Nigeria's Obasanjo dispels fears over 2007 handover

By Estelle Shirbon
Reuters
Tuesday, August 29, 2006; 10:46 AM

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo moved to dispel fears on Tuesday over next year's handover of power in Africa's top oil producer, promising free and fair elections in April.

Obasanjo denounced as "mischief makers" those who said he might try to install an interim government and insisted he was preparing for retirement to his chicken farm in May.

"Those talking about interim national government are either ignorant of the constitution, or they are evil-minded or are mischief makers because there is no room anywhere for such a contraption except during a state of war against other countries," Obasanjo said.

The wide-ranging speech drew rapturous applause from the audience at a conference organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which included presidential aspirants Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former military strongman Muhammadu Buhari.

INEC chairman Maurice Iwu set presidential and national assembly elections for April 21, and the vote for state governors and state houses of assembly for April 14.

"Preparations for the 2007 elections ... are actually progressing very well," Iwu said. Obasanjo said he would hand over power on May 29, 2007.

The vote should mark the first time one democratically elected president hands over to another in Nigeria since independence from Britain in 1960.

CORRUPTION

Obasanjo said he would resist anyone with a record of corruption succeeding him and vowed to come down heavily on any groups promoting ethnic or regional agendas in the campaign.

At least 15,000 people have been killed in communal, ethnic and religious violence in Nigeria since democracy was restored in 1999, Various ethnic and regional blocks are engaged in an increasingly bitter argument over which group is next in line for the nation's top job.

"Political parties are meant to be national, cutting across all boundaries so as to enhance unity, stability and harmony," Obasanjo said.

Apart from Buhari and Abubakar, other possible candidates include former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida and several state governors. Many of these are already under investigation for corruption although elected executive office-holders are immune from prosecution under Nigerian law.

"Those criminals and crooks, persons of dubious character, the corrupt and the corrupters ... in no way should such people take over the reins of government in this country and destroy our reforms," Obasanjo said.

Obasanjo's speech came hours after the secret police raided a campaign office of Abubakar, confiscating computers and arresting an American intern.

The president and his deputy fell out because Abubakar campaigned against an attempt to rewrite the constitution to allow Obasanjo to run for a third term in next year's election.

The attempt failed when the Senate voted against it in May.

(Additional reporting by Tume Ahemba in Lagos)

Nigeria sets April election dates

Nigeria has announced that elections to choose a successor to President Olusegun Obasanjo and a new national assembly will be held on 21 April 2007.

Voting for state governors and regional assemblies will take place on 14 April.

The Independent Electoral Commission chairman said preparations for the elections were progressing well.

This could mark the first successful democratic transfer of power from one civilian president to another since Nigerian independence in 1960.

President Obasanjo will have served two terms, the maximum allowed under the constitution, since being elected in 1999.

It is not clear who will be in line to succeed Mr Obasanjo, who has denied favouring any particular successor to the presidency.

Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who opposed moves to change the constitution so as to allow Mr Obasanjo a third term, is believed to be seeking the nomination of the governing People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida - also a PDP member, and seen as close to Mr Obasanjo - has announced his intention to stand for the presidency, though not necessarily on a party ticket.

Robot  Villager

# 1 Nigeria's Obasanjo dispels fears over 2007 handover...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 29.08.2006 14:27

Auspicious  Villager

# 2 "Those talking about interim national government are either ignorant of the constitution, or they are evil-minded or are mischief makers because there is no room anywhere for such a contraption except during a state of war against other countries" - Olusegun Obasanjo. Well, the question is, why didn't he say something similar while the '3rd Term' nonesense tensed the country up to a hundred-degree centrigrade fever? Auspicious. Posted by Auspicious| 29.08.2006 15:43

commoner  Villager

# 3 This sets the stage for the IBB/Atiku battle. There are'nt many candidates that are capable of conducting an effective presidential campaign in 8 months. Congratulations President IBB :cry: Posted by commoner| 29.08.2006 17:33

bababoyz  Villager

# 4 =Auspicious;127856> "Those talking about interim national government are either ignorant of the constitution, or they are evil-minded or are mischief makers because there is no room anywhere for such a contraption except during a state of war against other countries" - Olusegun Obasanjo. Well, the question is, why didn't he say something similar while the '3rd Term' nonesense tensed the country up to a hundred-degree centrigrade fever? Auspicious. He must have learnt his lessons the hardway. Posted by bababoyz| 29.08.2006 18:03

WaleAkin  Villager

# 5 Come, am i the only person seeing this at all? Why OBJ dey look like that with that dropped lip like cow skin? OK..............Stop it Wale cos OBJ is an adult ohhh The stage is set for a presidential election...............and thus the graves are dug for many victims of political assasinations!! Posted by WaleAkin| 29.08.2006 18:23

Anthony A Kila  JJC

# 6 The third term bid is over. Let us applaud OBJ for saying that “Those talking about interim national government are either ignorant of the constitution, or they are evil-minded or are mischief makers because there is no room anywhere for such a contraption except during a state of war against other countries" Though obvious to many of us, this is enormous statements coming from the president of Nigeria; his words are clear and loaded. Let us take this statement at face value and quote it each time anybody says something about elongation ofn term in office or enlightened dictatorship for Nigeria. In a country desperately indeed of values, consistency, principled comportment and stately utterances, this is kind of declaration should be celebrated by all true democrats. We must avoid the risk of structural antagonism and perpetual criticism. It is necessary to avoid personalising issues as this tends to prevent us from appreciating positive developments no matter how little or sporadic. As OBJ enters his last days in office we must make him (and indeed anybody holding any public position and from day one) realise that as Nigerians we will warmly support the good things they say and do and that we will vehemently denounce and fight their wrongdoings. Someone has suggested that maybe OBJ has learnt his lesson; that is great. It means the battles fought have not been in vain and will leave long-lasting imprints. Moreover, as Christians say “it is never too late to be saved”. Someone might consider this as lips service, maybe so, but let us remember that hypocrisy is itself homage to virtue. As citizens and observers I strongly believe we should always trust but be check those ruling our lands. Posted by Anthony A Kila| 29.08.2006 19:46

ula-lisa  Villager

# 7 "Those talking about interim national government are either ignorant of the constitution, or they are evil-minded or are mischief makers because there is no room anywhere for such a contraption except during a state of war against other countries," Obasanjo ___________________________________________ Now let the games begin!!!! Bring out the chess board son. Posted by ula-lisa| 29.08.2006 21:15

hellofadude  Villager

# 8 Commoner Said :- "This sets the stage for the IBB/Atiku battle. There are'nt many candidates that are capable of conducting an effective presidential campaign in 8 months." I must disagree with you my friend. Now even you must see that the myth of IBB is fast disappearing and he is a political dead duck. Most serious politians in Nigeria are beginning to give him a wide birth as was evident on the occasion of his birthday and his absence at this most recent forum democracy in 2007 speaks volumes. I suspect his absence was not by choice, more the prevailing mode in the country. He knows his time is coming, may i be so bold as to predict as time goes by he will begin to adopt a low-profile realising that things are not really as they seem. But you see his fate is already sealed. It was sealed the day he took over our Nations leadership, everything he did subsequently was because he could not help himself, the man has too many enemies, both directly and indirectly to get away with many of his crimes. He will be dillusional to expect to live happily ever after under the circumstances. If not this government another one will get him. I predict we will see IBB in handcuffs before this decade is out, at most within 8 yrs. His arrogance is just a way for him to perpetuate his myth for in the fullness of time he will come to find that a democratic president does not a military dictator make and the laws he tries to hide behind - immunity etc - does not apply to muderers. It is like having your lawyers plead insanity to premeditated muder. That stuff just wont fly Posted by hellofadude| 30.08.2006 04:10

techsista  Villager

# 9 =commoner;127879>This sets the stage for the IBB/Atiku battle. There are'nt many candidates that are capable of conducting an effective presidential campaign in 8 months. Congratulations President IBB :cry: Na lie! God forbid bad ting. Posted by techsista| 30.08.2006 07:44

britroyal1  Villager

# 10 Josef Stalin said, "it is not the voters that count but the person that counts the votes". There may be elections, but I have failed to see any measure that would enable a free and fair election akin to the June 12 one. Furthermore, President Obasanjo is yet to declare that he would accept the result of the election whatever the outcome (Don't forget IBB had elections conducted only to annul them). Posted by britroyal1| 30.08.2006 09:00

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