Bitrus Saleh
A plea to preserve your role as a pillar of African democracy
Your Excellency,
I write to you as a concerned Nigerian citizen who respects the role you have played in shaping our democracy and the wider African political landscape.
Your name has become synonymous with democratic restraint since the historic concession of 2015. That act did more than transfer power peacefully.
It proved that institutions can be stronger than personal ambition, and it positioned you as one of the few African leaders whose voice carries weight across party lines and national borders.
Today, when ECOWAS, the AU, and international bodies seek a mediator in moments of crisis, they turn to you precisely because you are seen as neutral and credible.
It is for this reason that I respectfully advise you not to contest any political position, despite the hearsay suggesting you are considering a return to partisan contest.
The case for stepping back:
- Your influence is greater outside the ballot box.
As a former president not seeking office, you can speak truth to power without being dismissed as a competitor. Once you enter the race, every statement you make will be read through a partisan lens, and your capacity to mediate conflicts in Mali, Guinea, Senegal, and elsewhere will be diminished. - Nigeria needs examples of exit over entitlement.
Too many leaders treat public office as a birthright. Your continued absence from the ballot would reinforce the idea that leadership includes knowing when to create space for others. That example matters for young Nigerians who are losing faith in politics. - Protect the legacy you already own.
History remembers 2015 as the moment Nigeria chose peace over conflict. A return to partisan politics risks reframing that legacy and turning a national asset into another contested figure. The goodwill you have earned across Africa is rare and should not be spent on a single election cycle. - Africa needs your neutrality now.
The region faces democratic backsliding, military takeovers, and electoral disputes. Your role as an elder statesman is not symbolic. It is functional. Staying out of active politics keeps that function intact.
Your Excellency, I am not asking you to retire from public service. I am asking you to continue serving in the capacity where you are most effective and least divisive: as a statesman, mediator, and guardian of democratic norms.
Nigeria and Africa have benefited from your restraint before. I believe they will benefit even more if you choose it again.
I remain hopeful for the future of our democracy and grateful for your past service.
Respectfully yours,
Bitrus Saleh
saleh.bitrus88@gmail.com
