Recanting, Way of Life for Nigerian Politicians?    

Quite often in Nigeria, politicians make all manner of promises during electioneering campaigns and when elected into office and are faced with reality of governance, recant.

Though this disposition may be restricted to Nigerian politicians, their notoriety in abandoning campaign promises when they get into office, has made many not only to question their integrity but also conclude that recanting is politics Nigeriana.

This played out again at the weekend when the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) admonished Nigerians not to expect miracles from him when he takes over government on May 29, 2015.

Buhari  made the statement while receiving the Bauchi State governor-elect, Mohammed Abubakar and other elected members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who came to felicitate with him on his electoral victory. He reportedly said: “We are trying to dampen the high expectations, there is no way we can perform miracles because the damage took 16 years, especially on the economy and unemployment”.

While the reasons adduced by the President-elect for asking Nigerians not to expect miracles from him may be tenable, not a few wonder if he would have said so before the elections. Ditto other newly elected candidates who are now attaching conditions to the promises they made before the polls.

So, the President-elect and all other newly elected candidates must be told in unmistakable terms that they will be held accountable for the legion of promises they made to the electorate. They must realise that they cannot take the citizens for a ride this time round. The earlier they put in place strategies to make good their promises, the better. Having been given the mandate, the President-elect and others are expected to roll up their sleeves and get cracking, once they take  office come May 29, 2015.