Buhari: Task ahead
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has assumed the reins of government in that country, thus becoming the first opposition leader to unseat a sitting president through the ballot box since Nigeria adopted democratic governance in 1999.
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It is the first time in Nigeria’s history that power is changing hands – from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) – democratically.
The milestone event makes Nigerians proud and they look into the future again with pride.
However, for President Buhari, 72, the task ahead of him, first and foremost, is to involve everybody in nation building in order to confront the many problems the country faces ranging from the economy, corruption, and a security sector that is imperilled by Boko Haram.
As military head of state from 1983 to 1985, President Buhari, no doubt, has a proven track record of not using the power he wielded to amass wealth.
It is the view of the Daily Graphic that winning Nigeria's election might be the easier part compared with the need to keep the biggest democracy in Africa out of difficulties.
Waging war against corruption and Boko Haram will not be an easy task.
Immediately in mind is the need for Nigeria’s 14th ruler to tame Boko Haram, the islamist insurgency that has killed more than 13,000 over the past six years and threatens to kill even more.
As the biggest economy on the continent, surging past South Africa, Nigeria’s growth rate is slowing down. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that economic growth will slow to 4.8 per cent this year, down from 6.1 per cent in 2014.
To reverse this daunting task, it will require of President Buhari, who is not an economist, to select a capable team with strong economic and business backgrounds to help his government to diversify its revenue base to oversee a return to better growth.
In a country with over 150 million population, the expectations are high and basking in the euphoria of a resounding victory at the presidential polls must be avoided at all cost.
In a democracy where the ‘elected’ 36 powerful state governors are a strong body, with the judiciary failing at times to convict politicians who stole taxpayers’ funds, how Buhari will be able to stamp his authority and bring sanity to the political system is another task confronting him.
When President Buhari recently travelled to London, he refused to ride in a Rolls Royce, choosing instead a Toyota Camry – to the dismay of the Nigerian High Commission staff.
It is expected that Nigeria as one of the biggest democracies and economies in Africa under President Buhari will lead the way and continue with this modesty and assiduously tackle the challenges facing the Nigerian economy and the people.
Ghana and Nigeria have historical relations and it is expected that the special relationship will be strengthened between President John Mahama and President Buhari and their peoples.
President Buhari also has the task of ending the perennial fuel shortages in Nigeria, the paradox of a major oil producer and exporter.