A popular writer once averred that heeding to promises is a remarkable core-value of honest people.

It defines the level of everyman’s integrity. Truly and undoubtedly, whenever someone fails to follow through on an earlier promise, it communicates betrayal and such people are hardly ever forgiven.

In less than 24 hours, Nigeria, the world’s most populous black nation on earth, welcomes a new government.

It is evident that the incoming government got the backing of Nigerians on the auspices of promises it made before the general elections, which ended the 16 years of PDP’s reign in the country.

Already, expectations in country are high as Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress takes the captain band from Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party on Friday.

Prior to the March 28 presidential election, the All Progressives Congress had rubbished the outgoing administration, telling Nigerians how Jonathan’s government had failed the nation and the need to kick the PDP out.

During the campaign, APC had literarily pledged to ‘make a new heaven on earth’ if elected.

However, the story turned after Nigerians voted overwhelmingly for the APC as the party leaders urged electorate not to expect miracle overnight.

Speaking at a public function, the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari said, “The expectation is too high and I have started nervously to explain to people that Rome was not built in a day. For this to be corrected, please, give the incoming government a chance.”

However, some citizens have warned the incoming government against giving unnecessary excuses that will stop it from implementing its many campaign promises.

Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, while reacting to Buhari’s call for patience, said: “We heard them asking Nigerians for patience on their inability to implement their electoral promises even before assuming office. They also said that they can’t achieve everything overnight and that everything should be done gradually. Which gradually? Is it now that they know that everything should be gradual?

“As Nigerians too we are not going anywhere; we will keep tracking the government’s failures as there will be no tolerance and we must shout at them and they must work for Nigerians. Our government turned Nigeria into a new world; Jigawa State in particular but because of selfish interests they kept sabotaging, blackmailing and intimidating our government”

As Nigeria heads towards another change in government, DAILY POST quickly scans through some campaign promises that may tear the Buhari government and the nation apart.

1. Reduce Fuel price to N45.00 per litre

Although, this statement was attributed to Tam David-West, one of the loyalists to the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians may wait in vain for the fulfillment of this promise as the current situation in the oil sector seems to have proved it a hard nut to crack

2 N5000 per month for every unemployed youths

During one of his rallies prior to the election, Gen. Buhari had promised that if elected, he would take care unemployed youths across the country.

However, considering the number of jobless youths out there and the state of economy, one would want to take the promise with a pinch of salt.

3. Create 3,000,000 jobs per annum
In Ibadan, Gen. Buhari also promised to create over 3m jobs yearly.

4. Provide free meal for all elementary/primary/almajiri schools

This is one of the many promises Nigerians have been impatiently waiting for as clock ticks towards May 29. The ex-general had vowed to provide free meal for public school children (primary, almariji) across the country.
Meanwhile, this promise may latter end up in the archive of history.

5. 1 year allowance for post NYSC members
Again, the president-elect had during a rally before the election promised youth corp members one year post service allowance. A check by DAILY POST shows that the state of economy may prove his pledge otherwise.

6. Free and qualitative education
Buhari also promised free and sound education up to SSS3 in public schools, but to achieve this, the Daura-born former general has a lot of work to do.

7. 2 million houses yearly for next 4 years
One needs no prophet to tell him that this promise may never come to fruition, considering the ongoing situation in Nigeria. Buhari gave this promise in Ibadan during his campaign

8. Generate 48,000 megawatts of electricity within 4 years.
The incoming government had promised to generate 48,000 megawatts of electricity within its first four years in office. Just lately, the power ministry had announced a 75% drop in power supply across the nation.

9. To jail corrupt politician
The former head of states, Gen. Buhari during his campaign in Akwa Ibom State also promised to send corrupt Nigerians to jail.

Hear him, “When we come into power, anyone who steals Nigeria’s money will end up in Kirikiri Maximum Prisons. We are going to make sure that Nigeria’s wealth belongs only to Nigerians,” he said.

However, the Peoples General may find it hard to make this come to pass considering the people around him, whose hands are not clean.

10. Equate N1.00 to $1.00
To call this utopian dream, one won’t be faulted. Buhari had promised to make a naira equal to one dollar during his rally in Imo State.

“It is sad that the value of the naira has dropped to more than N230 to one dollar; this does not speak well for the nation’s economy,’’ he said.

However, last check by this newspaper shows that a dollar is still topping Nigerian currency with over 199 difference.