IT is time to wonder again if President Goodluck Jonathan remembers what he promised when he announced his intention to run for office in September last year. He promised to be a different President, one who would care for the poor.

We are yet to see where he is leading the country, if that moving speech were to be the radar. Was he not the one who told us about his background, so that we could understand he knew what poverty was? Reading that speech again and see him act confirm that poverty is too distant for him to remember it or realise how his action will make more Nigerians poorer.

“I was not born rich, and in my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but not once did I ever give up. I was raised by my mother and father with just enough money to meet our daily needs. In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags. I carried my books in my hands but never despaired; no car to take me to school but I never despaired. There were days I had only one meal but I never despaired. I walked miles and crossed rivers to school every day but I never despaired. I did not have power, I did not have generators, I studied with lanterns, but I never despaired,” he said in the most emotional part of his speech.

More Nigerians are in that situation today than was the case when the President waded through the challenges of life to get to Nigeria’s highest office. More children today cannot attend school. More Nigerians are unemployed. Statistics on poverty remain controversial, but the most consistent ones state more than 70 per cent (105 million) of our 150 million live below the poverty line.

They do not have access to health facilities, safe drinking water. They are likely to be unemployed and their children are unlikely to be in school. They are most vulnerable to illnesses and the harsh impacts of price instability and insecurity that now includes bomb blasts.

Electricity is worse today than more than forty years ago when the President was brought up in darkness. Does the President still remember his story? Have these promises reflected in his policies?

“My story symbolises my dream for Nigeria. The dream that any Nigerian child from Kaura- Namoda to Duke town; from Potiskum to Nsukka, from Isale-Eko to Gboko will be able to realise his God-given potentials, unhindered by tribe or religion and unrestricted by improvised political inhibitions.

My story holds out the promise of a new Nigeria. A Nigeria built on the virtues of love and respect for one another, on unity, on industry, on hard work and on good governance.” Can he tell that story today? How will the Nigerian child fare in 2012 and beyond? What is the President doing to ensure that?

We do not think the promises to “fight for justice, for all Nigerians to have access to power, qualitative and competitive education, health reforms, to create jobs, to fight corruption, to protect all citizens and fight for your rights” should end as campaign talk.