After one year in office: President Yar’adua in the eyes of Nigerians

President Umaru Musa Yar’adua was exactly one year in office on 29-May-2008 as President of Nigeria. He came to power through an election that was alleged to be massively rigged according to reports of local and international observers. This led opposition parties to challenge his election in the courts and Nigerians are still waiting for the final verdict from the Supreme Court which can legitimize or nullify his election.

He assumed office in a situation that he needs the support of Nigerians as he was greeted by strike organized by the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) which demands him to reverse last minute policies of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who privatize Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries, increase vat and price of petroleum. The policies were reversed as demanded by the organized labour which reflects the yearnings of Nigerians.

Saddle with the leadership of Nigeria President Yar’adua formulated the 7 point Agenda which according to him will be the central cardinal of what he wants to achieve so as to put Nigeria among the world emerging economies in the world. The 7 Point Agenda are Energy, Security, Wealth creation, Education, Land reform, Mass transit and Niger Delta. After one year in office did Nigerians feel the impact of the 7 point Agenda? And out of the 7 point Agenda which among is he able to addressed? How far has he gone in achieving the 7 point Agenda? Can Nigerians testify to any difference in his governance to that of previous administration of President Obasanjo?

Sincerely, Nigerians have not felt any impact on any of Yar’adua’s 7 point Agenda. Energy sector is getting worse than he met it, according to reports power generated by Egbin Thermal station with the capacity to generate 1,350 megawatts has drop to less than 800 megawatts. And Nigerians are still looking forward to Mr. President in fulfilling his promise of declaring the state of emergency in the power sector. Insecurity is on the increase as Nigerians continue to live in fair of activities of criminals. On the issue of Niger Delta, the militant youth had continued to disrupt oil exploration which led to drop in amount of oil drill every day from 2.4 million barrel to around 2 million.

Political analyst and commentators view the Yar’adua administration as slow and the government seem incapable of tackling the enormous problems affecting the country, couple with policies reversal and somersault. This had even led some to believe that Yar’adua’s administration is the continuation of Obasanjo’s administration as his government has achieved little in the past one year.

But one distinct quality of Yar’adua’s administration is in the area of rule of law. The President has tried in issues regarding to the rule of law compare to the previous administration of Obasanjo. In the past one year all court rulings were abide by the President especially verdicts that had affected governors of his ruling party. He has also promise to cease to be president if the Supreme Court annulled his election and hand over to who the court decide will take over.

Though the President Yar’adua has promise to bring about electoral reform, Nigerians have continue to experience massive election riggings and manipulations from local government elections to re-run elections conducted all over the country. He should also fulfill that promise so that Nigerians will have free and fair elections like all democracies in the world. Free and fair elections will encourage Nigerians to believe and trust democratic governance as a tool for social, economic and political development of their country. President Yar’adua should not allow Nigeria under his leadership to become a one party state as canvassed by his party men.

In the area of corruption, President Yar’adua is not been accused by Nigerians of embezzling their nation’s resources as previous administrations were accused. And there is no allegation of spreading corruption and bribery in the National Assembly to enable him have his ways as it was alleged during the past administration where Ghana must go bags are used to achieve personal and selfish interest .Also he is not accused of interfering with the running of affairs in the legislature and judiciary in process of executing their works.

Nigerians expects action and not lip service from Yar’adua’s administration, to execute projects that will better their lives. Lack of constant power has led to set back in the economic sector and he should boost the agricultural sector or to be short and precise, President Yar’adua should fully implement his 7 point Agenda as he has promised Nigerians.

Many Nigerians believed that President Yar’adua has good intention for Nigeria and Nigerians. Some are of the view that the court cases have been affecting his performance in office. President Yar’adua should side with the Nigerian people and what they want as trying to please somebody or some people will hinder him from implementing his dreams for Nigeria. Time does not wait as one year out of four is already gone.

If a national survey for public opinion will hold on rating the Yar’adua’s administration for the past one year , most Nigerians will express the opinion that Yar’adua’s administration have achieved less and it has failed in bringing about any positive impact on their lives. For Nigerians , their lives today has no difference from the past eight years they had lived under Obasanjo’s administration and they have started loosing hope that the Yar’adua’s administration will bring about any positive change in their lives.

In the next coming months Nigerians can access if the change they desire will come about or they will continue to live as they had lived in the past nine years which is suffering with all the billion of dollars the country is making due to high increase in oil price.

Shehu Mustapha Chaji

shehuchaji@yahoo.com