wfn.org | Lutheran church commends Nigeria's transition process

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

New leader faced with challenging tasks

NUMAN, Adamawa State, Nigeria/GENEVA, 4 March 1999 (lwi) The Lutheran
Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) has commended Nigeria's current
process of transition from military to civilian rule which culminated
in the election of General Olusegun Obasanjo as the new president at
the end of February.

Speaking to lwi on the eve of the presidential elections, the
president of the LCCN Archbishop David L. Windibiziri, said his
church like other religious communities in the West African country,
will support the new government in the process of establishing
democracy at home.

But Archbishop Windibiziri pointed out that the new president of
Africa's most populous nation with more than 120 million people,
faces stiff challenges in dealing with widespread corruption, fuel
shortages petroleum is the economy's backbone  , increased armed
robberies and a poor human rights record at home and abroad, and in
generally revitalizing the national economy. He pointed out that in
the 70s, the exchange rate between the Naira and US dollar was one to
one, compared to the present rate of 84.5 Naira to one US dollar.

"We are praying that the new leader will have God's wisdom to deal
with these areas of urgent need," the LCCN archbishop stressed.

The archbishop also commended Nigeria's outgoing president Gen.
Abdulsalami Abubakar for keeping to his word that he would hand over
to a civilian government in May 1999. "I am confident that Abubakar
will respect the May 29 deadline for handing over to civilian rule,"
he said.

Having lived under almost continuous military rule for the past 15
years, Nigerians are eager to have a civilian government in place,
Archbishop Windibiziri added.

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