Nigeria
Nigeria's Obasanjo avoids impeachment

afrol News, 26 August - Nigeria's President, Olusegun Obasanjo, seems set to avoid the political embarrassment of an impeachment process during the last year of his first presidential term. Closed doors negotiations with representatives of Parliament's lower House of Representatives this weekend had led to an agreement.

Two weeks ago, a majority of the House announced it would embark on an impeachment process if the President would not resign. President Obasanjo - one of Africa's most profiled leaders - was accused of incompetence, power abuse and corruption. The motion was presented over the presidency's treatment of the 2002 budget, which was labelled a "breach of the constitution," for failing to obtain the necessary approvals from the legislative. 

The President now told Nigerians on national television that the political crisis seemed to be over, praising the democratic system, introduced only three years ago. "What we have witnessed in the last two weeks is that our choice of democracy has gone through a litmus test and emerged virile and dynamic," he said. 

Details of the deal stricken between Obasanjo and the parliamentarians were not announced; it was only indicated that the House would withdraw its motion - made on 13 August - within the next few days. The motion, advising the President to "resign honourably within two weeks," condemned alleged "inadequacies, ineptitude, persistent disregard for the rule of law and the obvious corruption being perpetrated in the presidency." It is expected that the deal will influence the 2002 federal budget.

The impeachment threat had caused national and international concern over the political stability in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and biggest economy. President Obasanjo has developed into to a leading spokesman of African affairs during his three years as Nigeria's President. He further was the country's first democratically elected leader after 15 years of shifting military dictatorships. 

Obasanjo told Nigerian TV viewers that, while the political crisis had strengthened democratic institutions, it had probably damaged Nigeria's image abroad. He said "several Africa leaders" had called him and expressed their concern. Nigeria is also desperately seeking foreign investments, referring to recent gains in political stability and the economic environment.

Presidential elections are planned for an undefined date next year and Obasanjo is seen as a favourite candidate, if he decides to run. The parliamentary motion was therefore widely seem as an effort to damage the President politically. Obasanjo however had been subjected to increasing critiques over his inability to prevent corruption and to implement economic reform over the last year.

Sources: Based on Nigerian govt, press reports and afrol archives

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