Dear Sir,

First and foremost, let me use this medium to congratulate you once again on your victory against INEC server custodian and your successful swearing in ceremony against all odds. Again, I want to appeal to you as an elder statesman, as usual, to be fair to all Nigerians in your appointments. I am not sure that after this your tenure in office that Nigerians will allow you to seek third term as General Olusegun Obasanjo did. This is an opportunity for you to right the wrongs; it is never too late to do that.

Again, let me use this opportunity to remind you of your statement during your inauguration on the 29^thMay, 2015. I quote: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.” This statement of yours was widely commended by all Nigerians, even those in the Diaspora. But, unfortunately, for Nigerians, that statement was a mere paradox when compared to your actions after your inauguration.

Although, you have some things in common with the originator of “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” –Mr Charles Andre Joseph Marie de Gaulle of France – who made the statement in 1964. Below are those things you have in common with Charles de Gaulle:

Both of you were once military officers who rose to the rank of General; both of you were elected presidents after leaving the army.

Charles de Gaulle led the French against the Germans during World War II, and you were Adjutant and Company Commander, 2 Battalion fighting against Biafrans during Nigerian Civil War.

In any case, the implementation of the statement, “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”, was different. The former French president was practical in the implementation of that statement, whereas, you are political in your implementation of the statement. In your own case, everybody in that statement refers to Northern Nigerians and All Progressives Congress (APC) members and nobody represents Southern Nigeria and all other parties other than APC.

Although it is never late for you to commence the practical implementation of that statement. This can be achieved by ensuring equity and all-inclusive administration during this your second term in office. This Open Letter is the second open letter I am writing to you since you assumed the Office of the President of Nigeria.

Mr President, it would be a good idea if you use technocrats to run this your second term in office, instead of your usual choice of lawyers-turned-politicians. Politicians are only interested in the amount of money they can grab within the period of their stewardships, but technocrats’ reputations are at stake, if they fail to deliver as expected.

As the first Nigerian Professor of Information Encryption, a subfield of Computer Security, and also someone who was once at Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, for the purpose of recruitment, I understand what it takes to train one military officer. It is very sad that Boko Haram should take a life of an officer. Mr President, technology has made it possible that drones may be deployed for surveillance against Boko Haram sect members, herdsmen armed bandits, kidnappers, and their likes. This will reduce the cases of our gallant military officers from ambush attacks and, as such, preserve the lives of our officers.

Technology rules the world today. Donald John Trump, the President of United States of America deployed technology to defeat Secretary, Hilary Clinton, the then government-in-power anointed candidate. I cannot claim to be responsible for Donald Trump’s victory, but I made my mark which he acknowledged. This is evidenced in Trump’s “Thank You Message” sent to me after his victory. This is embedded in my Open Letter to him. Then, I was in Fayetteville State University, North Carolina, carrying out a research in Cyber Security and Cyber Terrorism.

However, I wish you well during this your second tenure as the President of Nigeria. God bless you and all Nigerians.

Yours Faithfully,

Prof Okike Benjamin.

•Prof Okike Benjamin writes from the Department of Computer Science, University of Abuja.

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