Buhari: The promise and the citizen

“Hello friends, how are you, it’s been a while since I heard from you. Were you kidnapped?”“Is the present condition not worse than being kidnapped? This APC government promises are still very far away.”“It’s logical that we started on a wrong footing. Our politicians fend for themselves and they never plan for the future of the country. I believe if they had planned for Nigeria’s future, the country would have crossed the third world nation state.”

“Politicians should have good conscience to foster unity among the people.”“Total disparity! Greed and ostentatious lifestyles will not allow them think of the poor masses. Just imagine the amount of money a former oil chief was alleged to have looted, a whopping 90 billion dollars.”

“Wait a minute! Where are the recovered looted funds? Everyday we hear that the government has recovered some looted money, here and there but we don’t even know what the money is being spent on.”“Perhaps to help themselves.”

“Really?”“Where else do you think? It has become a question of arresting the thief and becoming the thief.”“Indeed corruption has eaten deep into the fabrics of the nation. One wonders why black steal from their people and send the money back to their colonial masters from whom they borrow the money again. Is that not ridiculous? We need to look inwards if we want to grow our beloved nation.”

“With all the resources in Nigeria, I see no reason why Nigeria still depends on imported goods. The nation imports virtually everything in this country: tooth brush, computers, television sets, rice and telephones. They are even proposing to import grass as antidote to the herdsmen issue.”

“Hmm! But you can’t blame the current government, because it would blame it on the previous administration.”“Do you remember the promise our president made during his presidential campaign?”

“There were too many promises. Which one exactly are you talking about?”“Okay… the one that specifically states that when he becomes the president, he would put a ban on medical tourism. Now who’s travelling abroad for medical follow-up like it’s just few kilometers away?”

“False flag! Did you not vote for the party?”“Hmmm… who wouldn’t vote for the party after all the sweet talks and promises; three million jobs per year, stabilising naira.”

“The nation needs to wake up from its slumber and learn. We keep on making the same mistakes. We compromise our values over some propaganda. Haven’t we had political campaigners who will promise heaven and earth and end up not doing anything when they’re-voted into office?”

“Come to think of it, who voted for the party? We should be blamed for voting for them. If we had scrutinised political speeches properly and left material and sentimental judgment aside, we should arrive at a more objective and truthful judgment of who leads us and who does not.”

“We had high hopes of this government. The quality of life, the good school, health-care facilities, the stabilisation of the naira against the dollar, establishment of crime squad to combat kidnapping, armed robbery.”

“Be patient, my friend, change doesn’t come quick: It’s a gradual process and besides he just came into office two years ago. We just have to keep our fingers crossed and see what happens before the year runs out. I’m optimistic and I think you should be too. After all, Obama did not rescue USA from the great recession in two years. Slow and steady wins the race my friend.”

“It seems like you are looking for government appointment! Is it when hunger takes its toll on Nigerians that all promises of a better life will be kept?”“The government needs our support now more than ever.”

“Our support has been taken for granted. What has gone under the bridge is too much to bear, my friend.”“Mind your words, my friend. With all agitations going on in the country currently, you just have to be careful about what you say before the government puts you behind bars for hate speech.”

“For goodness sake! Is there no longer freedom of speech? Everyone has freedom of speech. Besides, is that what they should be concerned about? We expected so much from the government because they promised us much as well.”

“Please be patient, my friend. There’s still time.”“Where is time? Time is a luxury my friend.”“I think we should be happy that the president is back, sound and healthy.”

“What has that got to do with the rest of the citizens that can’t access common primary health care in the country? Whether he is back or not, it doesn’t change anything. Is the country not still in recession?”

“Take it easy, my friend.”“There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed and the government is doing nothing about them. Where have we gone wrong?”“Answer to your questions is blowing in the wind of 2019.”

• Udeze is a mass communication student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University on Industrial Training at The Guardian.