NO honeymoon for this President. This conclusion predates Muhammadu Buhari’s assumption of the reins of government as 5th President of Nigeria’s Presidential democratic experience, and 4th of the current fourth democratic dispensation.
It is eight days today. His first sets of official steps are attracting immense public reactions, expectedly way more than his historical victory in the recent Presidential election.
And this includes public perception of his ceremonial speeches – Inaugural Address delivered at Eagle Square and Banquet Speech at the Inaugural Gala Night to mark his administration’s inception (Friday, May 29, 2015).
Whether or not the new All Progressive Congress (APC) administration “hit the ground running” is already a matter of intense public debate.
“Buhari ought to step out at once with his Secretary to the Federal Government. Why the delay?” It is a measure of public expectation that the President has to “navigate hard, and act fast from the outset, if he must move politicians to change old ways.”
His predecessor, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, had about seven months “settle down” romance period with the citizens. Buhari has no such luxury. It is not about impatience: the situation on ground is pathetic.
For example, power supply is now virtually non-existent. Fuel is a scarce commodity. These days, in Lagos, motorists abandon vehicles near or scattered around major petrol- filling stations. The arrival of a tanker is welcomed like a
Christmas gift – with profuse thanks.
Ironically, while people wait for the new government with high expectations, the combination of power failure and energy shortage is “disciplining” the populace by curtailment.
People seem compelled to take second look at riotous habits in homes. Bad driving habits of the Lagos motorist, such as over-speeding are tame for now.
The streets these days are hardly jammed, except in busy period. “Cost counting”- not a thing people readily do in these parts – may well be hitting more grounds.
High expectations versus realism
Citizens are just waiting and hoping for quick action. The APC change campaign had resonated so much with the larger electorate that the term “hit the ground running” acquired new currency. It set the stage for the party one-touch election victory.
However, the nature and form of the promised “rescue mission” is stirring fresh rounds of debate. Buhari disappointed many, particularly in the Southern part of the country (including his newfound South West support base) with his Inaugural Address, by failing to utter words like “true federalism” “proper federal set-up” or ”fiscal federalism.
“Leading by personal example,” a major feature of his campaign rhetoric, which was also a central thrust of his Inaugural Speech, is rated inadequate even on account of his ant-corruption stance. “I believe that when they (Nigerians) see a leadership that is open, transparent, progressive, and purposeful, Nigerians will support any action or step to reorder the system and structure without necessarily bring the roof down on everybody,” he had said after he won the Presidential election.
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