Bi-national commission up on electoral reforms, security, anti-graft drive.
UNITED States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived Nigeria yesterday with a blunt observation on the ways of her hosts and an even harsher message for the nation's leadership: Nigeria is at the cross roads of crisis of development and good governance.
Therefore the Nigerian government must deal with impurities in the electoral process for people to feel that their votes count, saying "the lack of transparency has eroded the credibility of government."
At a Town Hall meeting last night at the Yar'Adua Centre, Abuja, she noted in her opening remarks that Nigeria's electoral process must be fixed.
Saying that corruption has robbed Nigeria of opportunities to lead Africa and indeed the world, Clinton said "we are ready to work with you, to make the 2011 election system work."
She reiterated President Barack Obama's remark in Ghana about making democratic institutions work. She added: "without good government even oil wealth cannot guarantee development."
Clinton said the US government supports the seven point agenda of the Yar'Adua's Administration as long as it will deliver what will satisfy Nigerians' aspirations.
Saying that: "capacity for good governance exists in Africa and indeed Nigeria," Clinton said government should strengthen its capacity to "punish wrong doing and prevent future wrong doing."
She however, regretted that "EFCC has fallen" and needs to be revived do what it used to do, to strengthen the anti-graft war.
Nigeria and the United States (U.S.) began bi-lateral talks yesterday in Abuja with the crisis in the Niger Delta and electoral reforms topping the agenda.
Visiting American Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton, set the tone of the discussion when she asked the Nigerian government to fulfil its pledges to the oil-rich but impoverished region.
She also said the Barack Obama administration was eager to work with the Federal Government to achieve an acceptable transition programme in 2011.
At a meeting with President Umaru Musa and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, at the Presidential Villa, Clinton said the President's position on good governance, the fight against corruption and rule of law was in tandem with that of his American counterpart, Barack Obama.
She arrived at the foyer of the President's Office and was ushered into the building by Maduekwe. She then had a brief talk with Yar'Adua before a larger meeting between principal diplomats of America and Nigerian governments.
After about one hour, Clinton came down and boarded her official car.
Maduekwe described the meeting as "a great conversation on electoral reforms and commitment to the rule of law, the fight against corruption. The President acknowledged that we have serious challenges there. The President made it clear that the whole thing goes even more than the rule of law. It is about attitude and this affects the integrity of the electoral process.
"It was very productive. The way you will expect it to be among friends. Honest, candid, encouraging, mutually inspiring, mutually re-enforcing and ultimately strategic."
On Yar'Adua's comments on Mrs. Clinton's earlier attack on Nigerian leadership. Maduekwe noted that given "the President's position about good governance, the need to fight corruption and the issue of the rule of law, it was clear to the Secretary of State that both President Yar'Adua and President Obama are on the same page on these issues."
Through the instrumentality of a bi-national commission, Clinton said Washington would work with Abuja to ensure security and development in the Niger Delta.
At a joint press briefing with Maduekwe, Clinton said America supports the creation of an Independent Electoral Council for Nigeria to strengthen the electoral reforms initiated by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua so that Nigeria can hold successful and credible general elections in 2011.
Clinton said the security of the Niger Delta weighed up strongly in the deliberations because of what it meant for Nigerian stability and U.S.-Nigeria trade relations.
But Maduekwe assured that all of the measures being put in place by the government from the amnesty grant to greater provision of infrastructure would soon lead to tranquility in the area.
Declaring that the U.S. appreciates Nigeria's contributions to global /regional peace and security, efforts to reform the electoral process and the anti-corruption crusade, Clinton said: "It is critical that Nigeria fulfills its promise...We will be following up on this issue (Niger Delta security). Nothing has been decided at this point but we will be looking at the specific issues. We have very good relations with the Nigerian military. I will be taking this up with our Secretary of Defence. And it depends on what Nigeria could want from us. We agreed to establish a bi-national commission to work at the federal, state as well as the local levels and we will be employing the mechanism of the bi-national commission in this regard..." FULL STORY HERE
From Martins Oloja, Madu Onuorah and Oghogho Obayuwana, Abuja
UNITED States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived Nigeria yesterday with a blunt observation on the ways of her hosts and an even harsher message for the nation's leadership: Nigeria is at the cross roads of crisis of development and good governance.
Therefore the Nigerian government must deal with impurities in the electoral process for people to feel that their votes count, saying "the lack of transparency has eroded the credibility of government."
At a Town Hall meeting last night at the Yar'Adua Centre, Abuja, she noted in her opening remarks that Nigeria's electoral process must be fixed.
Saying that corruption has robbed Nigeria of opportunities to lead Africa and indeed the world, Clinton said "we are ready to work with you, to make the 2011 election system work."
She reiterated President Barack Obama's remark in Ghana about making democratic institutions work. She added: "without good government even oil wealth cannot guarantee development."
Clinton said the US government supports the seven point agenda of the Yar'Adua's Administration as long as it will deliver what will satisfy Nigerians' aspirations.
Saying that: "capacity for good governance exists in Africa and indeed Nigeria," Clinton said government should strengthen its capacity to "punish wrong doing and prevent future wrong doing."
She however, regretted that "EFCC has fallen" and needs to be revived do what it used to do, to strengthen the anti-graft war.
Nigeria and the United States (U.S.) began bi-lateral talks yesterday in Abuja with the crisis in the Niger Delta and electoral reforms topping the agenda.
Visiting American Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton, set the tone of the discussion when she asked the Nigerian government to fulfil its pledges to the oil-rich but impoverished region.
She also said the Barack Obama administration was eager to work with the Federal Government to achieve an acceptable transition programme in 2011.
At a meeting with President Umaru Musa and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, at the Presidential Villa, Clinton said the President's position on good governance, the fight against corruption and rule of law was in tandem with that of his American counterpart, Barack Obama.
She arrived at the foyer of the President's Office and was ushered into the building by Maduekwe. She then had a brief talk with Yar'Adua before a larger meeting between principal diplomats of America and Nigerian governments.
After about one hour, Clinton came down and boarded her official car.
Maduekwe described the meeting as "a great conversation on electoral reforms and commitment to the rule of law, the fight against corruption. The President acknowledged that we have serious challenges there. The President made it clear that the whole thing goes even more than the rule of law. It is about attitude and this affects the integrity of the electoral process.
"It was very productive. The way you will expect it to be among friends. Honest, candid, encouraging, mutually inspiring, mutually re-enforcing and ultimately strategic."
On Yar'Adua's comments on Mrs. Clinton's earlier attack on Nigerian leadership. Maduekwe noted that given "the President's position about good governance, the need to fight corruption and the issue of the rule of law, it was clear to the Secretary of State that both President Yar'Adua and President Obama are on the same page on these issues."
Through the instrumentality of a bi-national commission, Clinton said Washington would work with Abuja to ensure security and development in the Niger Delta.
At a joint press briefing with Maduekwe, Clinton said America supports the creation of an Independent Electoral Council for Nigeria to strengthen the electoral reforms initiated by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua so that Nigeria can hold successful and credible general elections in 2011.
Clinton said the security of the Niger Delta weighed up strongly in the deliberations because of what it meant for Nigerian stability and U.S.-Nigeria trade relations.
But Maduekwe assured that all of the measures being put in place by the government from the amnesty grant to greater provision of infrastructure would soon lead to tranquility in the area.
Declaring that the U.S. appreciates Nigeria's contributions to global /regional peace and security, efforts to reform the electoral process and the anti-corruption crusade, Clinton said: "It is critical that Nigeria fulfills its promise...We will be following up on this issue (Niger Delta security). Nothing has been decided at this point but we will be looking at the specific issues. We have very good relations with the Nigerian military. I will be taking this up with our Secretary of Defence. And it depends on what Nigeria could want from us. We agreed to establish a bi-national commission to work at the federal, state as well as the local levels and we will be employing the mechanism of the bi-national commission in this regard..." FULL STORY HERE
From Martins Oloja, Madu Onuorah and Oghogho Obayuwana, Abuja
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