With the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s new President, the stage has been set for the change long promised.
Nigerians
from all lines, unified by passion and purpose, tapered off the
influences of ethnic, religious, and other self-aligned creeds in our
political journey by their seething desire for a new nation in the
definitive statement they made at the last polls.
In
that very election which produced Buhari as President, Nigerians made
bare their zealous expectation for the departure from the endemic system
that had become instituted as a norm and which effect had been
crippling the nation. The emergence of Buhari elicited great joy, not
necessarily for its strong reflection of their brooding intent but for
the person in whom it actually did find means to speak.
As such,
May 29, 2015 would be historic, not more for the reason that the
political administration at the centre is changing hands from one party
to another for the first time in the democratic history of this nation
than for the fact that it is the person of Buhari that stands out as the
symbol of that history. Buhari is coming into the front to take the
appropriate lead as had been continuously yearned for, in subtle and
overt wait, by most Nigerians over the years. He’s coming at a time when
many Nigerians had become fed up with the status quo that had
bestridden them for unbearable length of time.
They’ve out of
exhaustion, begun literally the pant for imminent rescue from the long
weight of administrative and institutional inebriation. Buhari’s
emergence is timely and very inspiring.
The emergence of Buhari
at this period is thus very remarkable. It is indeed remarkable firstly
that in it Buhari has finally got the chance to prove his intent to the
Nigerian people. In perseverance of his passion to commit to national
service and faith in the Nigerian masses, Buhari had consistently made a
struggle to become the leader of this country in a reviewed form for
three consecutive trials without success. To the triumph of undying
passion for service and the strength of faith, Buhari has become that
which he had for long sought for. He is stepping into the means he’d
desired to dish out his vision; and in overwhelming pomp and pageantry.
More so, it’s remarkable as well that he’s coming at such a time
Nigerians wouldn’t have desired no less a redeeming figure.
Nigerians
shouldn’t be blamed if at the end of six months they begin to “stone”
Buhari for not meeting up to what they feel in him. No doubt, Nigerians
have hopes, even greater anticipation in the new dawn they’ve wrought.
From electricity to employment generation, and the tackling of
corruption to insecurity, the stakes are really high for the new
administration. They are so expansive and beyond containing; the masses
are in desperate yearning for an overhaul so instantaneous as would a
miracle. They want a departure from what had inundated them; they want
to see results orchestrated by new ways of doing things. Concisely,
Nigerians want change. This they unequivocally expressed by their
decisions at the polls; and without deviation, this they would want to
see.
The inauguration of Buhari as the fifth executive President
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the beginning of a new phase in
the political history of the country. This itself was shown by
preliminary suggestions of the polls.
History has availed unto
Buhari the chance he had sought for to prove his zeal in the leadership
of the country. This is a very effective means he has found to impress
profoundly what he has often stood for and, very efficiently, he must
prove to the delight of all.
The onus is on the very man in the
picture to prove right the confidence of the massive population that had
yearned for his coming and flatly disprove the reservations of the few
elements who have often painted him in the picture of an anti-democrat
and evil reincarnation. He must very significantly keep the horns of as
many who believed in him high. The new President must not disappoint
fate and the majority of compatriots, who have held him in faith and
esteem.
Among the expectations the people have of him is a total
departure from past styles of administration. Buhari as his first
assignment demands must select genuine, patriotic and credible
individuals to work with as cabinet members; he must very well also
demand accountability from them. His fight against corruption must move
from mere reassuring rhetoric of past exhibition to one that’s tangible,
visible and present, giving mobility by the instruments of government
now at his stead. This fight must cut across all boards, hounding every
one culpable.
One thing is sure and very fundamental to the
expectations of Nigerians: That Mr. President must lead and be seen to
lead from the front in a leadership defined by attitudinal change; the
very change we need!
- Kingsley Ahanonu is a public affairs commentator based in Owerri, Imo State
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