THE PRICE NIGERIA PAYS FOR CREDIBILITY GAP.

When a senior colleague who honours Henates by calling him a friend, responded recently to the post on Asset sale option, he asked that the response should be for my eyes only.

That was his right and it was conceded readily but what he had to say could not be for these eyes only. The words brought back to focus the old worm called credibility gap between the government and the governed in Nigeria.

He said that the real unfortunate issue is that insincerity was the problem. To him, many of those who are advocating national asset sale have money and foreign connections to buy off those assets once put on the block.

On the other hand, he added, many of those opposed to the sale have political power or leverage with which they can continue to milk the national assets without caring for what happens to Nigeria in the process.

Finally, there was the group in between, for and against, who are sincere and do truly believe in whatever they are saying but of course, none is listening to them.

Decoded: When can all Nigerians wake up one morning; hear about a decision taken by President Buhari and trust that there is no hidden agenda?

To drive the issue of leadership credibility home more graphically, permit the sharing of something relevant that happened in my village, Osoguo in Delta state last Saturday.

Yours sincerely was the oldest present during the early part of the meeting and he had to preside. At a point, the session was very rowdy over an issue that could be resolved only by expression of authority.

Unfortunately, the issue under consideration arose from Henates gate of the family and so, rebellion could easily rare its head once it is perceived the needed decision was motivated by gate and not overall family interest.

Thank God, an older brother, Abel arrived at that moment and Henates gladly relinquished leadership to him then got him to announce the decision. There was initial uproar but it died down, and no hot headed one walked out of the meeting.

The point about today's credibility gap between the government and the governed stems from some key factors.

1) President Buhari frittered the tremendous goodwill he had when he was sworn in May 2015.

2) The composition of the President's men turned out to be much in favour of the North and worse, very close aids came more from family circles as if Nigeria now owed guaranteed meal tickets for them.

3). There have been too many policy somersaults and pronouncement reversals since Buhari took over that many begin to wonder: Was this man prepared for the job at all?

4) Buhari's personal flagship project called anti corruption war has since run into a deep gulley because it does not look like he has those who can live in glass house and throw stones, around him.

5) Finally, the major issue of the day is national economic downturn yet neither in his budgeting process or speech; or through nationwide address in Nigerian soil has the President told Nigerians how bad the situation is and steps being taken to remedy it.

In the end, Nigeria is once again paying a huge price for current credibility gap: There is war on for national economic survival and all we have to grapple with are discordant notes. Thus, the day is shifting further forward when Nigerians can rise up for a common cause that does not involve football. Yet Nigerians need to rise up as one to cross this bridge.