"WE HAVE AN OPPORUNITY. LET US TAKE IT"

I wish to take a cue from the last words of President Buhari's inaugural speech, "We have an opportunity. Let us take it." It is said that when opportunity meets preparation, the result is a great accomplishment. No other person has the nexus between opportunity and preparation to make such assertion than President Buhari, who has over a decade dreamt of, prepared for and finally achieved his dream of leading Nigeria as a democratically elected president. Having achieved this feat with the help of the masses who seemingly were tired of the manner of governance that trailed the polity, and coming at a time everyone for the first time have the strong belief in the person who is to lead them, then certainly, we have an opportunity.

According to Stephen Richards, "To dream by night is to escape your life. To dream by day is to make it happen." We have been in the dark side of life with regards to leadership since the birth of this republic in 1999. The president then emerged without the slightest thought that he wouldl one day lead this nation again. From prison, he was arranged to be the president, an arrangement he thought was ideal, hence after eight years, he organized another leadership for us. Though morally better than him, his successor was short sleeved by fate, leading us into another quagmire of unpreparedness. But during all these, the General, now President Buhari busied himself with dreaming and positioning himself to lead the nation. Though checkered by some wrong approaches and comments, he grew in preparation, understanding the nature and dynamics of the nation he desired to lead. At last, he found himself taking the center of the good hearts of the larger population. His once-in-a- night-time dream, eventually became a daylight dream: in the words of Stephen Richards; "making it happen."

With this readiness, and the backing of most Nigerians, President Buhari is right to say we have an opportunity. It however behooves on all of us to join him in the call to take this opportunity. I strongly agree with Jane Austen that "It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy; it is disposition alone. Seven years would be insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven days are more than enough for others." Yes! It is our disposition and approach to the opportunity that will determine the length of time it would take for the change promised and desired to take place.

As I concur with Thomas S. Monson that "Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty." Let me leave you with the words of our dear President Mohammadu Buhari…