For Decades, Nigeria has lagged behind its peers. For instance, although Abuja is touted as the fastest growing capital in the world, the growth lacks apparent quality. Modern Abuja for instance is older than modern Dubai, yet Dubai today is a major international destination with 24 hours power supply, adequate supply of pipe borne water and residential houses rising as high as 70 floors. In contrast, what does Abuja have to offer? The road transport system is in shambles, the light rail mass transit system has been in the works for at least 10 years with no completion deadline set. Residents can be seen everywhere scrambling to scoop water from broken pipes or buying from hawkers whose source of supply is suspicious. For electricity, the skyline has become darker in the last few months when scarcity of petrol made it more difficult to power private generators, which is the reliable source of electricity. Presently, electricity generation for a population of 180 million Nigerians fell to 2,300 megawatts.

It is now stale news that Nigerians breathed a sigh of relief when the news platforms were washed by the story that President Goodluck Jonathan had congratulated President elect Muhammadu Buhari even before the final results were announced. The dire predictions of break-up of the country in 2015 were made false with the singular action of President Jonathan.  Since then, various articles have been written and statements made regarding expectations from the president-elect and his vice. It is understandable that the country has been in decline for decades, and with the election of President Jonathan many believed and expected that a new dawn had come for the country, it seems majority didn’t believe in that dawn as the 2015 general elections saw a dramatic shift in power, with the ruling party of 16years becoming the opposition party. President Jonathan was voted out because he was unable to address the myriad of problems bedevilling the common man; from massive insecurity, relentless armed robbery and kidnappings with even police officers constituting a menace to the society, to the boko haram insurgency, which has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands and displaced millions in and out of their own country; to the intolerable levels of corruption across all sectors, with the most prominent being the crude oil sector which has seen billions of dollars being pocketed by select individuals. Unemployment levels have soared and foreign reserves fast depleting even when prices of crude oil were at all time high during the Jonathan administration.

Terrible as these salient issues are, they present the springboard of opportunity for General Buhari to latch on and etch his name in gold if he is able to tackle them. The question Nigerians are asking is “will the General get the job done?” There is so much expectation of the president elect and his team that for him not to make a huge dent in it would be a disappointment to majority of Nigerians.

Nigeria needs a leader that would lead by example, a leader with a strong personality that would instil discipline in the populace; a leader who will not maintain sacred cows, quick to act and instil confidence in the people. Impunity in the country has risen to a choking level that has further more crippled the nation and this is unacceptable. The cost of maintenance of a large retinue of aides and special advisers along with a village sized entourage when travelling, especially outside of the country is draining the nation’s resources. The new president should cut down on unnecessary personal expenses, most especially as he is coming into an economy that is already drained. Recently, heart warming tweets from a newly elected Senator, Murray Bruce who has been championing a drastic reduction in the allowances and salaries of legislators has further highlighted the yearnings for a review of the wages of this small group of people who earn billions for doing very little.

Federal legislature gulped N600 billion in the last four years for passing 106 bills. They should actually be held more accountable to the people than is being done as they should be held to as high standards as the president. Nigerians need to learn to demand more from their leaders and put pressure on lawmakers to pass bills that will have direct impact on the people and improve their living standards.

The country is in a quagmire that only experienced hands can bail it out of. Technocrats, people who are tested and trusted, worth their weight in gold should be a part of the administration. Nigeria has always suffered from the syndrome of leaders compensating only loyalists and kinsmen which result in putting square pegs in round holes. Even if loyalists are to be compensated, the president should ensure that only those capable of the tasks are given such jobs because all hands must be on deck to set things right. If he is to end up being Nigeria’s Le Kuan Yew, Buhari needs to jettison sentiments and be ready to gore horses. Nigeria needs a tough leader, willing to step on toes from day one and not one that needed to wait till the second term before stepping on toes. As long as the people are seeing the benefit of that, the president will have the people’s support..

The expectations of Nigerians are not more than what they president can achieve. All it take is a determination and concentrated efforts towards his goals. Nigerians desire security and deserve constant power supply. Ghanaians in their protest against recent erratic power supply in their country had said they were not Nigerians who can endure power outages! Nigerians desire a level playing ground for their creativity and ideas to flourish; where starting a business is not so depressing that such thoughts are killed even before they are fully formulated; where access to loans for start-ups are not cut throat. Nigerians desire a country where laws are for both the rich and the poor and corruption is the same as stealing and the penalties for both reflects that. A country where things work!

The General has a reputation as one who is disciplined and abhors impunity, and that is what the nation needs right now. If he is able to put Nigeria on the pathway to the Promised Land but is not able to get the country there by 2019, he would still have been judged fairly as he would have laid the right foundation for sustainable growth.