Originally posted in 2006
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Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:05 AM ET. By Tom Ashby. ABUJA (Reuters) -Nigeria’s ruling
partyon Sunday chose a reclusive Muslim state governor, Umaru Yar’Adua, tobe its candidate to succeed Olusegun Obasanjo as president ofAfrica’s most populous nation in elections next year.
Yar’Adua, the 55-year-old governor of Katsina state, beat 11 othercontestants for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to run inthe April vote which should mark the first fully democratictransition in Nigerian history.
“I want to congratulate my brother who will be my worthysuccessor,” Obasanjo said after the vote by 4,000 delegates whichbegan on Saturday and ended at dawn on Sunday.
Yar’Adua polled 3,024 votes with businessman Rochas Okorocha adistant second with 372.
The atmosphere in the Eagle Square parade ground in the capitalAbuja was glum and most delegates left without waiting to hear theresults or Yar’Adua’s speech.
There was almost no applause when the result was announced.
“He has a long way to go considering the gloomy faces of thedelegates and the empty seats after voting,” said Hamisu Shira,chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters and PDPdelegate.
Yar’Adua’s candidacy rests almost exclusively on the support ofObasanjo. He is little known even among the political elite havingrarely left his remote northern state in seven years as governor.
Obasanjo persuaded influential state governors to back the formerchemistry teacher, who suffers from a chronic kidney condition, witha mixture of inducements and threats of investigation byanti-corruption officials, analysts said.
They expect him to face stiff competition from a resurgentopposition at the polls in April.
Obasanjo’s election in 1999 marked a return to democracy afterthree decades of almost continuous army rule, and next year’s pollshould mark the first handover from one elected president to anothersince independence from Britain in 1960.
PUPPET?
Critics say Obasanjo wants to install a puppet to protect himselffrom possible prosecution when he loses presidential immunity.
In his acceptance speech, Yar’Adua thanked Obasanjo and praisedhim as the “father of democracy and good governance in Nigeria”.
“Economic reforms will be vigorously pursued and I am alsodetermined to continue the fight against corruption andmisgovernance,” Yar’Adua said.
Just before voting began on Saturday, the PDP changed itsconstitution to allow Obasanjo to become the “conscience of theparty” as its chairman after he steps down in May, a position whichwill control party funds and membership.
“What we have today is not the beginning of a journey but thecontinuation of a journey,” Obasanjo said.
Yar’Adua comes from a prominent political family withlong-standing ties to Obasanjo. His elder brother Shehu was thesecond in command during Obasanjo’s first government as militaryruler in the 1970s.
With deep pockets, tight control over security forces and anunrivalled nationwide network, the PDP is the party to beat.
But the opposition is benefiting from disaffection in the PDP,which has been fueled by a split between Obasanjo and Vice PresidentAtiku Abubakar. Many PDP members have also defected to the oppositionin the wake of primaries at the state and local levels where theparty imposed many unpopular candidates.
Two main opposition parties, All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) andAction Congress (AC), have signed an alliance and analysts expectformer military ruler Muhammadu Buhari to become their candidate.(Additional reporting by Camillus Eboh)
Nigeria’s President Obasanjofingered by his VP Atiku in loss of$500m Oil Money
OBASANJO’S FAILED 3RD TERM POWER-PLAY IS GOOD NEWS TO NIGERIANS,ABROAD AND HOME….USAfricaonline.com and its correspondents in Nigeriaand across the major cities of the U.S are reporting an increasingtally of anti-3rd term phone calls and e-mails from our readers. By amargin of almost 7-2, USAfricaonline.com data show that anoverwhelming majority of the politically active citizenry are happythat Nigeria’s Senate halted retiredGen. Olusegun Obasanjo’s stealthy, unpopular, behind-the-scenes-winkand nod power plays to secure an “unrequested” 3rd term as presidentof Nigeria (a total of 12 consecutive years).
Many Nigerians still feel disappointed that a man (Obasanjo)who had gained so much from Nigeria would cling so tightly to power,even against the popular will of the people, moreso with age, energyand fresh ideas for a new era not on his side.
Also, USAfricaonline.com review of Nigeria’s recent history show thatPresident Obasanjo seems to be moving rapidly into the zone ofill-repute of his former military colleagues who, like him, refusedto leave office when it was time to go. Gen. yakubu Gowon in 1975;Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in 1993; Gen. Sani Abacha in1995, 1996, 1997,1998. More baffling many Nigerians we interviewed recall is thelessons of the excesses of the late Gen. Abach who jailed Obasanjowhile the former schemed to remain in power. For the specialreport by USAfrica multimedia networks’ Publisher Chido Nwangwu,click on 3rdterm.
DEMOCRACYWATCH: What Bush Should TellObasanjo…. By ChidoNwangwu (Founder and Publisher of USAfricaonline.com)
VIEWPOINT: Obasanjo,Go! Just go! Prof. Wole Soyinka
DEBATE: HowBlack intellectuals let Africa down, and westernstereoptypes complicate therest.By Cedrick Ngalande at the USC, LosAngeles
Why Chinua Achebe, the Eagle onthe Iroko, is Africa’s writer of the century. By ChidoNwangwu(First written on March 1, 2002, for USAfrica, updated forProf. Achebe’s 74th Birthday tribute on November 16, 2004, andpublished in CLASS magazinesame month): Africa’s most acclaimed and fluent writer of theEnglish Language, the most translated writer of Black heritage in theworld, broadcaster extraordinaire, social conscience of millions,cultural
custodianand elevator, chronicler and essayist, goodwill ambassador and man ofprogressive rock-ribbed principles, the Eagleon the Iroko, Ugo n’abo Professor ChinuaAchebe, has recently been selected by adistinguished jury of scholars and critics (from 13 countries ofAfrican life and literature) as the writer of the Best book (ThingsFall Apart, 1958) written in the twentieth century regarding Africa.Reasonably, Achebe’s message has been neither dimmed nor dulled bytime and clime. He’s our pathfinder, the intellectual godfather ofmillions of Africans and lovers of the fine
art of good writing. Achebe’s cultural contexts are, at once,pan-African, globalist and local; hence, his literarycontextualizations soar beyond the confines of Umuofia and any Igboor Nigerian setting of his creative imagination or historical recall.
His globalist underpinnings and outlook are truly reflective ofthe true essence of his Igbo world-view, his Igbo upbringing anddisposition. Igbos and Jews share (with a few other other cultures)this pan-global disposition to issues of art, life, commerce,juridical pursuits, and quest to be republicanist in terms of thevitality of the individual/self. In Achebe’s works, the centrality ofChi (God) attains an additional clarity in the Igbo cosmology… itis a world which prefers a quasi-capitalistic business attitude whiletaking due cognizance of the usefulness of the whole, the community.I’ve studied, lived and tried to better understand, essentially, therigor and towering moral certainties which Achebe have employed inmost of his works and his world. I know, among other reasons, becauseI share the same ancestry with him. Permit me to attempt a briefsentence, with that Achebean simplicty and clarity. Here,folks, what the world has known since 1958: Achebe is good! Eagle onthe Iroko, may your Lineage endure! There has never been one likeyou!
Ugo n’abo, chukwu gozie gi oo!. ChidoNwangwu, recipient of the Journalism Excellence award (1997), isFounder and Publisher of USAfricaonline.com (first African-ownedU.S.-based professional newspaper to be published on the internet),USAfrica The Newspaper,CLASS magazine and TheBlack Business Journal. He has served as an adviser to theMayor of Houston on international business (Africa) and appears as ananalyst on CNN, VOA, NPR, CBS News, NBC and ABC news affiliates.
This USAfricaonline.com commentary is copyrighted. Archivingon any other web site or newspaper is unauthorized except with aWritten Approval by USAfricaonline.comFounder.
CLASSis the social events, heritage excellence and style magazine forAfricans in north America, described by The New York Times as themagazine for affluent Africansin America. It is published byprofessional journalists and leading mulitmedia leaders andpioneers.
InvestigatingMarcRich and his deals with Nigeria’sOil
Through an elaborate network of carrots and sticks anda willing army of Nigeria’s soldiers and some civilians,controversial global dealer and billionaire Marc Rich, literally andpractically, made deals and steals; yes, laughed his way to the banksfrom crude oil contracts, unpaid millions in oil royalties and falsedeclarations of quantities of crude lifted and exported from Nigeriafor almost 25 years. Worse, he lifted Nigeria’soil and shipped same to then embargoed apartheid regime in SouthAfrica. Read Chido Nwangwu’s NEWS INVESTIGATION REPORT forPetroGasWorks.com
| Nelson Mandela, Tribute to the world’s political superstar and Lion of Africa
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s burden mounts with murder charges, trials Why Bush should focus on dangers facing Nigeria’s return to democracy and Obasanjo’s slipperyslide
The Economics of Elections in Nigeria
Rtd. Gen. Babangida trip as emissary for Nigeria’s Obasanjo to Sudan raises curiosity, questions about what next in power play? 110 minutes with Hakeem Olajuwon Nigerian stabbed to death in his bathroom in Houston. Since 1958, Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” set a standard of artistic excellence, and more. By Douglas Killam Why Chinua Achebe, the Eagle on the Iroko, is Africa’s writer of the century. By Chido Nwangwu(First written on March 1, 2002, for USAfrica, updated for Prof. Achebe’s 74th Birthday tribute on November 16, 2004, and published in CLASS magazine same month): Africa’s most acclaimed and fluent writer of the English Language, the most translated writer of Black heritage in the world, broadcaster extraordinaire, social conscience of millions, cultural custodian and elevator, chronicler and essayist, goodwill ambassador and man of progressive rock-ribbed principles, the Eagle on the Iroko, Ugo n’abo Professor Chinua Achebe, has recently been selected by a distinguished jury of scholars and critics (from 13 countries of African life and literature) as the writer of the Best book (Things Fall Apart, 1958) written in the twentieth century regarding Africa. Reasonably, Achebe’s message has been neither dimmed nor dulled by time and clime. He’s our pathfinder, the intellectual godfather of millions of Africans and lovers of the fine His globalist underpinnings and outlook are truly reflective of the true essence of his Igbo world-view, his Igbo upbringing and disposition. Igbos and Jews share (with a few other other cultures) this pan-global disposition to issues of art, life, commerce, juridical pursuits, and quest to be republicanist in terms of the vitality of the individual/self. In Achebe’s works, the centrality of Chi (God) attains an additional clarity in the Igbo cosmology… it is a world which prefers a quasi-capitalistic business attitude while taking due cognizance of the usefulness of the whole, the community. I’ve studied, lived and tried to better understand, essentially, the rigor and towering moral certainties which Achebe have employed in most of his works and his world. I know, among other reasons, because I share the same ancestry with him. Permit me to attempt a brief sentence, with that Achebean simplicty and clarity. Here, folks, what the world has known since 1958: Achebe is good! Eagle on the Iroko, may your Lineage endure! There has never been one like you! This USAfricaonline.com commentary is copyrighted. Archiving on any other web site or newspaper is unauthorized except with a Written Approval by USAfricaonline.com Founder. |
DEBATE: How Black intellectuals let Africa down, and western stereoptypes complicate the rest. By Cedrick Ngalande at the USC, Los Angeles
22 million Africans HIV-infected, ill with AIDS while African leaders ignore disaster-in-waiting In a special report a few hours after the history-making nomination, USAfricaonline.com Founder and Publisher Chido Nwangwu places Powell within the trajectory of history and into his unfolding clout and relevance in an essay titled ‘Why Colin Powell brings gravitas, credibility and star power to Bush presidency.’ Powell named Secretary State by G.W. Bush; bipartisan commendations follow.  AFRICA AND THE U.S. ELECTIONSBeyond U.S. electoral shenanigans, rewards and dynamics of a democratic republic hold lessons for African politics.
These views were stated during an interview CNN’s anchor Bernard Shaw and senior analyst Jeff Greenfield had with Mr. Nwangwu on Saturday November 18, 2000 during a special edition of ‘Inside Politics 2000.’ Johnnie Cochran will soon learn that defending Abacha’s loot is not as simple as his O.J Simpson’s case. By Chido Nwangwu Should Africa debates begin and end at The New York Times and The Washington Post? No Cheryl Mills’ first class defense of Clinton and her detractors’ game It’s wrong to stereotype Nigerians as Drug Dealers Private initiative, free market forces, and more democratization are Keys to prosperity in Africa
Steve Jobs extends digital magic CLASS is the social events, heritage excellence and style magazine for Africans in north America, described by The New York Times as the magazine for affluent Africans in America. It is published by professional journalists and leading mulitmedia leaders and pioneers. |
he said that “Africa will not be an area of priority” in his presidency has 
