By DAPO AKINREFON & CHARLES KUMOLU

The first hundred days of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration mean different  things to most Nigerians. For associates and officials of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, it has been a time of progressive planning for the envisaged execution of the transformation agenda.

However, for several others especially those in the opposition, it has been “100 days of lost opportunities,” especially going by the assessment of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Jonathan’s main  rival at the last presidential elections.

Just before the 100 days landmark, the administration conveyed to Nigerians its achievements in different sectors of governance notably, security, recovery of looted national treasure, the rule of law and  foreign policy.

Indeed, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, speaking to newsmen on the eve of the landmark pointed at what he referred to as the stream of foreign leaders into the country as one important achievement of the Jonathan administration.

“The fact that leaders all over the world have being coming to Nigeria on virtually daily basis to show solidarity to the President and this government shows that we are on course,” he  said in an interview with newsmen on the eve of the landmark last Monday.

Other achievements the presidency is claiming to its credit in the last 100 days include observance of the rule of law, a new thrust in boosting the nation’s trade and investment climate, expansion of the oil sector, reduction in the inflation rate, boosting power generation and empowerment of the youth and the promotion of women in the governance of the country.

In steering the economy towards a healthier state the administration empowered an economic team headed by the Minister of Finance, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

One critical thrust of the administration’s initiative to boost the nation’s economy is the decision to boost the nation’s trade and investment climate. In that direction, the President appointed  erstwhile Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga, as the minister of a new Ministry, Ministry of Trade and Investment.

Also, as part of efforts at creating investment friendly environment, the administration, it was gathered, established an Automotive Development Fund.

The government in the last 100 days has credited to itself the reduction of the inflation rate.

The presidency noted that “inflation rate has been reducing as the administration enforces tighter fiscal policies. In June the Consumer Price Index revealed an inflation rate of 10.2% which dropped to 9.4% in July being the lowest rate in the last four years.”

Despite earlier criticisms of its depletion of  foreign reserves and the excess crude account, the administration said that  foreign reserves had risen by 10% to $34 Billion.

According to the presidency, “Nigeria’s GDP growth rate month over month has continued to grow from 6.7% in May to 6.9% in July of 2011.Nigeria has been declared one of the top three investment destinations of choice in Africa (number 2) by the independent Africa Business Panel in The Netherlands.”

One remarkable area the Jonathan administration has affected the citizens is in the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage Act which has seen the least federal worker earning a minimum of N18,000 per month. The President’s assent to the bill has also helped to increase the minimum wage in the states and members of the National Youth Service Corps who had their basic monthly allowance increased from N9,700 to N19,800.

In his effort to give a gender balance to governance, the President took the unique step of proactively reserving 35 per cent of cabinet positions for women despite immense pressures.

However, the administration has been seriously challenged in the provision of security.

Jonathan’s first 100 days saw a relentless assault on the security of lives of the citizenry with sectarian crises on the Plateau and unprecedented attacks on national and international institutions.

After Boko Haram’s bomb  attack on the Police Headquarters, the Islamic group  went on to climax its brazenness with the attack on the United Nations building in Abuja. The brazenness of the attacks have progressively undermined the credibility and reputation of the Jonathan administration.

Indeed,  General  Buhari described the first 100 days of President Jonathan as days of lost opportunities.

Speaking through his spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, he said: “It has been 100 days of non-disappointment because he has performed to expectations of non-performance. Those who felt that they voted for Jonathan and not PDP, 100 days have been more than enough to show them, that Jonathan is PDP and PDP is Jonathan.

“Therefore, what you have seen in the last 100 days is standstill without any movement, trials by error, in-experience and a regime that is totally bereft of ideas. It is 100 days and the president is just asking his ministers what they think he should be doing. On what basis did he campaign then? That shows that Nigeria is inside heat and we need to fasten our seat belts.”

National Chairman of the CNPP, Musa said “As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing positive to say about his administration. The whole 100 days amount to loss of opportunities and so, there is nothing positive to say about it.”

Also speaking,  ANPP Vice-Presidential candidate in the last elections, Odigie-Oyegun, said that though the right things were being said by the present administration, Nigerians expect more than that. He further argued that nothing much had been achieved owing to the fact that it was too early in the day to criticize President Jonathan’s administration.

“There are so many things happening that need attention and they are not things that can be done over night. So, it is a bit early to comment on this because of the nature of challenges that are confronting the government. The challenges confronting his administration are so major that it will be so unrealistic of us to expect things to be done in a hundred days.”

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed refused to be dragged into an assessment of the administration as he pledged a comprehensive statement of the 100 days of the administration in due course.