CHALLENGES BEFORE PRESIDENT BUHARI.

The momentous 2015 political transition successfully closed with the swearing into office of the various elected executive officers, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari and the various state governors on May 29.

It was a process that rendered Nigeria an enigma of sorts before the world. The elections were supposed to produce massive violence and bloodletting. Some even predicted possible disintegration of Nigeria. Nothing close to these predictions happened. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, by conceding the election to Buhari, gave Nigeria an opportunity to make seamless transfer of power from the ruling party to the opposition, the first time in Nigeria and a great departure from the norm in most African elections.

Having settled into the office he once occupied as a military officer and for which he contested four times, Buhari at 72, is saddled with the patriotic duty of healing wounds inflicted by the most abrasive electioneering process in Nigeria’s history. The voting pattern illustrated a deeply divided country, with 17 States in the old North and four States of the old West bunching together for Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC, while the old East and a sprinkling of States from around the country remained with the defeated Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Happily enough, the President in his inaugural speech, made it clear he would be the President of everyone and not a President for any particular individual or group. We expect him to be true to his words and his oath of office by governing Nigeria without bias and thus give everybody a sense of belonging.

Some are saying Buhari is taking off rather slowly. They should understand that he needs to be democratic, away from authoritarian ways of military rule. Quick actions are necessary to sustain the hopes of Nigerians he raised during the campaigns, but they have to be legitimate. He needs massive support to succeed. If he leaves things too late, the task would be more arduous.

Buhari should focus on the three priorities he promised: security, economic diversification and war on corruption. He should proceed with personal examples and ensure members of his team take the cue. Our people should live in a safer country, and the economy should be made to benefit everyone and give our people better living conditions.

Relentless emphasis on cutting cost of governance, by reducing luxuries attached to public offices, in line with the lean times, is important. Austerity measures are necessary for the country to mobilise resources it requires for development.

We wish President Buhari success as he sets out to make a difference.