You are imagining the expectations of a President in an ideal world during a time of crisis, but not one who or whose speechwriters evince a sense of conquest and of victory. You lamented an unfulfilled hope, of a dream, derailed for lack of organization and a figurehead. But the architects of the invasion saw it differently. Wrongly, they fathomed clear and present danger to the throne that must be neutralized by any means necessary. And that explains the absence of empathy or compassion you anticipated in the speech.

This is only where I disagree with you: "When the snake of hoodlums came in, the #EndSARS euphoria came to an end." No, sir. I beg to differ. The "snake of hoodlums" did not end the euphoria, bullets did. Okay, the bullets did. The invasion of Lekki Toll-gate did. Turning off the screen and light at the Toll-gate did. The timeline of events speaks volumes. Looting began post-invasion and disruption of the peaceful protesters at the Toll-gate, not before it. Also, in Benin City, there was jail-break, but no looting pre-Lekki invasion.

Moving Forward

Towards the end of your essay, you wrote: "We saw also the north-south divide? North says it wants SARS, the south says no. Both have failed to listen to each other. It calls for dialogue, not mutual condemnation." And the answer is in your work.

Later in that same paragraph, you stated, "It brings up the north-south debate over state police. The state of police will make us rethink this matter. If the police were a state matter, each state will decide whether or not and how they want it." I share your views.

Here are my Recommendations.

For a start. let have (1) fully armed Federal Highway Patrol on all Federal Roads, equipped with modern telecommunication gadgets to, among other functions, ensure security, safety, and the speed limit on our interstate highways. If we have to merge or convert the Federal Road Safety Corp into that unit, fine. In addition, stations should be built for them by the highways, where those who are not on duty can unwind and change clothes, but NOT checkpoints on the highways as we have presently. (2) The old Mobile Police Force (Mopol) and the disbanded SARS should form the new SWAT Team under the control of the Federal Govt and must only be seen in public to restore peace during the time of crisis. Not the Military. (3) The entire Police Force should be localized - become State Police. (4) the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense should be upgraded to carry weapons and to guide all Federal Institutions nationwide and Foreign Missions in Nigeria. And (5) members of Nigeria Customs should be taken off our highways and cities. They should be at the borders, international airports, and seaports. Period. Roaming the highways or invading private warehouses is uncalled for.

I apologize for invading your space. Thank you.