AS the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan approaches its mid-term, millions of  Nigerians are in quandry on when the government they solidly voted for would deliver on its promises.

Governance is about accountability and performance and after the avalanche of promises made during election campaign, what makes the difference is how the government rises up to the challenges of its mandate.

There are spattering of performances in some quarters, but mostly individual initiatives, based on personal convictions that may expire as the individuals depart. Where are the party manifestoes which are expected to bear more enduring development plans for Nigerians?

It is worse in other instances. Campaign promises appeared to have been spoken in the haste campaigns demanded. There were votes to win, everything seemed fair in war, to the politicians, who are busy enjoying the spoils of office.

Losers in the elections are busy too, being disruptive, if they can. The quality of the opposition tells a story of a future predicated on sheer hope – hope that successors of the current governments would have better plans for the people, not just themselves.

With the next elections less than two years away, the parties are waking up to new levels of intrigues. Fast decisions are being made about who becomes what and those to be banished to nothingness. Where do these leave the people?

Former British Prime Minister Mr. Tony Blair, on a recent visit to Lagos told President Goodluck Jonathan, “For total and stable national transformation to take place in any country, there is need for the people to be happy and the need for government to provide adequate power supply, construct new roads, eradicate polio, ensure job creation and do other things that make life meaningful.”

Many Nigerians have put these suggestions in similar succinct delivery and even tied them to the promises that politicians made during the campaigns. If any attention had been paid to them, we would be celebrating the achievements of the past few years, with hopes for a better future.

The ready reasons for the frustrating pace of governments’ care for the people are known. The best reason – some consider it an excuse – is the security challenge. Why has it been impossible to develop areas without security issues?

“Nigerians should be rest assured that whatever challenges we are experiencing now, there is always hope at the end of the tunnel. We will get over our challenges. Transformation is like a butterfly that passes through some stages which entail some pain. The current discomfort the nation is expressing will soon be a thing of past,” President Jonathan who attended an event with Blair countered.

Like many, we wonder how long a butterfly’s pains lasts in comparison with what Nigeria is experiencing.