Essien, Agbamu: A hopeful dawn for Nigeria

"For too long they ruled, not governed, and in doing so had become so focused on their own self-interest and embroiled in corruption that the duty to react to the anguish suffered by their citizens had become alien to them."

--Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in a recent New York Times op-ed

On May 29, Nigeria's Democracy Day, President Muhammadu Buhari will be inaugurated as Nigeria's President -- a remarkable and hopeful dawn for the long-suffering country.

The peaceful transition from the previous president takes full course and strengthens the democracy and the country. The expectations are high and the citizens are likely to cooperate with this administration if, as we expect, it lives up to most of the promises during the campaign. But there are big challenges ahead.