Ahead of the inauguration of the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC)- led Federal Government on May 29, expectations are very high among Nigerians, considering the party manifesto and campaign promises.

The party’s presidential candidate and president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)’s victory in the poll was made possible by the overwhelming support of Nigerians, who cast their votes for him, hoping that he and his party men will bring positive change which they had promised during campaign.

There is no doubt that Buhari’s victory in the poll was unprecedented in the political history of the country in the sense that it was the first time, an incumbent president would be defeated in an election in Nigeria.

The party’s campaign mantra “Change” was embraced by majority of Nigerians, who are now eagerly waiting to witness the change when the government assumes office on May 29.

It will be recalled that at the peak of the electioneering campaign, Buhari had always vowed that his government would fight corruption.
Corruption is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of the country. It is a dreaded monster that appears to have defied all solutions since independence.

The general perception within and outside the country is that an average Nigerian is a suspect of corruption. So, many alleged corrupt charges are pending in courts across the country, while several corrupt practices are being committed.

Despite denial by the present government, many Nigerians believe that the anti-graft agencies have not lived up to expectations in recent years, and corruption has thrived unhindered.

Even those who are being tried for alleged corrupt practices are being appointed and elected into public offices. Though legally it is not wrong, but morally, it is a burden.

According to Mr. Vincent Agudu, a political scientist, Buhari’s government cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians by failing in his campaign promise of tackling corruption adequately.

Agudu said: “Many Nigerians see our president-elect as Mr. Integrity and it is one of the reasons Nigerians voted for him during the poll. Nigerians are looking forward to see how his government will tame corruption totally.

“If Buhari tames corruption, a lot of things will work. Employment will be created, and the economy will prosper. Public office holders will be accountable to the people. Corruption is one problem Buhari’s presidency must deal with, considering the general perception that he has some alleged corrupt politicians around him.

To Taiye Ogundele, an undergraduate, fighting corruption is one of the biggest challenges Buhari’s government will face, but its success or failure in the fight will make or mar his government.

“Successive governments have paid lip service to the fight against corruption. That is the reason most things have not worked and are still not working in the country today.

“There is too much corruption everywhere, and it appears every Nigerian is guilty of it. Fight against corruption is a campaign promise made by Buhari that must be fulfilled. If corruption is tackled, every other thing would work well in the country,’ Ogundele said.

Likely to pose serious challenge to the Buhari’s government is the epileptic power supply across the country. The power sector has been a perennial one even before President Jonathan assumed office. Not even the present government’s privatisation of the sector has improved supply.

To many Nigerians, it seems that those who bought the sector are lacking in competence, solvency and technical knowhow, thereby worsening the situation, as Nigerians now pay more for darkness in the face of untold economic hardship.

Across the country today, almost every household has a standby generator because of consistent power failure.

Several companies have also closed down business, due to their inability to meet up with overhead cost due to epileptic power supply.

Also of great concern to Nigerians are the state of the economy, unemployment and poverty. Despite the fact that Nigeria is endowed with abundant material and human resources, the level of unemployment and poverty is on increase and alarming.

Insecurity has pervaded the land and the Boko Haram insurgents have inflicted severe pain and suffering on Nigerians especially residents and indigenes of the Northeast states. Many Nigerians are of the view that the situation is responsible for high crime rate in the society today.

The present government has beaten its chest, claiming that Nigerian economy has grown tremendously, and is today the biggest economy in Africa, but ordinary Nigerians have not felt the impact of such economic growth.

The country’s overdependence on the crude oil as a major source of income has not improved the economy.

Since the end of last year, the price of the crude has fallen drastically to the extent that the country’s external reserve is being depleted.

The country’s currency has also been devalued, raising fear among Nigerians that the days ahead will be tougher. Some Nigerians have alleged that the country is broke because apart from not diversifying the economy, not much was saved by the government when the crude was selling at high price.

It is an axiomatic fact that the mismanagement of the economy by successive governments is responsible for the high level of unemployment, poverty, insecurity, and other vices bedeviling the country.

It is for this obvious reason that Nigerians have cautioned and advised the incoming government of Buhari to make choice of competent, honest and untainted Nigerians to work in his government.

They argued that there should be a different approach to governance if the incoming government at all levels will make any meaningful impact.

For the incoming government of Buhari, Nigerians have done their own bit by voting for him, it is now left for Buhari, and his party members to fulfill their campaign promises.

Failure to do so will pitch the government against the people, considering the saying that to whom much is given, much is expected.