PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA

President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria this afternoon gave an assurance that “nothing would happen” to a Nigerian woman facing death by stoning in an Islamic court in northern Nigeria.  “I have said this, and I’ll say it again”, he told a Headquarters press conference.

He said Amina Lawal’s case would be appealed to the highest level of Nigeria’s judicial system.  “I believe -- and I have no doubt in my mind -- that the case would go on and on and she would get justice.  And justice would mean that her appeal would be sustained.”

President Obasanjo said he believed that the man with whom Amina Lawal had a child out of wedlock should also have been charged with adultery.  It was discriminatory not to convict him, also.  He said he appreciated the concern of the international community about the case, but there should be no cause for alarm.  [Twelve states in northern Nigeria have introduced Sharia punishments, and five people had been sentenced to death by stoning in the last three years, but no sentence has been carried out.]

Asked whether the international community was doing enough to help Africa deal with its HIV/AIDS crisis, President Obasanjo said the Global HIV/AIDS Trust Fund, which was established as a result of an AIDS conference he called in Abuja in 2001, was “doing a reasonably good job”.  A number of African countries had benefited from the Fund.  That was why he had called for an increase in the Fund’s resources.

President Obasanjo said that African countries also needed technical assistance to fight the epidemic.  He welcomed the decision of the major pharmaceutical companies to provide cheaper drugs to combat the disease.

Asked to expand on his earlier statement in the General Assembly on his Government’s planned legislation to deal with stigmatization and discrimination against HIV/AIDS victims, he said the Government had had to deal with the problem of denial about the prevalence of the disease in Nigeria.  It had succeeded in addressing that aspect of the epidemic.  The Government was continuously raising awareness about the disease.  Another problem was discrimination against victims of the disease.  He had personally demonstrated that the disease was not contagious by touching victims.  He said victims of the disease needed understanding and love, and that they should not be ostracized.

[In his statement to the General Assembly, President Obasanjo said that his Government was in the process of enacting legislation to make stigmatization and discrimination against victims of HIV/AIDS an offence punishable in law.  The legislation would also ensure that victims enjoyed access to social services and employment on a non-discriminatory basis.  In addition, the plight of children orphaned by the disease would be dealt with.]

Asked for his comment about the reported meddling in Liberia’s affairs by its former President Charles Taylor from his exile home in Nigeria, President Obasanjo said one of the terms of Taylor’s asylum was that he must not interfere in the affairs of Liberia.  Responding to further questions, President Obasanjo said there had not been physical limitations to Mr. Taylor’s movements, but he had been told that if he ventured out too much “it might be detrimental to his own security and safety”.

He was asked to comment on the issue of reform of the Security Council, which the Secretary-General recently raised.  The correspondent asked whether Africa should have a permanent seat, represented by South Africa.  President Obasanjo said that if Africa had to have a permanent seat on the Security Council, it would be discussed by African States, and not by the correspondent of the Financial Times.

In opening remarks, President Obasanjo spoke of the steps being taken by African States at continental and regional levels to build a better future for their countries.  A New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which was a total and complete programme for political, economic and social development of Africa had been adopted. 

In West Africa, he continued, they had started a process for greater cooperation and integration through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in all aspects.  Starting from 1999, they had now been able to establish an ECOWAS Parliament, and an ECOWAS Court of Justice.  They were working towards establishing an ECOWAS common currency.  He declared:  “We are moving, because we believe it is the way for us to go”.

In Nigeria, his Government, in its second term, was carrying out reforms, particularly in local government.  The economy was also being reformed with the reinvigoration of privatization.  The fight against corruption was continuing.  The Government was also considering the introduction of a contributory pension scheme.

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