era...

Yay!!! A new era begins in the Nigerian polity... Will the next 4/8 years be any different from the last 8 years? I believe so. I have reproduced the last paragraph of Yar'Adua's inaugural speech below, and it speaks to what I've always said - it can no longer be business as usual! May the good Lord grant him and all the other individuals who have been handed the mantle to represent our interests at the national, state, local and senatorial levels the wisdom and courage to do what is necessary to ensure that we get our systems and institutions to where they should be, and may the citizens have the courage to stand up and make a clear promise (not threat) to these people that anyone who misbehaves will face the consequences - they should go talk to the Alamieyeseighas and the Dariyes, and all the others who will be forced to follow suit sooner than later.

Please read on, and if you are a Nigerian, add these words to your personal mantra. And always remember "If not me, then who? If not now, then when?"

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I will set a worthy personal example as your president. No matter what obstacles confront us, I have confidence and faith in our ability to overcome them. After all, we are Nigerians! We are a resourceful and enterprising people, and we have it within us to make our country a better place.

To that end I offer myself as a servant-leader. I will be a listener and doer, and serve with humility. To fulfill our ambitions, all our leaders at all levels whether a local government councilor or state governor, senator or cabinet minister must change our style and our attitude. We must act at all times with humility, courage, and forthrightness.

I ask you, fellow citizens, to join me in rebuilding our Nigerian family, one that defines the success of one by the happiness of many.

I ask you to set aside negative attitudes, and concentrate all our energies on getting to our common destination. All hands must be on deck.

Let us join together to ease the pains of today while working for the gains of tomorrow.

Let us set aside cynicism and strive for the good society that we know is within our reach.

Let us discard the habit of low expectations of ourselves as well as of our leaders.

Let us stop justifying every shortcoming with that unacceptable phrase 'the Nigerian Factor' as if to be a Nigerian is to settle for less.

Let us recapture the mood of optimism that defined us at the dawn of independence, that legendary can-do spirit that marked our Nigerianess.

Let us join together, now, to build a society worthy of our children.

We have the talent. We have the intelligence. We have the ability. The challenge is great. The goal is clear. The time is now.