NIGERIA: YAR’ADUA 100 DAYS IN OFFICE

This week Mr. President will be 100 days in office. The President Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua was sworn into Office on the 29th of May this year amid lots of tensions in the land. Weeks before Yar’adua’s swearing in, Nigerians had witnessed the worst elections in her 46 years history. Even before that the Universities in Nigeria were shut down following the nationwide strike by University lecturers.

With problems everywhere for Yar’adua all eyes was on him to see how he handles the situation. As if his hands where not full yet, then came the nation wide strike by labour protesting some wrong steps taken by the Obasanjo’s administration. With all these challenges Yar’adua’s enemies must have had some pity for him.

However, within 100 days Yar’adua seem to have overcome all these challenges. He can now concentrate on the challenge of governing a complex country like Nigeria. But what has Yar’adua done in the past 100 days that is worthy of mention.

In my own opinion the most important achievement of Yar’adua is that he has committed himself to the fight against corruption. He publicly declared his assets hence setting the stage for other top politicians to follow suit.

However, unlike the past administration, Yar’adua has decided to anchor the fight against corruption on the rule of law. This means the end of EFCC brutality in the name of fighting corruption. It also means that the Abuja master plan will be recovered without police brutality. Yar’adua’s decision is sound as two wrongs cannot make a right.

The unbundling of the NNPC was another good move taken by the Yar’adua administration within the first 100 days in office. This move will ensure that the petroleum company focuses on the actual business of developing Nigeria’s petroleum capacity and less on petroleum product imports.

President Yar’adua obviously has some achievements to be celebrated within his first 100 days in office, but he must not lose sight of the fact that a lot still needs to be done. With in the next 9 months Nigerians will like to see their fortunes change for the better and no stone should be left unturned by the Yar’adua’s administration in ensuring that Nigeria is developed to greater heights.