Obasanjo urges Nigeria to seek good governance

[Richard Akindele]

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday urged Nigerians never to compromise on good governance and to shun corruption, in a speech to the nation marking the return of democracy seven years earlier.

"We must never compromise on the need for good governance. It is the key to democratic sustainability and consolidation. Good governance remains, in some respects, the most critical ingredient for eliminating poverty, instability, violence and underdevelopment," Obasanjo said in the anniversary address.

"With good governance, you can be assured of accountability, respect for the rule of law and human rights, transparency, sensitivity to the plight of the disadvantaged and the deepening and consolidation of democracy," he said in a nationwide broadcast.

Nigeria returned to democratic rule on May 29 1999.

"As a people and nation whose present and future was contaminated and compromised by corruption, misplaced priorities and waste, we are beginning to resolve that never again are we going to give room for such forms of resource mismanagement," he also said.

He said that in the process of reversing bad governance, corruption and bad leadership, "it is normal that vestiges, practices, agents and values of the ancient or discredited regime remain in some nook or corner".

Although he did not disclose those at whom he was hitting out, observers noted that Obasanjo would be referring to old and serving politicians who have mismanaged the country's economy and engaged in corrupt practices.

Nigerians will go to the polls in presidential and general elections between April 7 and 28 next year, the chairperson of the nation's electoral agency (INEC), Maurice Iwu, announced last week.

Thirty seven political parties are already registered with the INEC ahead of the vote for a successor to Obasanjo, a one-time military ruler (1976 to 1979) who became an elected leader in 1999 when he won the first free vote in almost 16 years.

The 2007 poll will be the third democratic election since the end of military rule in May 1999.

The national Parliament in Abuja two weeks ago rejected a constitutional change that would have enabled Obasanjo to stand for a third term in office.

Under the 1999 Constitution, Obasanjo (69) a Christian from south-west, must step down in May 2007 after serving two four-year terms.

With Obasanjo technically out of contention, it is expected that more presidential hopefuls will join the political fray shortly.

Obasanjo's deputy, Atiku Abubakar, a Muslim from the north, has publicly announced his intention to vie for the number-one position next year, but it is believed that he is not likely to enjoy the former's approval.