RECENTLY, the Nigerian media were awash with what could be summarised as a celebration of some sort of a fast fading fad; the first 100 days of President Jonathan. Ordinarily, the whole exercise could

be considered preposterous for a couple of reasons. First, in a strict sense, it cannot be entirely true that Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency is new since he has been in the Presidency for more than two years as a vice-president. Second, and this is even more crucial, there has not been any radical departure in terms of policy formulation or implementation or even stance that has positively affected the citizenry to warrant any celebration.

BUT if for the purpose of argument his role as an essentially submissive vice-president to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua is taken into consideration, his assumption of office as President following Yar’Adua’s unfortunate demise, may be taken as a turning point in his career in leadership, especially as a second fiddle player. Even at that, have the first 100 days signalled an essentially new era? As Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan came into office in the thick of a bestial outrage in Jos, a complete break down of law and order and mindless killings. It will be recalled that Dr Jonathan as Acting President read a brilliantly scripted Riot Act which showed indignation and stated that the Federal Government was not going to watch while some people took the law into their own hands. Did the killings stop? Have those arrested by the authorities been prosecuted?

WHILE it may be valid to claim that 100 days is too short a time to affect a comprehensively damaged entity like Nigeria, it is also true that such a duration is not too short to feel the  impact of a few right steps by a determined and focused leadership. It is disheartening when this line of argument is employed to explain away the ineptitude and incompetence of leadership. If 100 days is too short to expect any positive impact on the people, why is it not too short for the expenditure of huge amount of the country’s resources? For instance, President Jonathan’s administration is making spirited efforts to acquire more jets for the Presidential fleet, a project which may not benefit the greater percentage of the citizenry.

IN the build-up to the 2011 elections, President Goodluck Jonathan has provided a whopping sum of  N87 billion naira for INEC to compile a new voter register which arguably is the most expensive per individual voter in the world and he has released N200 billion to PHCN despite the fact that Nigeria may not get stable electricity until the year 2015.

ALSO, there has not yet been any reaction from the presidency till date to the allegation that Nigerian lawmakers are arguably the most expensive to maintain in the world. The citizens of the country are agonising under the pressure of wanton profligacy from the government and its officials who live opulent lives amidst palpable poverty among the people.

UPON being sworn in as substantive President, the consensus of public opinion was that President Jonathan should take bold steps in the direction of solving the myriad of problems bedevilling the country especially electricity and leave his political ambition or future in the hands of the people.

BUT it would seem that gradually, the political class has succeeded in distracting him from this main job of reclaiming the country from the morass into which it has been plunged by years of insensitive and incompetent leadership.

IF the first 100 days are anything to go by, President Jonathan by his performance in office so far has not been able to convince Nigerians that he has the grit and even charisma to lift Nigeria from the doldrums. Any light at the end of the tunnel, it would now seem, may be the one from an oncoming train!

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