By Nnenna Ibeh
Nigerians, since independence, have faced several challenges ranging from lack or poor electricity distribution to insecurity, poor health service delivery, and economic instability, among others.
Every leader who has assumed office as the president of Nigeria, or even those who take up leadership at the state and local government level, has promised to solve these critical challenges to ameliorate the hardship and poverty of the people.
On Monday, May 29, 2023, following the outcome of the Saturday, February 25, presidential elections, Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos state governor, was inaugurated as Nigeria's 16th democratically elected president.
The former president, Muhammadu Buhari, handed over power to Tinubu after completing eight years in office (two tenures), leaving the people yearning for a secure nation, improved healthcare service delivery, women and youth inclusivity, and an enabling environment for doing business.
Will Tinubu's administration make Nigerians smile again?
Upon his swearing-in, Tinubu made a litany of promises to Nigerians, including an affirmation that his administration would focus on healing the country, which has also been torn by years of ethnic and religious intolerance, conflict, and insurgency.
The president assured that Nigeria would be impartially governed according to the constitution and the rule of law.
He said: "We shall defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country and our sub-region."
Tinubu also promised that his administration would remodel Nigeria's economy to bring about growth and development through job creation, food security, and end extreme poverty.
Good thing is the new Nigeria president did not leave out the women and youth, as he assured these populations would feature prominently in his administration.
To tackle insecurity in Nigeria, Tinubu said his government would reform the nation's security doctrine and architecture - a pledge Nigerians have heard several times from leaders who had governed before.
He added: “The Nigerian ideal which I speak of is more than just an improvement in economic and other statistics. These things are important; but they can never convey the fullness of our story.
Our mission is to improve our way of life in a manner that nurtures our humanity, encourages compassion toward one another, and duly rewards our collective effort to resolve the social ills that seek to divide us.”
However, the big question left on the lips of every Nigerian now is; has the messiah come? Or should the people wait for another?
As he promised in his inaugural speech, will Tinubu's administration deliver good governance, a secure nation, a robust economy, and reduced unemployment?
Only time will tell as we hope against all odds that the new president focuses on serving the people rather than investing time and resources in political frivolities and, maybe, medical tourism, flippant disregard for the rule of law, and nepotism like his predecessor did while in office.