Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo promoted reformers in a broad reshuffle on Wednesday, bringing in new faces for justice, information, industry and sports and elevating his oil adviser to the cabinet, according to Reuters. "The stage we are now in is like a relay race. We are in the last lap...We want to finish the race in top gear," Obasanjo said at a swearing-in ceremony in the presidential villa. The new justice minister and attorney general, Bayo Ojo, is a past president of the Nigerian Bar Association who has voiced concern over human rights violations in Nigeria. Oby Ezekwesili, nicknamed "Madam Due Process" for her role in cleaning up public procurement, was appointed solid minerals minister. Edmund Daukoru, who has served as presidential adviser on petroleum and energy since 2003, was appointed minister of state for petroleum, leaving Obasanjo himself with the title of petroleum minister which he has held since his election in 1999. Nigeria is due to assume the presidency of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for a year from January and Daukoru will be responsible for coordinating the cartel's talks on output policy.
