Can PMB Truly Deliver the Gains of Democracy?

To some, true democracy was displayed by the immediate past president (GEJ) by conceding defeat at the end of the 2015 presidential elections to the current president (PMB), who swept into power on the platform of change and a pledge to make Nigeria a better place for over 170 million citizens. However, a year after, with rising inflation, poor power supply and increase in price of petrol, questions are being asked if the current administration can deliver on its promises. To you, can PMB truly deliver the gains of democracy?

ABIMBOLA AKOSILE

* PMB met a very unstable Nigeria and he is trying his best to move the country forward. I have very high hopes that if given the chance and with cooperation of all of us that he will deliver the gains of democracy. He should however go back to the drawing board with genuine members of the Niger Delta in order to engender peace. Let him also try to guard against ethnicity in appointments.
– Prof. Kate Nwufo, mni, Abuja

* Ordinarily President Buhari should deliver democratic dividends, but the way and manner he is handling Nigeria, I am afraid we may dismember in his time.
– Mr. Okechukwu Ikonne, Igbor Oke-Ovoro Mbaise, Imo State

* One thing is for the current administration to be prepared to deliver the gains of democracy to Nigerians; another thing is to have conducive circumstances for providing such. For now, the necessary favourable situation is not there. Dwindling revenue has dealt a great blow to any effort by the Federal Government to deliver the gains of democracy to the people.
– Mr. Neville Kikpoye-Jonathan, President, Abua National Associates. Amalem-Abua, Rivers State

* PMB’s government is for four years; not one year to judge him. Let us exercise patience with his government; we must get to our promised land.
– Mrs. Ijeoma Nnorom, Lagos State

* With the overwhelming support of Nigerians, PMB knows he cannot afford to fail Nigerians. Most of our problems are inherent. Let the President with his team get cracking, and we should all support and not distract him.
– Miss Mary Adeola Ayeni, Lagos

* Bros Hari (Buhari) has no clear-cut plan on how to move Nigeria forward therefore he cannot deliver anything but pain. He has just wasted a whole 25 per cent of his tenure doing nothing.
– Mr. Utibe Uko, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

* Once PMB succeeds in correcting the past ills, he will definitely deliver the true dividends of democracy. Nigerians are impatient even as they know the challenges of the last administration are being addressed vigorously. Time is a great healer; liberation will be achieved in due course. God bless Nigeria.
– Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos

* Yes, PMB can deliver the gains of democracy; he is there for that purpose, surely. I strongly believe the Almighty has allowed him to take the mantle of leadership to redress all his past wrongs.
– Mr. Ekwenjo Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R. Trademore Estate, Apo, Abuja

* No, because insecurity and poor labour coordination is stampeding the system and government honestly seems to be at a crossroads. Labour and security reforms must be accorded priority attention urgently. Poverty is spreading virulently. We must act fast and now.
– Ms. Saiki Ometere Tina, Gboko, Benue State

* I am not sure he can.
– Mrs. Oluwakemi Jegede, Lagos

* I personally never imagined things were this bad, yet corruption and the people that were benefitting from bad governance are fighting hard to frustrate this present government. We can’t afford to see Buhari fail. He shall succeed.
– Mr. Samuel Edema, Lagos

* PMB is already delivering the gains of democracy. Nigeria has been battered over the years, and we should not expect miracle or change overnight – the TSA, fight against corruption, weeding out over 54,000 ghost workers, the N500 billion welfare package, and the planned restructuring of MDAs are all steps in the right direction. I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to give full support to him. God bless Nigeria!
– Mr. Taiwo Franklin Akinpelumi, Apapa, Lagos

* With his pace, one will agree, but the need to bring back Marketing Boards cannot be over-emphasised, to restore arbitrary prices on commodities without control. Nigerians are suffering and in need of succour.
– Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna State

* We elected a leader we expected to hit the ground and start running.
– Miss Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos

* Nigerians should know that one year is not enough to rebuild a new Nigeria that was built on corruption. Let us give PMB time to bring out a new Nigeria which everyone will enjoy; he is on the right track.
– Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State

* If Buhari had not spent N64 billion on travels in just one year, and if the ministry of information had not spent over $20 billion in four months without a tangible result then you would have made a huge point. Buhari is far from delivering Nigeria.
– Mr. Victor Raymond, Lagos

* The current situation brewing in the Niger Delta has a greater capacity through starvation and anarchy to take the lives of more Nigerians than election violence ever could. Former President Jonathan and other Ijaw leaders ought to go into the creeks and restrain the militants like they did during the Yar’Adua era, and bring them to the negotiation table. In the interest of the poor masses, Buhari should suspend the search and prosecution of corrupt persons from the Niger Delta for now and instead implement the budget and get the people behind him.
– Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State

* PMB can certainly deliver the gains of democracy to Nigerians, if he is allowed the time to actualise the plans and policies of his administration. For now he is on the right track in tackling corruption, which is the biggest impediment to Nigeria’s development.
– Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos

* I’m hopeful that he will. We’ve no time to waste on experimental policies anymore. He has a clear picture of the country’s needs and should deliver.
– Mr. Chineme Okafor, Abuja

* Please nobody including leaders has a clear picture of the Nigerian or global economy. It is a matter of acting on impulses the best way one can and adjusting to changes foisted on one by the actions of other actors too.
– Mr. Duru Nnamdi Collins, Lagos

* I know he can, and he will. Things might not be working the way we all crave for, but President Buhari’s heart is in the right place and that’s what counts for me. Rome wasn’t really built in a day. We will surely get there
– Miss Casa Ezeobi, Journalist, Lagos

* PMB can truly deliver the gains of democracy and he needs to succeed through our support in prayer and positive talks concerning his administration. God placed him there and for him, there shouldn’t be any bias. He should also carry all of us along.
– Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna

* Yes, of course, PMB can effectively deliver genuine gains of true democracy. The major problem of Nigeria is corruption by dishonest privileged few elite. If power is made available to keep all citizens employed especially in agriculture, every other thing will key in. God bless Nigeria.
– Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos

THE RESPONSE

Yes, he can: 12
No, he can’t: 4
Others: 7
Radical tip: Avoid ethnic bias!
Total no of respondents: 23
Male: 15
Female: 8
Highest location: Lagos (12)

Next Week: Is Restructuring the Solution to Nigeria’s Devt Problems?

Recently, there were renewed calls by eminent Nigerians, including a former vice-president, for the restructuring of the country, with more power and resource control devolving to the six regions to make them generate more revenue for development, while the centre remains constant albeit less powerful than before. To you, is this restructuring formula the panacea to revive and boost Nigeria’s development process?

Please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (June 9 & Monday, June 13) to abimbolayi@yahoo.com, greatbimbo@gmail.com, AND abimbola.akosile@thisdaylive.com. Respondents can also send a short text message to 08023117639 and/or 08188361766 and/or 08114495306. Collated responses will be published on Thursday, June 16

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