Posted by By Tom Ashby on
President Olusegun Obasanjo defended Nigeria's democracy record on Friday despite violence and rigging in regional polls that gave his party a landslide victory.
President Olusegun Obasanjo defended Nigeria's democracy record on Friday despite violence and rigging in regional polls that gave his party a landslide victory.
In a nationwide address on the eve of presidential elections in Africa's most populous nation, Obasanjo conceded the system was flawed, but said Nigeria could still achieve a historic transition from one civilian president to another.
"Do we have an alternative to democracy, no matter what difficulties we are encountering? The answer, surely, is 'No'," Obasanjo said.
"Then, let us continue to improve on the structure and the house rather than pull it down because it is leaking in part," said the former military ruler.
Leading opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari called last Saturday's vote, which saw every kind of rigging to keep the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in power, the worst in Nigerian history.
Vice President Atiku Abubakar, also standing for the opposition, said it was "worse than a robbery."
Obasanjo, who must step down after serving two terms, said democracy provided for aggrieved losers to seek redress.
Democracy returned to Nigeria with Obasanjo's election in 1999 and these polls mark the first time one civilian leader hands over to another since independence from Britain in 1960.
"Never have we progressed this far in our democratic journey. Nothing should be done to prevent us from achieving this significant political landmark," Obasanjo said.
The ruling PDP was declared winner in 27 of 34 states, but election observers said results in 10 states did not reflect the will of the people.
Observers cited every imaginable rigging technique, from mass theft of ballots, abduction of electoral officers, ballot snatching, voter intimidation and switching of results.
At least 50 people were killed.
Obasanjo called on observers to understand Nigeria's limitations and not to "exaggerate the negative."
He said the West African giant had made progress since he began to participate in elections in 1959, when there were no-go areas for some candidates and rigging began with voter registration.
The PDP has fielded a little-known state governor, Umaru Yar'Adua, as its presidential candidate. The opposition calls him a puppet and critics say Obasanjo wants to continue dominating government from behind the scenes after he steps down.