Obasanjo sworn in for second term in Nigeria

PROMISING to tackle his country’s poverty and corruption, President Olusegun Obasanjo took the oath of office for a second term as Nigeria’s leader yesterday — a landmark for civilian-run democracy in Africa’s most populous nation.

More than a dozen fellow African leaders watched as Mr Obasanjo, in traditional white robes, raised his hand before an invitation-only crowd under tight security in Nigeria's capital.

Mr Obasanjo called his re-election an "affirmation our leadership is trustworthy" after a first term widely acknowledged to have failed at curbing rampant corruption and violence.

"We will draw on the lessons learnt so far to build a great Nigeria," Mr Obasanjo pledged.

Nigeria, an oil-rich nation of 120 million people, has never managed a successful civilian-run presidential election. Military coups foiled all previous attempts, sometimes weeks after the vote.

Mr Obasanjo's 1999 election to a first term, in a military-run vote, ended 15 years of often brutal, corrupt military rule. He easily won re-election to another four-year term on April 19, in a vote that opposition candidates said was marred by fraud.

International observers expressed concern at the allegations, but none questioned the victory of Mr Obasanjo, a southern Christian, over top rival Muhammadu Buhari, a northern Muslim. Both men were former junta leaders.

Mr Obasanjo, 66, said healing the wounds of the election is his first task and acknowledged criticism of his job.

"Four years ago, we had no illusion that we will put right in a few years the destruction of two decades," Mr Obasanjo said. "We did not possess a magic wand with which to achieve instant transformation."

Marking Nigeria's prominence, leaders from more than a dozen African countries attended the ceremony, held in an open-air arena. US Education Secretary Rod Paige led an American delegation.

Leaders settled into a curtained pavilion of bulletproof glass, before a crowd of Nigerian ex-military rulers, tribal chiefs, political party leaders and other VIPs. The ceremony was filled with hours of pageantry.

Children performed traditional dances. A 21-cannon salute outside the arena hailed the inauguration and Nigerian soldiers marched in precision drills.