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Africa Policy E-JournalNigeria: Recent Documents +++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++ Region: West Africa For additional background and links, see the Africa Policy action page
on Nigeria +++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ African American Leaders Reject Clinton Policy Toward Nigeria, Call For Oil Sanctions, Political Pressure to Restore Democracy May 19, 1998 Contact: A coalition of African American civil rights leaders, elected officials and foreign policy experts today released a letter to President Bill Clinton rejecting the administration's "constructive engagement" accommodation with the Nigerian military dictatorship and calling instead for economic sanctions on that repressive regime and greater political and diplomatic backing for that west African nation's democracy movement. The letter is signed by a prestigious group of African-American leaders that includes Congressional Black Caucus Chair Maxine Waters, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume and NAACP Board Chair Julian Bond, Africa Fund Chair Dr. Tilden LeMelle, TransAfrica head Randall Robinson, American Committee on Africa President Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker, former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Walter Carrington, Congresswomen Carolyn Kilpatrick and Cynthia McKinney, labor leader Bill Lucy, and human rights attorney Gay McDougall. The letter is a major rebuke to the Administration over its Nigeria policy and comes in response to softening White House support for human rights and democracy and signs of continuing disarray among policymakers. Those signs include conflicting statements by President Clinton and senior Administration officials over Nigerian military dictator General Sani Abacha's scheme to retain power as the sole candidate in upcoming Presidential elections. In March President Clinton gave tacit approval to Abacha's candidacy, saying, "If [Abacha] stands for election we hope he will stand as a civilian." Abacha's election scheme is bitterly opposed by the Nigerian democracy movement, which has mounted mass protests against Abacha's fraudulent election plan in recent weeks. The Administration failure to develop a policy response to the worsening repression and political turmoil caused by Abacha's candidacy was highlighted by the African American leaders, who called on the President "to immediately make a clear public statement confirming that the U.S. rejects the current transition process in Nigeria as being fatally flawed and illegitimate." "There is growing evidence that The White House is tilting towards an accommodation with the dictatorship, an accommodation that is a betrayal of the Nigerian people and an abandonment of principle in U.S. policy towards Africa," said American Committee On Africa President Wyatt Tee Walker. "The African American community cannot and will not stand idly by while our sisters and brothers in Nigeria are marching and dying for freedom. We support their struggle. The Clinton Administration should do the same." The letter's call for oil sanctions challenges the Administration's refusal to use its considerable economic influence for human rights and democracy. Oil exports account for over 95 percent of Nigeria's annual hard currency earnings and fully 80 percent of government revenue, with U.S. purchases accounting for nearly half of annual oil output. This leaves the dictatorship extremely vulnerable to American sanctions. The International Roundtable on Nigeria, an alliance of U.S. and Nigerian human rights, environmental, pro-democracy and trade union organizations, of which The Africa Fund is a member, joins the African American leadership in support of a policy that puts African people and their inalienable rights to social justice, human rights and democracy at the forefront of U.S. policy towards Nigeria and not at the back of the foreign policy bus. Ends [Note: The Africa Policy Information Center and the Washington Office on Africa are members of IRTON] Text of African American Leadership Sign on Letter on U.S. Nigeria Policy 24 April 1998 President William Jefferson Clinton Dear President Clinton, In light of the confusion surrounding recent official statements on Nigeria and the lack of a clear policy, we the undersigned strongly endorse the following course of action.
(Signed) Julian Bond, Chairman, NAACP PRESS RELEASE May 22nd 1998 Tim Concannon, Ledum Mitee OGONI 20 ARE GRANTED BAIL In a landmark decision today, Mr. Justice Ebie Daniel-Kalio has granted bail to 20 Ogoni political detainees who have been held in the same cell since May 1994 ("Suit No PHC/ 150M/ 97: Commissioner of Police v Sampson Ntignee & others (Ogoni 20)", High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State). [Note: subsequent news items indicate that the bail applies only to 15 of the 20; a later decision was expected on the remaining detainees.] The decision was made at approximately 12:00 this afternoon at the High Court, Rivers State, Nigeria. The 20 are currently detained in Port Harcourt Prison. They face the same politically motivated "conspiracy to commit murder" charge, the same violations of their human rights in prison, and potentially the same unfair trial which sent MOSOP President Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders to the gallows in November 1995. The 20 have been granted bail subject to three conditions:
Speaking immediately after the ruling, Nnaemeka Amaechina (Deputy Head of Chief Gani Fawehinmi's chambers) - one of the 20's defence lawyers - commented: "Justice Ebie Daniel-Kalio's decision today is remarkable. His courage deserves commendation. By his ruling he has uplifted the hopes of the oppressed". "At the present time in Nigeria, decisions made by Courts have created a state of disillusionment. In this prevailing atmosphere, Justice Daniel-Kalio's ruling will save lives". The Nigerian regime's use of military tribunals to silence its critics has been universally condemned, including in a recent United Nation's Human Rights report:
In this context, Justice Daniel-Kalio's ruling is a significant gesture. He has asserted the due process of law, countering the Nigerian authorities' attempts to further delay the Ogoni 20's case. The regime - anxious to avoid another show trial of Ogoni detainees likely to incur international condemnation - has delayed the 20's court proceedings for more than four years by deliberate obstruction of the due process of law. As recently as May 6th 1998, the authorities applied to have today's ruling delayed. Responding to ruling, MOSOP's Acting President Ledum Mitee remarked: "MOSOP applauds the action of Justice Daniel-Kalio in granting the Ogoni 20 bail and ensuring that - at least within the Nigerian judiciary - there are some judges ready to stand up for the due process of law". "It is now up to the authorities to obey Justice Daniel-Kalio's ruling. The regime has an appalling record of harassment and obstruction in this and other cases, such as the detention and trial I endured with Ken Saro-Wiwa and our co-defendants". "MOSOP calls on Nigerians and the international community to put pressure on the government to abide by Nigerian law and allow the 20 to be released on bail". ENDS.
Documents previously distributed in the e-journal are
available on the Africa Action website: To be added to or dropped from the e-journal subscription list, write to e-journal@africaaction.org. For more information about reposted material, please contact directly the source mentioned in the posting.
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Africa Policy E-Journal
