2023 general elections: Buhari’s assurances must not end like 2015 promises — stakeholders

Before the 2015 presidential election, many Nigerians were dissatisfied with President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration because of the perceived high level of corruption, depressing economy, and alleged inability to fight the Boko Haram insurgents, who were having a field day in the Northeast geopolitical zone of the country at the time.

So, the mood of the nation was perfect for certain politicians on the flanks who were waiting and seeking an opportunity to displace Jonathan and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party. They were determined to make strategic moves that capture one of the most famous quotes from The Knights, a comedy by the ancient Greek playwright, Aristophanes, which says: “To win the people, always cook them some savoury that pleases them.”

These politicians took powerful steps that portrayed them as having a good understanding of the voting population and the one language that often resonates with them.

Riding on the back of popular sentiment across the country, they trumpeted a highly disciplined, incorruptible and earnest leader – Muhammadu Buhari, to steer the nation away from the many problems rocking it under Jonathan’s watch.

Buhari, who succeeded in displacing Jonathan, on the campaign podiums across the country summed up his assignment under three areas of focus. He promised to rid the country of corruption, end the reign of terror or insurgency in the country and revamp the economy.

Seven and half years down the line, Nigerians have expressed the view that the administration merely dished out nicely that one language that often resonated with the people at that particular point in Nigeria’s history in the form of promises.

Today, Saturday, January 14, 2023 marks exactly four months and 15 days before Buhari will leave office as the President, but the perception in some quarters is that many of these promises were empty contrary to the high hope that greeted his coming in 2015.



FI