IV

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 151

Concerning the movement toward democracy in the Federal Republic of

Nigeria.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 23, 1993

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. MCDERMOTT,

Mr. FLAKE, Mr. MFUME, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. FORD of Tennessee,

Mr. BLACKWELL, Mr. HUGHES, Mr. KLECZKA, Mr. TUCKER, Mrs. MINK,

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. MCCURDY, Mr. VOLKMER, Mr. FORD

of Michigan, Mr. ROEMER, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr.

CONYERS, Mr. WYNN, Mr. RICHARDSON, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. OWENS,

Mr. FIELDS of Louisiana, Mr. REYNOLDS, Mr. MORAN, Mr. WHEAT, Mr.

CLAY, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. PETERSON of Florida, Ms.

PELOSI, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mrs. CLAYTON, Mr.

DELLUMS, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois, Mr. COYNE, Mr.

KOPETSKI, Mr. PAYNE of Virginia, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. HILLIARD, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr.

HAYES, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. RUSH, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. BISHOP, Mr.

BREWSTER, Mr. STOKES, Mr. SCOTT, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. DELAURO, and

Mr. DIXON) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred jointly to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Ways and Means

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Concerning the movement toward democracy in the Federal

Republic of Nigeria.

Whereas on June 12, 1993, the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

a country with a population of approximately

100,000,000 people (including over 250 ethnic groups)

constituting approximately 1⁄4 the population of sub-Sa-
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• HCON 151 IH

haran Africa, held a presidential election in which over

37 percent of registered voters participated to elect a civilian government;

Whereas the United States Government had joined the international community in applying continuous pressure on

the Babangida military government in Nigeria to hold

such election;

Whereas Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party

(SDP) received over 58.4 percent of the votes, winning

a majority of the votes in 20 of the 30 States of Nigeria;

Whereas national and international observers ruled this election to be the freest and fairest presidential election in

the history of Nigeria;

Whereas on June 23, 1993, the military government annulled

the presidential election of June 12, 1993;

Whereas following the annulment of this election, over 100

demonstrators died in pro democracy demonstrations in

Nigeria, and hundreds of human rights activists, pro democracy labor leaders, journalists, students, and workers

have been arrested since that time;

Whereas on August 27, 1993, the date that President-elect

Moshood Abiola was scheduled to take office in accordance with the 1989 Constitution of Nigeria—a constitution modeled after the United States Constitution—the

military government installed an interim government; and

Whereas throughout Nigeria strikes were held in opposition

to this unelected interim government which is now in

place and which lacks legitimacy and stability: Now,

therefore, be it
3

• HCON 151 IH

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress—

3 (1) strongly supports freedom and democracy in

4 the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

5 (2) strongly supports the wishes of the voters of

6 Nigeria as displayed in the presidential election held

7 on June 12, 1993;

8 (3) does not recognize as legitimate the interim

9 government in Nigeria installed on August 27, 1993;

10 (4) supports extending the limited sanctions

11 now in place against this unelected interim govern12 ment to include trade sanctions; and

13 (5) encourages the President to direct the Unit14 ed States Representative to the United Nations to

15 urge the United Nations Security Council—

16 (A) not to recognize as legitimate the in17 terim government in Nigeria installed on Au18 gust 27, 1993; and

19 (B) to take the necessary action to mediate

20 the removal of such interim government for the

21 purpose of installing the democratically elected

22 government of June 12, 1993.

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