posted
"An abusive military, deadly ethnic and religious violence, police mutinies and aloof presidential leadership are tarnishing the once shining reputation of Nigeria's president, Olusegun Obasanjo." NY Times 2-23-02
Forumites, the world is surely taking note...
Troubled Times in Nigeria
An abusive military, deadly ethnic and religious violence, police mutinies and aloof presidential leadership are tarnishing the once shining reputation of Nigeria's president, Olusegun Obasanjo. Three years ago his election restored democracy to Africa's most populous nation after more than 15 years of corrupt and brutal military rule. Though he has made positive changes, his inability to control army lawlessness and heal the country's divisions have disappointed many Nigerians. Democracy's roots are shallow in Nigeria. Mr. Obasanjo must provide more effective leadership for the remainder of his term to ensure its survival.
Expectations were extremely and perhaps unrealistically high when Mr. Obasanjo took office for the second time, in 1999. Although Nigeria is the world's sixth-largest oil producer, a succession of military rulers had left its treasury bankrupt, its institutions corrupted and its people demoralized. Mr. Obasanjo seemed the most promising candidate to lead a national recovery. In the 1970's he had voluntarily led the military out of government and organized democratic elections. Later he became a fearless critic of military repression, for which he was imprisoned in the late 1990's.
In his first months in office Mr. Obasanjo restored press freedoms, removed corrupt senior generals and campaigned against the bribery and kickbacks that had become endemic in Nigerian society. More recently his reform drive has faltered in the face of congressional resistance, and he has proved distressingly tolerant of corruption among his own close political associates.
Inexcusably, he has done nothing to halt gross human rights violations by the army against civilians, especially ethnic minorities. Religious divisions have worsened since 12 of the country's 36 states proclaimed Islamic Sharia law, and Mr. Obasanjo has appeared virtually helpless in the face of increasingly deadly clashes between members of his own Yoruba ethnic group and the rival Hausas. Government finances are in disarray and public services barely function.
The past few weeks have been particularly grim. Last month an antiquated military arms depot exploded in a densely populated area of Lagos, killing more than 1,000 people. The government responded slowly and insensitively. Days later, ethnic clashes in the same city left more than 100 dead. A nationwide police strike briefly left army troops patrolling major cities. Mr. Obasanjo is rightly admired in the West as an eloquent spokesman for African democracy and development. Regrettably, his record at home is far less impressive.
Posts: 119 | From: USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Ofcourse yes the world most take notice, obusonjos misdeeds and abortion of hopes does not happen in isolation, his glaring incompetence and carwordice has brought him to self peril. we most wait and see how the end of obusonjo will look like as he has worked very hard upon his on destruction. he picked up fight with NdiIgbo thereby bringing upon himself what will be a terrible and tragic end. time will tell.
___________________ He likened the second coming of Christ to the realisation of the Biafran dream, stating that at a time people least expect, the much sought Biafra would be a reality..Rev. Fr. Cornelius Ezeiloaku Posts: 622 | From: santiago, chile | Registered: Jan 2002
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