PRESS CONFERENCE BY NIGERIA

 

Nigerians were working around the clock to assure that the upcoming elections in April would be free, fair and clear, so that Nigeria could assume its responsibility as role model for democracy in Africa, Nasir el-Rufai told correspondents today at a Headquarters press conference.

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria (the “mayor” of the country’s capital Abuja), quipping that the April elections certainly would be better than those held in Florida a few years back, said that his country, the most populous in Africa with the second largest economy of the continent and being its largest oil-producer, had not done well in development and in setting an example for the rest of Africa -- due to a “large dose” of bad governance.

He said that in the last seven years, however, the leading peacekeeping country of Africa, if not of the world, had become a role model for the rest of Africa in terms of democratization and economic reform.  As a result of economic reforms, a great part -- some $18 billion -- of the country’s foreign debt had been written off.  The country was also settling its foreign commercial debt with, among other things, a payment last week of $520 million to the London Club [an informal group of private creditors].

With the elections taking place in April, he said the country would have known an eight-year period of democracy for the first time in its history.  There was a lot of interest in the elections, as the country provided 10 per cent of the United States oil needs and the stability and progress of Nigeria more or less determined the stability of the West African subregion, as well as whether the African continent would meet the Millennium Development Goals.  The elections would “go ahead, no matter what you read”.

Explaining the election procedures, he said the country would vote on 14 April for governors and legislators in 96 states, and on 21 April for a President, 109 Senators and 360 House Representatives at the federal level.  He expected results within a week.  There were some 50 political parties.  As there were some 60 million registered voters, the intention was to print 100 million ballot papers, which would include all names plus pictures, as 40 per cent of Nigerians were illiterate.  Of the 50 parties, only 4 were significant, realistically speaking.

The presidential elections would come down to a “two-horse” race, he continued, between the candidates of the People’s Democratic Party -- the ruling party -- and the All Nigeria Peoples Party.  Both candidates had been elected by their parties in primary elections.  They were both committed to the reform programmes initiated by President Olusegun Obasanjo.  Whatever the outcome of the elections, Nigeria would not change its economic or foreign policy.  “ Nigeria is beginning, more than ever before, to show its responsibility as the leading country in Africa,” he said.

Asked about his country’s anti-corruption policy, Mr. El-Rufai said that policy had been encapsulated in the reform policies.  The fight against corruption had been the current Government’s greatest achievement, as corruption was the source of all problems.  In 1999, at the beginning of his tenure, President Obasanjo had sent the first anti-corruption legislation to Parliament.  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission -- established in 2003 -- was perhaps the most successful anti-corruption agency in the world.  In just four years, it had achieved 150 convictions for money laundering and had played a leading role in cleaning up politics in Nigeria. 

He dismissed allegations that corruption charges were mainly targeting opposition politicians, saying that the People’s Democratic Party had sacrificed 52 candidates, more than any other party and more than 60 per cent of the list of corrupted politicians.  The fight against corruption was a major war that would not be won in a short period of time, but the President had done very well.  The policy would continue, no matter the victor in the elections, as both major candidates had agreed that the fight against corruption was the key to solving the country’s problems.

In answer to correspondents’ questions, he said that, during his visit to New York, he wanted to highlight the upcoming elections and Nigeria’s accomplishments, as there was a lack of media attention.  He wanted to assure the media and the United States that the elections were fair and clean, that they would take place in April, that President Obasanjo would leave office and that some violence was expected in 2 or 3 states out of the 96.  There had always been some violence during elections and, based on intelligence, some people were once again preparing for violence.

Answering questions about the presidential elections, he said the candidate of the Action Congress had been disqualified on constitutional grounds and the party had not submitted a new candidate.  The winner of the presidential election needed a majority of all votes, as well as a majority in 24 of the 96 states.  If there was no clear winner, there would be a run-off election between the two leading candidates.  No matter who won, Nigeria would remain committed to peacekeeping and there would be no change in that policy by either candidate.  “May the best candidate win,” he said.

As Nigeria wanted to set a standard for the African continent, the country had invited all the usual organizations to sent monitors and observers, including the non-governmental organization community, he answered another question.  It was also crucial for the ruling party that the elections proceeded in a free and fair way, so that there would be no blame if the ruling party won. 

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Aminu Bashir Wali, addressed a question about Nigeria’s role as a troop-contributing country to United Nations peacekeeping operations, saying that the Secretary-General’s proposals regarding a new alignment were being discussed in the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, in which troop-contributing countries participated and which Nigeria currently chaired.

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For information media • not an official record