NIGERIA-POLITICS: Abacha Stresses Commitment to Transition

By Toye Olori Reprint | | Print |

Remi Oyo and Toye Olori

LAGOS, Oct 1 1997 (IPS) - There was a loud silence on two major issues when Gen. Sani Abacha addressed his nation on Wednesday, the 37th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence from Britain.

The Nigerian head of state said nothing about releasing political detainees from his country’s jails, including Moshood Abiola, considered the winner of the June 1993 presidential elections whose results were annulled by the military.

Nor did he confirm or deny speculation that he plans to run for president at elections to be held next year under a transition to democracy that will purportedly yield a civilian head of state on Oct. 1, 1998.

Hopes that he would say something about the promulgation of Nigeria’s fourth constitution since independence were also dashed.

The draft magna carta, worked out by a constitutional conference, has been ready for the past two years. It has been reviewed by a government-appointed committee and presented to the Provisional Ruling Council — the highest decision-making body here — but it has not yet been promulgated.

Despite all this, Abacha insisted that the transition programme “is being steadfastly implemented and (…) by the grace of God will terminate on the 1st (of) October 1998 with the entry into office of an elected civilian administration.

“For our new political structures to work, we must imbibe the spirit of give and take, fair play, justice and respect for the rule of law,” Abacha urged.

The next major item on the transition’s agenda is the Dec. 6 election of members of the assemblies (parliaments) of the 36 states that make up the Nigerian federation, followed four months later by elections to the National Assembly (federal parliament).

Presidential polls are scheduled for Aug. 1, 1998, on the same day as elections to the post of governor of each state. However, no presidential hopeful has been nominated by any of Nigeria’s five officially registered parties. All appear to be worried that they might end up running against Abacha, whose supporters have touted him as the next civilian president.

“We will oppose the parties from presenting candidates for the presidential election except General Abacha,” Daniel Kanu, chair of ‘Youths Earnestly Ask for Abacha’ said Tuesday in Abuja.

The uncertainty about Abacha plans will continue to cast doubt on the political future of Nigeria, a European diplomat told IPS on Wednesday. “The General lost a singular opportunity to end the speculations and instil confidence in his transition programme by not stating categorically if he plans to succeed himself,” the diplomat commented.

Abacha appeared all too aware of his growing band of critics chief among whom, he charged, are “individuals who choose to place their personal ambitions above over-riding national interests”.

“Confrontation and violence which place the self-righteous dissidents outside the political process are self-defeating and merely exclude the perpetrator from serious consideration as a builder,” he argued.

Referring to bomb blasts — at least eight — that have taken place in Nigerian towns this year, Abacha said “those who plant bombs and maim innocent citizens have declared war on their country”.

On the other hand he sought to dispel the idea that “there is an institutionalised and rampant denial of fundamental human rights” by pointing to the establishment of a human rights commission.

This commission has made little difference to the situation of the country’s political prisoners. At least 10 notable human rights and democracy activists, labour leaders and politicians, are in detention, although there are unconfirmed reports that they may be as many as 40.

Internationally, the government’s human rights record has earned it more sanctions than any other Nigerian administration but Abacha said “Nigeria’s international stature has remained undiminished”.

The Commonwealth, for example, suspended Nigeria in November 1995 following the execution of writer Ken Saro-wiwa and eight other minority activists condemned by a military tribunal. The suspension is expected to be discussed this month at a summit of the organisation in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Abacha said he expected the “understanding of all members of the Commonwealth of the situation in Nigeria.”

“It is our hope that the Commonwealth leadership will embrace fair play, genuine dialogue and negotiations in order to resolve the unfortunate impasse between the association and Nigeria,” he said.

According to Abacha, Nigeria has had to “look to other parts of the world to make new friends. However our arms and doors remain open to all those who wish to be friends and cooperate with us”.

On the economic front, the Nigerian head spoke of encouraging savings, investment and productivity. That encouragement is sorely needed: the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria warned this week that industrial production was at all time low, while statistics quoted Wednesday in an editorial in the ‘Guardian’ newspaper were nothing if not depressing.

“Seven out of every 10 industries are down, electric energy is available to only three out of 10 homes and only 22 out of every 100 Nigerians have access to modern health care (while) clean water is more expensive to obtain than alcohol,” noted the privately owned daily.

With Nigeria providing the bulk of a West African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG, that has been serving in the sub-region’s two main trouble spots, it was to be expected that Abacha would mention Liberia and Sierra Leone.

He paid tribute to ECOMOG for its role in ending a seven-year war in Liberia, but the Nigerian military leader had tough words for the military junta that ousted Sierra Leone’s elected president, Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, in May.

“We call on the illegal regime in Freetown to resume serious negotiations and dialogue on the ECOWAS objectives” which include reinstating Kabbah and restoring peace to Sierra Leone, said General Abacha.