Nigerians and unlimited expectations

For instance, the entire generating capacity of electricity in the last week was less than 1000 megawatts while acute shortage of fuel and other petroleum products almost brought the nation to a halt. Many conspiracy theories have been postulated, especially in the new media, the social media as to why such a blackout. In many […]

For instance, the entire generating capacity of electricity in the last week was less than 1000 megawatts while acute shortage of fuel and other petroleum products almost brought the nation to a halt. Many conspiracy theories have been postulated, especially in the new media, the social media as to why such a blackout.
In many parts of Nigeria, electricity is a special appearance, as light is not gotten for more than an hour or two a day. Schools are shadows of what they ought to be while hospitals have since closed shop. When General Muhammadu Buhari came on January 1, 1984, one major issue his government had to come face to face with was the issue of decaying infrastructure in health. General Sani Abacha mentioned that as a central reason for the takeover in his famous December 31, 1983 coup speech.  Unfortunately many years after, Muhamamadu Buhari is back and the hospitals have lost the remnant of the “consultancy” clinics that they were made of when he first came in in the early 1980s. Name any sector or section in the country today and you will realise that the situation has degenerated and is at a chaotic stage.
Little wonder it is that at the slightest provocation or even the lack of it, people resort to arson and murder in the name of one reason or the other. People are so frustrated that they have almost lost their humanity and senses while our ruling classes revel in squander mania and profligacy. Hunger, illiteracy and diseases have since been the order in our society. Why would militancy and insurgency not flourish in a society where in the midst of plenty, almost everyone is wanting? In the abundance of water, the people are thirsty. In our case, different from what Robert Nesta Marley would say, the people are not foolish but that the ruling class has been stupid.
Now that Muhamadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo have been inaugurated so also are several other state governments, the business as usual syndrome must change, we expect seriousness in the management of government and affairs of Nigerians. It is not easy but what has been lacking since is the efficacy of leadership to lead the people out of the difficulties that they found themselves in.
It is not government that will remove us from the rot, no! We will remove ourselves but under the direction of a government that is faithful. We need leadership by example that is patriotic and honest and that we can follow to the Promised Land. This has been absent and the votes in March and April if anything have shown clearly that Nigerians are tired and want a shift in the pattern and flow of leadership. From that position of backwardness to proactiveness and genuine leadership that won’t steal their resources and make them go hungry.
I think that this new government will do a lot of good to itself and to the Nigerian people by keeping the citizens adequately informed on what steps are being taken to correct the pandemic rot that has been so entrenched. Two things are very essential. One, sincerity on the part of the leadership to right the wrongs of the past. Two, the citizens should be adequately kept abreast of efforts of governments, successes and impediments that are encountered along the way. In my view, such an approach has the capacity to reengineer the spirit of commitment and sacrifice on the part of the followership. No meaningful progress would be achieved if the buy-in of the followership is lacking and the shortest way to obtaining that is when they are kept informed of the situation and they see and are convinced on the forthrightness of those in positions of authority.
It is very easy to win over the people and their confidence but the surest ingredient in doing that is a leadership that is concerned and seen as such by the people. I do not expect the APC government at the centre and states to be exclusionary as the PDP governments were. I do not expect that Nigerians would be treated on the basis of where they come from, what language they speak or what religion they profess as was the case with the last PDP government.
I believe that the manipulation of religion would henceforth cease to be an unofficial policy of government and those in authority as was the case until yesterday. I expect that the content of the character of individuals would dictate their recognition and not any more primodiality.
Of course, the government must pay back more to those it took more from. I expect reward for political positions to reflect more on those areas where the government was brought to power not disregarding those who thought otherwise. To each should be according to his contribution so that what Adamu Mu’azu, the PDP ‘game changer,’ told his party after the inauguration of campaign late last year would not also be the case with the APC government. ‘Monkey dey work, baboon dey chop,’ he said was one reason why the party found itself in difficulty when the elections were approaching.
Our expectations, the expectations of Nigerians are really very high. Managing these expectations should form the central strategy on how to move the nation forward. Failure to manage the expectations could be tragic to the party and the government.
While welcoming the new government at the centre and states, we wish they do what the PDP had brazenly failed to do in many years of its reign. Nigerians must submit and cooperate if their wishes are to come to reality but above all, the government must realise what time it is and the extent of want throughout the land.
God bless Nigeria!