Nigerians want action, no excuses

The new Federal Government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari should without being prompted hit the ground running with great speed because the job at hand is enormous or so we were made to believe during the electioneering campaigns. The All Progressives Congress (APC) campaigned in such a way that Nigerians were assured that change has come and all their existential problems would be over immediately the change crusaders assumed office. That is exactly what Buhari should aim at fulfilling.
We are still in that mood of high expectation because Buhari and his party promised us so much and we fell to the bait waiting for El Dorado. Therefore, Nigerians would expect no less from the new occupant of Aso Rock. Buhari and his co-travellers should not disappoint Nigerians. It is our fervent prayers that they do not.
We say this because to whom much is given, much is also expected.  Nigerians gave Buhari so much on March 28 and he won the presidential poll at his 4th attempt. Having prepared enough before getting our nod to preside over the nation, he must keep his word. He must reciprocate that gesture by fulfilling his election promises. He should know that his four-year tenure has started running and Nigerians have started counting and taking records of events preparatory to 2019, another pay day for elected officials. Good enough, his victory was not challenged at the tribunal. So, he cannot claim to being distracted.
He has no time to waste. Time is of essence in this job and it is never a luxury. This is not a critique on the administration. Some may argue that one month is early enough for any form of assessment of the administration. While that may seem true, it can also be argued that one month is enough to showcase the administration’s roadmap and what Nigerians would expect from it. Our modest effort here is, therefore, to point out certain things that should not be neglected by the Buhari administration, especially time.
Nigerians will not, in the least, entertain any excuses from Buhari for not fulfilling his election promises, which are legion. All the talks over meeting empty treasury or recovering of loots, probes and the magnitude of the problem met are entirely his headache because he gave us his word that he would solve our problems and that he would do it better than his predecessor even at 72.
Moreover, Buhari should understand that the campaigns are indeed over. He should be pragmatic in speech and infuse hope and not despair. We are in a period of action and action is all that Nigerians want from now onwards, no more, no less. Buhari won the presidential election because Nigerians believed in him and gave him their votes and maximum support. President Buhari should do exactly what he promised to Nigerians. Nigerians kept records of those utopian promises that make them believe and even see Buhari as a miracle worker and a magician combined.
Our politicians should learn how to keep election promises and failure to do so will attract serious sanctions. Apart from drawing the attention of the politician concerned to such pitfalls, the pay day will surely come. Nigerians started counting for Buhari immediately he took the oath of office on May 29. He should wake up and apply speed to the job at hand. To most Nigerians, Buhari is damn too slow now. There is great room for improvement.
Nigerians love action and they want Buhari to move with some measure of speed. Having appointed some of his aides, the president should send to the National Assembly his ministerial list whether he wants to reduce the number from what former President Goodluck Jonathan had or maintain the status quo depends entirely on him. We strongly believe that one month in the life of an administration is long enough to compile the list of credible Nigerians that will assist him run the government. It is enough to show which direction the government is heading. He should not make Nigerians to become impatient with him so soon. We had thought that the ministerial list would have been ready before May 29. After all, he won the election in March. The delay in having ministers now cannot be easily explained to Nigerians, and cannot be excused.
But since he promised to run a lean administration and possibly cut down the cost of governance, reducing the number of his ministers should be his best option. His appointment of ministers now will show Nigerians those that the government is bringing to the table and possibly the shape of things to come. He got it right with his appointment of media aides. He also got it right for allowing the National Assembly to elect their officers. The outcome of that exercise is a pointer that Buhari will not interfere with the affairs of the legislature. We expect him to extend the same gesture to the judiciary.  We hope he will get it right with other appointments, especially the ministers that will be crucial to driving his change policy.
It is given that a country of over 150 million people cannot be lacking in talents and star performers. So why is it taking Buhari pretty long time to name his ministers? Is this the change Nigerians voted for or should they expect another? We need answers and assurances that change has birthed. It will be recalled that during the campaigns, Buhari promised among others to ensure security of lives and property, create jobs, unite the country and rebuild the economy and its dilapidated infrastructure. He also promised to do something on electricity supply, health care and education. Nigerians are still hopeful that he would fulfill his promises hence they are asking him to commence work in earnest. Nigerians do not necessarily ask so much from their government. If the new administration can fulfill its promises, Nigerians would laud it.
Beyond what Buhari has promised to do for Nigerians, it will also be good if his government can ensure that there is 24-hour supply of potable water and good electricity to every part of Nigeria. Giving Nigerians good drinking water and clean energy will impact on other sectors and aid overall national development. Above all, it will be better if the government prioritize on a few things it can do well within a four-year time frame than to engage in so many things at a time without much success. In all, speed is essential.