Nigeria’s democracy has entered another transition period after 24 years of unbroken democratic rule, the longest since the country came into being.
The 2023 election was the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history that four political parties were in a tight race to become the president-elect.
The outcome of the election has apparently revealed that Nigeria is divided on religious and ethnic lines. Thus, this is one of the numerous tasks before the incoming President, to ensure that the nation is bonded in unity.
Insecurity is another challenge to be tackled headlong by the incoming administration because, without security, no meaningful development can take place.
Although taxpayer money has been spent on acquiring state-of-the-art world-class military wares, the nation, unfortunately, is still battling with the challenges of insecurity.
The mountains on the Plateau, the thick forests in the South East, the green valley in the middle belt, and the long stretch of arable land in Zamfara have all become killing fields. The security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government, as enshrined in the constitution.
Therefore, all political, economic and social measures of governments at all levels must deliver on the provision of the law.
Already, the blueprint of the President-elect for a better Nigeria has identified national security as ‘the bedrock of a prosperous and democratic society’. To this end, the security architecture of the country must be redesigned to tackle the current security reality.
Winner takes all syndrome
Furthermore, key appointments by the President-elect should be on merit, justice and equity. This is the time to jettison the President-Elect and assemble a crack team that can drive the yearnings of Nigerians for a better country.
The President-elect must rise above primordial interest and act as a father to all. The first key appointments to be made by him must reflect the expectations of Nigerians.
With an economy that is already bleeding with hyperinflation; there is a need for the president-elect to assemble a team of technocrats to tackle the menace and return the country to a single-digit inflation rate that will create new jobs.
Tough decisions should be made
Also, the president-elect must mitigate the material drivers of corruption and criminality by reducing poverty, unemployment, underemployment and inequality. Government institutions must, therefore, undertake to serve the interests of ordinary Nigerians. This means that tough decisions should be made and not sacrificed on the altar of political exigencies.
Medical tourism poses another challenge to be tackled by the incoming administration and this can be addressed through improved healthcare services.
Nigerians must be made to believe in their country, the current trend where thousands of youths perish while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe for greener pastures must be discouraged through the provision of an enabling environment for them to thrive.
Efforts should be made to ensure that the millions of Nigerians wallowing in poverty and diseases at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps scattered across the country must be returned to their ancestral homes.
Government is a continuum, therefore, the President-elect must resist the temptation to abandon projects initiated by his predecessor. Ongoing projects must be completed so that Nigerians can have value for the money spent on such projects.
With the 80-page document ‘Action Plan for a Better Nigeria’, Nigerians are looking forward to a better life under the incoming administration.
Therefore, all hands must be on deck to bring Nigeria to the path of greatness.