From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS:NIGERIA: AMID CRITISISM, GOVERNMENT GIVES ITSELF PASS MARK
Date: 9 Jan 93 16:19:46 GMT
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1993, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Women
Title: NIGERIA: AMID CRITISISM, GOVERNMENT GIVES ITSELF PASS MARK


an inter press feature service

by toye olori

lagos, jan 2 (ips) -- as it gradually disengages itself from the
governance of this west african nation, the military government
of president ibrahim babangida has awarded itself a pass mark
for its performance over the past seven years.

''we have every reason to feel satisfied that we have done
our best as a body in carrying out our functions in the best
interests of this country,'' babangida told members of the armed
forces ruling council as he dissolved the council weekend.

he noted, however, that: ''in this process we have made
mistakes as human beings, but have had the courage to correct
desired adjustments to carry us forward''.

the armed forces ruling council (afrc), the highest law
making body under the military government, is to give way to the
national defence and security council, while the council of
ministers is to be replaced by the transitional council, members
of which will be sworn-in monday.

civil rights organisations here had warned they would
organise protests for saturday jan. 2 the original date for a
full handover of political power to a democratic government.

''we will organise democratic action to end army rule if
babangida's government does not leave office voluntarily on
january 2,'' said the lagos-based campaign for democracy (cd) in
a statement made available to ips.

but babangida in an interview with state house correspondents
in abuja thursday, warned planners of the alleged protest
marches to ''re-think their destructive intentions to avoid a
bloodbath this year''.

the group, led by beko ransome-kuti, has however denied plans
for violence saying ''whatever action that will be embarked upon
will surely be peaceful, lawful, legitimate and protected
under the nigerian constitution and international human
rights instruments''.

a drive through the major streets of lagos, the main action
spot during the may 1992 reduction of fuel subsidy riots indeed
showed signs of normal activity on a work-free day. there was no
evidence of policemen or protesters.

but this seemingly peaceful atmosphere might not be
unconnected with reports by some newspapers of the arrests of
some leaders of civil rights bodies. (more/ips)

nigeria: government (2)

the 'mail' and the 'weekend concord', two privately owned
newspapers, reported saturday that the whereabouts of two
activists, beko ransome-kuti and femi falana are unknown, as the
police had picked them in an apparent bid to forstal saturday's
demonstrations.

according to a release signed by gani fawehinmi, a lagos
lawyer and human rights activist, ransome-kuti had been picked
up by the police and his whereabouts are unknown while falana is
reported to have been under arrest since thursday.

the government and human rights organisations in nigeria have
been on the war-path since president babangida announced the
change in the date of the handing over to a civilian president
from jan 2, to august 27.

soon after the announcement of the extension of the handover
date, the cd announced it would call the citizens to revolt
against the military government if it stayed a minute longer
than the earlier date.

posters and handbills calling on babangida to go appeared on
the streets.

apart from the civil rights groups, individual nigerians have
also frowned at the extension of the hand-over date, among them
is anthony enahoro, a veteran nationalist and activist against
colonial rule and tai solarin, renowned social critic.

explaining the reasons for the extension the hand over by
eight months, babangida blamed the politicians who could not
comport themselves to elect an acceptable presidential candidate
in the country's primary elections. (end/ips/to/tvh/92)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african