WAITING WITH BATED BREATH.

At a time when the nation is going through a transition process, this painful metamorphosis, it's difficult to endure the dying days of this present administration. A few individuals have put the country on a standstill. In these last few days, systems are shutting down and Africa's biggest economy is descending on her knees. I wish I can hear our President speak to us and reassure us before the days ebb out. We can do better than this.

Sometimes, I'm choked by the air of current happenings. No power, no fuel, everything is rising and falling, no one is catching it. I heard the major oil marketers have called off their strike, interesting. But does this give us a lasting solution to the problem in our hands? How can we tackle this fuel subsidy problem? Can we have a ten-year plan to achieve self sufficiency in petroleum products? A ten year plan to increase refining capacity? A ten year plan to diversify from fossil fuel? What's the road map to leaving this subsidy rat race? Too many questions begging for attention.

In the last days of President Jonathan's administration, we are witnessing such a handshake with confusion. Everything seems suspended in limbo, except of course, occasional hasty sacking and appointment of new miracle workers in certain government parastatals, people who perhaps, the present administration have forgotten to appoint since its inception.But these we shall soon forget, because we are Nigerians. We don't usually remember too much, we forgive and forget as soon as the immediate evil is postponed for a later arrival. Nigerians do not usually demand so much from their leaders, just the basics and everything will be fine. But who will give us these basics?

Since the ruling party lost election, we have been served peace in chequered boxes. We thank God for Jonathan's peace-loving personality. We will always remember him. Yet, when the peace we have leaves us high and dry, hungry and angry over persistent fuel scarcity, it leaves much to be desired. From accusations to counter accusations on missing campaign funds to defections from PDP to APC and then fuel crisis, we have had a dose of activity, with little or no productivity. We have a fundamental value problem. Ours is a country where there is no political ideology, we are all crammed in like sardine, oiled by our collective poverty, wrapped up in our economic rat races.

I agree with Noviolet Bulawayo's title, We Need New Names. We need new names to redefine leadership for Nigeria. New names like Ben-Murray Bruce, who will not be afraid to speak his mind about issues, names like you and me, if we can stand up to be the change we seek and new names that will build on the good things that this present administration has achieved.

I am hoping Gen Buhari and Prof Osibanjo will change the status quo. But to how much? This is why I am waiting with bated breath. It's one thing to have good intentions just like this out-going administration, but to make that forward leap will need a strong will that can break the camel's back.
I fear there's going to be a fight soon. A fight between those who want to buy Nigeria and those unwilling to sell Nigeria. May we all be standing through the storm and the rain, to hug one another when all is said and done, with chants of 'We made it! We made it to a better Nigeria!'