Interim evaluation of Yar'Adua
Kola Animasaun, writing in Vanguard (Lagos), gives the new Nigerian president a cautious and provisional thumbs up. In the process, he offers some criteria by which we could evaluate the next while in the presidency.Katherine Houreld's evaluation in The Washington Post is similarly tentative. What else would we expect in an assessment of two months of a government?
Nonetheless, these articles might be useful as teaching tools six months from now. As you read about the high expectations Nigerians have of their new president, it's good to remind ourselves of the optimism that seems to be a basic part of Nigerian political culture.
Yar'Adua Two Months After
"IT is only a couple of days after two months that Musa Yar'Adua was sworn-in... An unfancied horse that no-one gave a chance... He has since gone ahead to break the ice and clear the cob-web of our political life.... He has been able to calm our nerves and the apprehension that has been abroad has been cleared...
"Yar'Adua did emerge the way the Holy Prophet advised a leader should emerge... do not put yourself forward for an office... But if you are asked, you will have useful people rallying to your banner. Musa was heading for his farms when he was asked to run. The omen is that he may succeed...
"Musa has taken the stage and means to make the best of a bad job. He is reported to be working quietly to bring peace to Oyo State and to Delta and Bayelsa... And he has accepted to be a father to all. Only on Tuesday, the Police banned him and others from using the siren...
"Yar'Adua rarely talks except where and when necessary, preferring to work at our nagging problems. He has not insulted anyone and has exhibited extremely good breeding... there is copious room for optimism. He is like the head of the fish. Once the head is good, the body, of course, will be good. He is leading by example and if he makes a mistake the people would be ready to forgive him. Because it would be a genuine mistake."
Nigeria's New Leader Faces Uncertainties
"In his first two months in office, Nigeria's shy, aristocratic new president has faced a nationwide strike, violence in the country's oil region and accusations that he's too timid for the job.
"But these challenges pale compared with the country's corruption, decayed infrastructure and poverty. This nation of 140 million expects a lot of President Umaru Yar'Adua.
"There are signs that Yar'Adua, a reclusive former chemistry teacher from a royal Muslim family, is preparing for real change, says Jibrin Ibrahim of the Center for Democracy and Development, a Nigerian think tank. It will take a year for his true colors to emerge, and meanwhile, with a cabinet of competing factions, "he is still not totally in charge," Ibrahim said.
"Every step forward so far has left Nigerians clamoring for more.
"In a surprise move, Yar'Adua publicly declared his assets _ the first Nigerian president to do so _ and urged his officials to do the same. None has so far.
"Yar'Adua reversed the contentious sale of two of the country's broken down refineries to a shadowy consortium headed by Obasanjo's allies, a deal hurried through in the dying days of the outgoing regime...
"And this month, four former governors were charged with stealing state money, with more arrests promised by the country's anti-corruption watchdog...
"The new administration has two members of the opposition, seven women, and a finance minister seen by many as a reformist. But Yar'Adua has also retained many faces from the outgoing regime, which worries those looking for a radical change of direction.
"'He is very cautious, to the point of being faulted,' said Charles Dokubo of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs. 'Nigerians want (Yar'Adua) to prove to them that he does not need a back-seat driver.'"
See also
Labels: change, leadership, Nigeria, politics
posted by Ken Wedding @ 8:17 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home