Now That Presidential Election Is Over, What Next?

By John Kokome

OPINION - THE month of February being the month of Valentine, is ordinary celebrated as the month of love but in Nigeria context, it has become a mix of both love and hatred, as politicians deploy various gimmicks to weep up sentiments among the electorates to outsmart their political opponents.  

The month has become a phenomenon of some sort, as far as our political experience is concerned. When all the political dust raised as a result of the electioneering campaigns at various levels settles down, I do hope our country would return back to the pact of peace and chart a new course, that would usher in economic growth and development the country is earnestly yearning for.

The winner must move swiftly into action and save us the lamentation of how terrible the economy was before his ascension, or how it would be near impossible to address the ever rising insecurity that has taken over the land. 

This is to remind all that leaders are elected to proffer solutions and not to complain about the enormity of the challenges on ground. I hope that going forward, we will experience a paradigm shift from the old order of doing things, to a new order of innovative and proactive leadership style in piloting affairs of state, in the new dispensation. 

We need a leadership that would be responsive enough to take responsibility for its actions and inactions, a leadership that would ensure equity, fairness and justice in the land, a leadership that would be accountable to the people at all times. And more importantly, we need /a leadership that would uphold the tenets of our constitution by ensuring that it is protected at all times and seekfor better collaboration with other arms of government towards improving on it.

However, to the victorious candidate, it is time to move into action and settle down to the business of governance proper, which in the long run, we hope would bring about good dividends to us as a people. It is time to strengthen our institutions to function properly. 

The new dispensation must as a matter of urgency address our moribund educational sector with the incessant crisis therein, not forgetting our embarrassing health sector with enough brainpower but inadequate modern health facilities to address the challenges they are confronted with on daily basis, as well as the insecurity pervading the land and most importantly, thedwindling face of our economy. It will be time to reposition the country for greatness again.

The country must move forward as fast as possible. We need rapid economic growth and development,peace and security of lives and properties in the land. We must create employment for our teeming unemployed youths, ensure equitable distribution of our common resources and work out a modality to systematically address the issue of restructuring the current defective structure both politically and economically, for the betterment of all. 

Nigerians are in dire need of a leader who will see all sections of the country as his own, promoting brotherliness among the people. The country needs a leader who is detribalised in nature and who would foster unity among the various ethnic nationalities in the country. We need a leader who would help us change the negative narratives that has been with us for so long a time to a more appealing narrative that would be soothing to the soul of every Nigerian home and abroad. A selfless leader that would put all he has on the line for the nation to makeprogress.

The winner must be humble and magnanimous in victory, while the loser must accept defeat in good faith in the spirit of true sportsmanship, which is the only way we can make progress as a country.  And ultimately, the winner must ensure that all the campaign promises are fulfilled without giving us flimsy excuses on why they cannot be fulfilled.

Culled from Nigerian Tribune