| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
ABIDJAN, 31 May (IRIN) - Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo's pledge in his inaugural address to stamp out corruption and ensure good governance was welcomed by many, but civil society leaders said they would try to make sure he remembered his promise.
It was "a very bold speech", Nimi Walson-Jack,
executive director of the Port Harcourt-based Centre
for Responsive Politics, told IRIN on Monday. Nevertheless,
he said, "We are going to remind him at every
turn of what he has promised."
Obasanjo told 128 million Nigerians and a host of foreign
dignitaries at Saturday's swearing-in that he would
move quickly to restore public confidence in government.
"I will give the forthright, purposeful, committed,
honest, and transparent leadership that the situation
demands," he said.
Promising to tackle corruption head-on at all levels,
Obasanjo said there would be "no sacred cows"
and that he would restore and enforce all regulations
designed to help honesty and transparency in government
and public administration.
His promise was also supported by Ayo Fasanmi, vice
chairman of the opposition Alliance for Democracy party,
who said in a report published in `The Guardian' of
Lagos: "I, as a Nigerian, will stand by the side
of Obasanjo in fighting corruption."
Obasanjo said the new administration's economic priorities would be to improve the oil and agriculture sectors, which would require ending the crisis in the Niger Delta oil-producing areas, improving food supply and security, and upgrading agriculture.
In the volatile Delta region he promised to introduce, within six weeks, a bill that will provide for 13 percent of public revenue to be allocated to ecological rehabilitation, infrastructure and other developments.
Walson-Jack said Nigerians were willing to allow Obasanjo time to solve the problem of the Delta which, despite producing most of the oil that accounts for upward of 90 percent of Nigeria's hard-currency earnings, is one of its poorest backwaters. "We will give him a chance," Walson-Jack said.
However both he and Abel Igbinaduwa of the Lagos-based African Peace Initiative, saw Obasanjo's commitment to spend 13 percent of Nigeria's earnings in the Delta as too little.
Both also told IRIN the government in Abuja should play only a minor role in deciding the development priorities for the Delta, which lacks schools, roads, bridges, housing and more. "Government (federal) should let the state government decide where the money should go," Igbinaduwa said.
Other issues needing immediate attention that the new civilian president mentioned on Saturday ranged from ending cultism in the country's educational institutions to empowering the youth and women. "I have worked out measures which must be implemented within the first six months," Obasanjo said.
A major challenge will be subordinating the armed forces to civilian authority since the military have ruled Nigeria for all but 10 of its 39 years of independence. "We shall restore military cooperation and exchanges with our traditional friends," the former army general said.
Obasanjo said he would promote friendly relations with all nations, and make sure Nigeria plays a constructive role in the United Nations, Organisation of African Unity, Commonwealth and other international bodies. He said that in Sierra Leone, where Nigeria has several thousand troops fighting anti-government forces "we shall endeavour to ensure a quick resolution of the crisis by dialogue and diplomatic means, by increasing activity on the second track of peace and reconciliation".
Initial foreign reactions included that of US President Bill Clinton who was quoted by Reuters as saying he thought Obasanjo had given "a great speech" and felt the new head of state would be able to make progress in improving the economy and rooting out corruption.
"It's so important that they make it," Reuters quoted Clinton as saying. "I'm really pulling for him."
[ENDS]
[IRIN-WA: Tel: +225 217366 Fax: +225 216335 e-mail: irin-wa@ocha.unon.org ]
Item: irin-english-922
[This item is delivered in the "irin-english" service of the UN's IRIN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations. For further information or free subscriptions, or to change your keywords, contact e-mail: irin@ocha.unon.org or fax: +254 2 622129 or Web: http://www.reliefweb.int/IRIN . If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer.]
Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 1999
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
| Previous Menu | Home Page | What's New | Search | Country Specific |