Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo tried on Tuesday to dispel fears of foul play during next year's handover of power in Africa's top oil producer, promising free and fair elections in April, according to Reuters. Obasanjo said he was preparing for retirement to his chicken farm in May and denounced as "mischief makers" the numerous critics who have said he might declare a state of emergency and install an interim government as a way of hanging on to power. "Those talking about interim national government are either ignorant of the constitution, or they are evil-minded or are mischief makers because there is no room anywhere for such a contraption except during a state of war against other countries," Obasanjo said. His wide-ranging speech drew rapturous applause at a conference organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The INEC chairman, Maurice Iwu, set presidential and National Assembly elections for April 21, and the vote for state governors and state houses of assembly for April 14. "Preparations for the 2007 elections ... are actually progressing very well," Iwu said. The vote should mark the first time one democratically elected president hands over to another. Africa's most populous nation returned to democracy under Obasanjo in 1999 after three decades of almost continuous military dictatorship. Analysts said Obasanjo's speech would not be enough to reassure Nigerians that the 2007 elections would be cleaner than those in 2003, which were marred by violence and rigging. "Assurances are one thing but getting things done is another. The problem is that the INEC is not serious," said Abubakar Momoh, political science lecturer at Lagos State University, adding that preparations were grossly inadequate. Obasanjo vowed to come down heavily on any groups promoting ethnic or regional agendas in the campaign. At least 15,000 people have been killed in communal, ethnic and religious violence in Nigeria since 1999. Various ethnic and regional blocks are engaged in an increasingly bitter argument over which group is next in line for the nation's top job. "Political parties are meant to be national, cutting across all boundaries so as to enhance unity," Obasanjo said. He also said he would resist anyone with a record of corruption succeeding him, echoing warnings from the anti-graft Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC has this week accused Ahmed Sani, governor of Zamfara state and a presidential candidate, of laundering 770 million naira ($6 million). It is investigating several other would-be candidates although, as holders of executive office, some have immunity from prosecution. Candidates to succeed Obasanjo include Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former military strongmen Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Babangida, and several state governors. Obasanjo has made clear he will oppose Abubakar. The president and his deputy fell out because Abubakar campaigned against an attempt to rewrite the constitution to allow Obasanjo to run for a third term next year. The attempt failed when the Senate voted against it in May. Obasanjo's speech came hours after a raid by secret police on Abubakar's campaign office. The secret police denied that the raid was politically motivated.
