British hypocrisy at Commonwealth conference in Nigeria

[Aidoneus]

British hypocrisy at Commonwealth conference in Nigeria
By Ann Talbot
8 December 2003

At a state banquet opening the Commonwealth conference, Australian Prime Minister John Howard commended President Olusegun Obasanjo for returning Nigeria to democratic rule. Howard was handing over the chairmanship of the 54-member Commonwealth, which is mainly made up of former British colonies. Howard’s praise for Obasanjo was an eloquent expression of the double-dealing that characterises the organisation.

The very building that Howard stood in was evidence of the lack of democracy in Nigeria. It cost an estimated N5 billion. A total of N21 billion ($150 million) was spent on the entire conference. The bill included renovating the International Conference Centre in Abuja, and the guesthouse where Queen Elizabeth stayed, as well as buying 400 bulletproof cars. This obscene expenditure took place in country where many citizens earn less than a dollar a day. To speak of democracy when there is such a vast disparity of wealth exists is grotesque.

Further evidence of the political situation in Nigeria came with the publication of a report by Human Rights Watch. The report itemised evidence of “persistent violence, corruption and poverty.” The impression that there had been an improvement in freedom of expression was misleading, the report’s authors said: “In extreme cases, the government’s reaction to dissent or protest has resulted in extrajudicial killings.”

Elections earlier this year were characterised by politically motivated violence in which several hundred people were killed, the report said. Despite this, the report points out, Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jack Straw hailed Obasanjo’s victory as, “a landmark in the advancement of Nigeria’s democracy.”

--snip--

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/dec2003/nige-d08.shtml

[brainshrub]

1. The Nigerians are going to make me rich!

I just got a letter from the Nigerian govt saying that they want to deposit $32,000,000 into my bank account! I'm going to be rich!