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Obasanjo's Prone To Democracy Boosts Visit To France

Obasanjo's Prone To Democracy Boosts Visit To France
February 11, 2000

Ruth Nabakwe
PANA Correspondent

PARIS, France (PANA) - If Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo ended his visit to Paris this week assured of both support and investments, no doubt the credit goes to the emergence of democracy in the populous African nation.

"On every issue I discussed with France, I received understanding, co-operation and sympathy," he told the Nigerian community in Paris before departure Wednesday.

"Where necessary, we have received immediate response. You can count on milk and honey as a new democratic dispensation is gaining ground in Nigeria," he added. "I feel counted among (French President Jacques) Chirac's most treasured personal friends. If the Franco-Nigerian relations were cordial, they have now moved on to an enhanced pedestal, if they were ordinary before they are now extra-ordinary."

Obasanjo's remarks indicated that Western governments are willing and ready to assist African countries where governments demonstrate concrete commitment to practice democracy and good governance.

The international community is acclaiming Obasanjo for gradually raising Nigeria from the pariah state treatment it received before he became president in 1999.

Since his inauguration in May, the Nigerian leader has surged on corruption and vowed to instil democracy and practice good governance in the country.

Hence, such move to embrace democracy attracts support from Western countries, judging by the overwhelming encouragement given to Obasanjo by the French authorities and the private business sector.

The investments that each African country is seeking to attract for the improvement of the socio-economic conditions may also be assured for countries willing to embrace democracy.

According to Obasanjo, even the IMF and the World Bank are now more amenable to a country generated programme and would go along to give assistance if such programmes clearly demonstrate the goals of poverty reduction measures.

"I am committed to bringing about positive changes in Nigeria," Obasanjo, who was given a rare airport reception by Chirac, said.

The warm reception accorded to Obasanjo and how the investor community packed a hall to listen to investment opportunities in Nigeria, showed a marked approval of the positive changes currently taking place in that country.

Obasanjo said that improved management and a curb on corruption, which he has embarked upon, would further boost democratic gains.

To demonstrate the negative effects of mismanagement, he observed that from 1979 to 1980, Nigeria Airways had 30 aircraft but in 1999 only one was flying.

As for the Nigerian shipping lines, to date, not a single line is left from the 19 ships bought in 1979 while foreign reserves dwindled from 7.1 billion US dollars 3.1 billion dollars between January and May 1999.

In order to reverse such trends in Africa, Obasanjo said, good leadership, better management of resources, co-operation and integration were essential.