Posted by By Emma Ujah with agency reports on
VISITING President of the World Bank, Mr. Paul Wolfowitz held talks with President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abuja yesterday, asking whether he (Obasanjo) would indeed leave office in 2007.
*World Bank boss, Wolfowitz asks Obasanjo
'Of course, I will hand over the baton in 2007. A change of the baton will not slow down the race'
- OBASANJO
ABUJA - VISITING President of the World Bank, Mr. Paul Wolfowitz held talks with President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abuja yesterday, asking whether he (Obasanjo) would indeed leave office in 2007.
The visitor also asked what legacy the President wanted to leave behind and how he intended to sustain the reforms package beyond 2007.
Besides, he cleared the air on debt relief for Nigeria, saying the country 'was not excluded from the consideration of the G-8 finance ministers."
Mr. Wolfowitz said he came to Nigeria straight from the meeting of the G-8 finance ministerswhere a critical decision was taken on debt relief for some African countries.
The World Bank President stressed that 'Nigeria was not excluded in the consideration," noting that the country was very crucial in Africa because it had important and critical roles to play in the continent. He stressed the need for good governance and accountability, pointing out that 'the country ought to be doing well and prospering," as it is richly endowed with both human and material resources. 'Nigeria is so important and it is making great impact on the rest of the continent.
It is making impressive progress in both the political and economic fronts," he said, adding that the World Bank had a lot of responsibility in Africa and that it was in the realisation of this enormous responsibility that the U.S. President nominated him for the exalted position. 'I am happy that there is now a new latitude in Africa and among African leaders to make progress," he said.
He stressed that Africa must take its own responsibility before others could support the continent and together lift it up.
Responding to the questions, Obasanjo said, 'Of course, I will hand over the baton in 2007. A change of the baton will not slow down the race."
'I have developed a farm where I raise poultry, some exotic animals and birds; I love them and they love me too."
He said only last weekend, he was at his farm. The President said that he also believed that it was important to have a successor generation, but noted he was not particularly on any legacy hunt.
He, however, stressed that he also believed that what needed to be done must be done and what was desirable and necessary must be done.
On the sustainability of the reforms, he said that his administration was putting in place, the needed structures to make them a permanent and regular future of government, stressing that some of the key officials handling the process were not politicians and would not leave in 2007.
'Such officials like the Governor of the CBN, Charles Soludo, the EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu and the officer in charge of due process will be there to carry on."
According to the President, Nigerians are now owners of the reforms.
Soon after the meeting with President Obasanjo, Mr. Wolfowitz travelled to Bauchi to inspect health centres, schools and some urban and community projects, his entourage said.
He also met a group of small-scale farmers and agricultural service providers in the state, located in the desert region of the country, they said.
'Like he did to the nomads in Abuja on his arrival in the country on Sunday, he offered words of hope, advice and encouragement to all the people and groups he met in Bauchi State and promised them World Bank assistance," a member of his entourage said.