LAOLU AKANDE, NEW YORK

In an unexpected but clear international endorsement of the demise of third term plot, US President George W. Bush has commended the Nigerian people over the way the controversy was resolved by Nigerians observing that it was "a victory for democracy."

In a statement released Friday by the White House, President Bush said "The decision to resolve the third term debate through constitutional means is a victory for democracy and the rule of law and provides a strong foundation for a peaceful and transparent election."

The statement noted that the United States "congratulates the Government of Nigeria, President Obasanjo, and the Nigerian people on their continued support to promote democracy in Nigeria by calling for national elections in 2007."

In a statement similar to that made by the South African President Thabo Mbeki commending President Obasanjo for accepting the decision of the National Assembly over the matter as final, US President Bush also said "President Obasanjo wisely resisted the invitation to challenge this constitutional outcome on the issue of a third term."

Diplomats say this is a subtle endorsement that spells out a wide international support for the trouncing of the third term plot.

The US government, through its National Intelligence Director John Negroponte actively expressed disapproval for the possibility of tenure extension for President Obasanjo, warning that such could lead to serious political crisis of immense proportions not only in the country but the entire region. William Cohen, a former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in the US State Department also actively advocated against the third term plot, apparently as an informal outpost of what was a clear US government policy against third term in Nigeria 

In his statement over the weekend, President Bush added that "The American people place in high regard the deeply held commitment of the Nigerian people to bring about change that is based on democratic values and practices."

Waxing historical, and in an instructive observation, Bush said "next year's constitutional presidential transition will mark the first time in Nigerian history that a civilian president hands over power through democratic elections," a scenario many in the international community, especially foreign investors have looked up as a signal of sufficient political stability to provoke greater foreign investment.

Bush had praise for President Obasanjo on that score: " President Obasanjo was also Africa's first modern military leader to successfully guide a country's transition from military to civilian rule."

He said Americans look forward "to continue working with President Obasanjo to promote freedom and democracy for the people of Nigeria and peace and stability in the region."

Full Text:

President Commends Nigeria on Call for 2007 Elections

The United States congratulates the Government of Nigeria, President Obasanjo, and the Nigerian people on their continued support to promote democracy in Nigeria by calling for national elections in 2007. The decision to resolve the third term debate through constitutional means is a victory for democracy and the rule of law and provides a strong foundation for a peaceful and transparent election. President Obasanjo wisely resisted the invitation to challenge this constitutional outcome on the issue of a third term. The American people place in high regard the deeply held commitment of the Nigerian people to bring about change that is based on democratic values and practices.

 

Next year's constitutional presidential transition will mark the first time in Nigerian history that a civilian president hands over power through democratic elections. President Obasanjo was also Africa's first modern military leader to successfully guide a country's transition from military to civilian rule. We look forward to continue working with President Obasanjo to promote freedom and democracy for the people of Nigeria and peace and stability in the region.

 

Robot  Villager

# 1 LAOLU AKANDE, NEW YORKIn an unexpected butclear international endorsement of the dem...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 28.05.2006 08:24

hap

# 2 Your write up, what do expect them to say after the dust have settled. A good example of the west behaving like, real cockroach, they are. Egypt, after the election they were always on the side of the people they dont want in the first place, in other to protray themself as being good. Posted by hap| 28.05.2006 14:42

hooray

# 3 bush endorses our action, hooray!!! Who is bush? Posted by hooray| 28.05.2006 14:58

OmoNigeria

# 4 We are waiting for a similar "endorsement" in Colombia where Alvaro Uribe "changed" his country's constitution to allow for second term in office. He has just won with a landslide Did Kofi Annan not told us "they" always "advise" against such? What a double standard by the West with the connivance of Nigerian elite and the media. Posted by OmoNigeria| 29.05.2006 07:22

Naija for life  Villager

# 5 =OmoNigeria> What a double standard by the West with the connivance of Nigerian elite and the media. It is not the west you should blame. It is our leaders who gleefully serve as slaves to the west that are to blame for the contemptous way the west treats us. Posted by Naija for life| 29.05.2006 17:30