Making sense of campaign promises

Consequently, as political awareness grows across the country as evident in the increased mass participation in political rallies, there is heightening anxiety among political observers, to see clarity, reduced ambiguity and bold commitment in electoral manifesto of candidates. Analyst believe that unique incorporation of convincing mission in governance termed ‘my covenant with Nigerian’ distinguishes Buhari-Osibanjo’ […]

Consequently, as political awareness grows across the country as evident in the increased mass participation in political rallies, there is heightening anxiety among political observers, to see clarity, reduced ambiguity and bold commitment in electoral manifesto of candidates. Analyst believe that unique incorporation of convincing mission in governance termed ‘my covenant with Nigerian’ distinguishes Buhari-Osibanjo’ elctoral promises from the usual.
In an eight-page campaign booklet being distributed in rallies and made available to newsmen by Buhari-Osibanjo’s campaign organization, General Mohammed Buhari discretely marshaled out developmental issues he hopes to implement if voted into office in order of priority. On corruption and Governance, General Buhari stressed,” I pledge to publicly declare my assets and liabilities and encourage my political appointees to publicly declare their assets and liabilities; affirm that our strategy for tackling corruption will not only focus on punishment. Rather it will also provide incentives for disclosure and transparency.’’
Further, on the issue of corruption and governance, he pledged to show personal leadership in the war against corruption and also hold all those who work with him to account; inaugurate the National Council on Procurement as stipulated on the procurement Act so that the Federal Executive Council, which has been turned into a weekly session of contract bazaar, will concentrate on its principal function of Policy making.
He also pledged to review and implement audit recommendation by Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI); Work with the National Assembly towards the immediate enactment of a Whistle Blower Act; work with the National Assembly to strengthen ICPC and EFCC by guaranteeing institutional autonomy including financial and prosecutorial independence and security of tenure of officials as well as make the Financial Intelligent Unit (FIU) an autonomous and operational agency.
In addition, he pledged to encourage proactive disclosure of information by government institutions in the spirit of Freedom of Information Act; ensure all MDAs regularly comply with their accountability responsibilities to Nigerians through the National Assembly; work with the leadership of National Assembly to cut down the cost of governance and present national anti-corruption strategy.
On the area of access to justice and respect for fundamental human rights, Buhari recognized that one of the biggest challenge facing Nigeria is building a country that is fair to all of its citizen: a country in which all individuals feel and know that they are valued members of society with constitutionally guaranteed rights; a country that respects human dignity, promote human development, foster human equality and advance human freedom
In that regards he pledged to lead a government founded on values that promote and protect fundamental human rights and freedoms, stressing that he will promote the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law, affirm separation of powers of government and, support an independent judiciary.
Still on access to Justice and respect for fundamental human right, Buhari further pledged to present a detailed strategy for protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms provided for in our constitution, insisting that there will be emphasis on the right of vulnerable persons including women, children and persons living with disabilities as well as access to justice and prisons reforms.   
The way General Buhari analyzed how he hopes to tackle issues of corruption and government; and access to justice and respect for fundamental human right is the same way he analyzed issues relating to; insurgency and insecurity; Niger Delta; National diversity; Health, Education; Agriculture; management of the economy; power; sports and culture with no omission.
Among features of the document that endears General Buhari to majority of Nigerians is the due recognition he gave to National Assembly as necessary democratic partner in the running effective governance especially in the making of laws; placement of priority to fight against corruption in the sense that graft is responsible for most inefficiency in government programs. others items are his interests in management of the economy for shared prosperity as opposed to the present economic growth excludes the majority and breeds poverty and his emphatic plans to tackle the power sector problems.
It could be recalled that decay in the power sector has been hugely responsible for low pace of industrialization, job creation and economic growth in the country. Unfortunately, effort to tackle the problem in the sector by the present administration through privatization rather submerged it in deeper deterioration where all forms of unpleasant sharp practices are possible. It is a widespread allegation that most of the successor companies of the nation’s electricity giant, Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, were acquired by inexperienced companies owned by people in government whose only interest is to make money whether the power is available or not. Worst of all, the acquisitions were transacted on credit such that some still owe in spite of billions of naira they make from the outrageous bills they extort from Nigerians monthly.
As it stands now, the Electricity distribution companies have increased bills more than 5 times within barely 4 months they took over. To add to the burden of the masses the more, the PDP led administration instead of ensuring that the successor companies inject in fund and improve supplies, are rather busy doling out tax payers money as loans and grants to them. There is obvious system degeneration in the sector, the country now has lowest total power out-put fluctuating between 2000 and 3000 megawatt. If for anything, the Nigerian power sector can compete favorably in the Guinness book of records as the worst privatization in human history.  The only hope lies in the electoral promises of the Buhari-Osinbajo APC ticket which political observers are united in the belief that they can deliver. The young, old, men and women should rise in unison and exercise their franchise. Voting out bad administration is a collective responsibility and the time is now.
King wrote in from Abuja