With the recent coming into office of new administrations at the federal level and across many states on May 29, this year, Nigerians have raised their expectations of governance in the new political dispensation.
Over the years, especially with the enthronement of democracy in 1999, Nigerians have weathered the struggle to keep hope alive, improve their collective destiny, and expand their commonwealth.
Incidentally, they have, despite their faith in democracy, watched with concern how the political system has not yielded as much as would have been expected of the dividends of democracy.
Sometimes their dreams of good governance have been shattered. However, they have endured it all while praying for a turnaround. Although their endurance has been stretched to almost a breaking point, they have continued to pray and adopt the wait-and-see approach. Of late the economy has continued to decline, bringing in more hardships.
Ironically, on the very day the government of President Bola Tinubu was sworn into office, the economy took a topsy-turvy following the oil subsidy removal, thereby bringing untold hardships on Nigerians with an astronomical rise in the cost of living.
Therefore, a lot is expected from the new leaders who came into office on May 29, as the government must now work round the clock to stabilize the economy, ameliorate the suffering of the people, and provide good governance to bring millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
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The government must, now more than ever, move governance closer to the people and share the dividends of democracy with them.
So far, the Federal Government is gradually responding positively to cushion the effects of the oil subsidy removal and should not relent in giving Nigerians a new lease of life.
In Akwa Ibom State, the people are keenly watching the new political dispensation and hope that it will usher in prosperity. As a state well-endowed with human and natural resources, the Akwa Ibom people have been at the forefront of development in Nigeria and should settle for nothing less.
Therefore much is expected of Governor Umo Eno to provide good leadership and take development to the grassroots and all sections of the state. Since providence has entrusted the destiny of Akwa Ibom State and its people into his hands at this point, he should bravely shoulder the burden and responsibilities of leadership.
Already, the A.R.I.S.E Agenda which is his blueprint for Akwa Ibom State looks well-thought-out, comprehensive and encompassing. But then it would remain merely a document unless it is properly implemented. So far, the beauty of the proposed blueprint is the fact that he laid it bare before the people and stakeholders to make their inputs, which, of course, they did with enthusiasm.
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Again, a cursory look at the agenda shows it is a template that could readily take governance closer to the people if implemented. Given the key components of the A.R.I.S.E (an acronym for Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructure Maintenance, Security Management, and Educational Advancement) Agenda, which were further subdivided into 18 sub-sectors, the whole blueprint has a broad vision for holistic development.
On his part, Pastor Eno seems to be operating an open and inclusive government. If it is anything to go by, his few days in office have seen him warming up to the people of the state and interacting with them.
If he continues on that trajectory, he will have taken governance to the people who are yearning for greater development in all ramifications.
Lastly, Nigerians have struggled and suffered enough over the years and therefore expect nothing else from the government than good governance, development and the dividends of democracy.
