NEW YEAR 2016: Dividends Of Democracy In Prospect

Indeed, the year 2015 was remarkable in the history of Nigeria as a nation. Not only to Nigeria, it extensively changed an existing political order in the entire West Africa, in which it was hitherto held as a norm that incumbents cannot be beaten, and removed by the electorates through the ballot papers.

This is incalculably axiomatic that power indeed belongs to the people in line with the principle of democracy, and conclusively, there is unlimited power in the ballot papers.
Unconsciously, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP professed that for sixteen years by its slogan, “Power to the people” which points to the fact that there is undeniably power in spoken words.

The present administration of President Mohammadu Buhari, a product of opposition parties which effectively merged to form the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, a strategy determinedly geared towards the ouster of the then ruling PDP which had ruled or misruled the country for sixteen years, depending on mindset, indeed made a history.

Even when the campaign was intensely high, a good number of the citizenry were doubtful, and indefatigably perched despite the failure of the ruling party and its governments to impact meaningfully on any sector of the economy hoping that power of incumbency would as usual play its magical role by keeping it in power. Disappointedly, the reverse was the case through the adoption of Professor Attahiru Jega’s Card-reader which proved to a large extent as antidote to election rigging.

Consequently, Dr Goodluck Jonathan lost out and in a civilized manner or perhaps, out of pressure by some eminent global personalities, accepted defeat before the formal conclusion of the election. Essentially, that singular act saved the country from obvious tragedy and pandemonium, and characteristically rebranded him as a leader despite the fact that no appraisal, with the ongoing discoveries of misappropriation and looting of public fund by his administration, would allow such a remark.  Anyway, that is history now.

Eventually, power has changed hands, thereby repositioned the then opposition APC as the ruling party and vice versa. During the campaigns, the APC was too bighearted in its campaign promising heaven and earth if voted into power. No doubt, a desideratum, and if adequate attention would be paid to those campaign promises without the usual conflict of interest that has long threatened the development of the country, the year 2016 would usher in perceptible dividends of democracy that will rekindle hope in the country to both the citizens and the world at large.

 With the laudable blueprints of the various ministries coupled with the year’s budget already before the National Assembly for passage, optimistically, the government would have the concomitant wherewithal to establish that its change mantra is not a myth. The year 2016 is therefore a decisive year of assessment on the government, nevertheless, not instantaneous. Expectedly, a reasonable examiner should be considerate enough to give a gap of at least six months after passage of the budget to see the effects. As for the APC and its government, the ball is now on its court. Critically, federal government should focus extensively on insecurity, unemployment, infrastructural development and instability of the economy. Happy new year, Nigerians.