PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar' Adua's performance in office, in the last 100 days has been given the thumbs up by a majority of Nigerians.
The verdict is the result of a recent Guardian Opinion Poll (GOP) conducted in all the six geo-political zones of the country. The survey, which accommodated responses from Nigerians above 18 years had asked: "Are you satisfied with the performance of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua' s government in the past 100 days?"
According to the result, eight out of every 10 respondents (approximately 79 per cent) answered in the affirmative, while two out of 10 (21 per cent) disagreed.
The favourable rating of the President cuts across the six geo-political zones of the country. The North West led with 87 per cent; North-East, South-West, South-East, North-Central and South-South recorded 84, 80,79,76 and 73 respectively while Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory returned 68 per cent.
The spread of the 21 per cent of respondents who rate the President's performance low cuts across all the geo-political zones. Twenty-seven per cent, which is the highest in this category, was recorded in the South South while North Central turned in 24 per cent. South East, South West, North East and North West also scored the administration low with 21, 20, 16 and 13 per cent respectively. Abuja also polled 32 per cent.
About 53 per cent of those who gave pass mark to the president argued that he has so far shown that he is a listening and responsive president; especially in the way and manner he reversed the Value Added Tax (VAT) and fuel price increases in the wake of mass protest.
Another 22 per cent reasoned that the government has displayed high level of transparency, while 11 per cent agreed that his respect for the rule of law so far is second to none in the history of leadership in Nigeria.
However, a majority of those who gave an "unsatisfactory" answer (58 per cent) argued that there were no tangible achievements on the part of government for now. To them, the country's schools, hospitals and infrastructure are still in deplorable conditions, with the crime rate still alarming and nothing seems to be working for now.
Twenty-two per cent of the respondent also posited that it is too early to rate the government as it is just settling down for the business of governance.
Some who queried the legitimacy of the government argued that the elections that brought President Yar'Adua into office was far from perfect as attested to by the President himself. It was also alleged that the president displayed a high level of tribalism and nepotism in the area of political appointments.
When Yar'Adua was sworn in as president on May 29, 2007, he promised to be a servant-leader with the basic aim of rendering selfless service to Nigerians.
4rum The Guardian Newspapers.
1 comment:
Good words.
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