Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health
Opening Statement
Chairman Donald M. Payne
"Nigeria at a Crossroads: Elections, Legitimacy, and a Way Forward"
June 7, 2007
Good morning. Thank you all for joining us for this very important hearing regarding Nigeria's recent elections
Since Nigeria achieved independence in 1960, there has been successive conflict and military rule as the country struggled to establish a democratic government. Since the death of General Sani Abacha in 1998, Nigerians have made enormous progress in transitioning to civilian rule.
Prior to this year there have been two Presidential elections in Nigeria. They were not conducted perfectly. There were allegations-well founded-of fraud and other irregularities. However, compared to Nigeria's recent past, the conduct of those elections demonstrated a commitment to engage in a legitimate democratic process.
The conduct of this year's elections, however, was extremely troubling. Though I am heartened by the fact that these elections mark the first peaceful transfer of power between civilian governments in Nigeria's history, allegations of vote rigging, fraud and ballot stuffing made by international and domestic observers is cause for serious concern.
The opposition is calling the Presidential elections the worst since independence from Britain in 1960. International observers question the election's overall credibility.
NDI says the process has "failed the Nigerian people". EU observers deemed the whole process as "not credible" and issued a report which is the most disparaging it has ever issued anywhere in the world.
This year's elections were very disappointing. Far from improving on the 1999 and 2003 elections, the conduct of the 2007 election was worse. Charges of corruption, vote buying, vote rigging, lack of transparency and other voting irregularities abound. There were instances of politically motivated killings in the run-up to the elections.
However, we have also observed positive trends in Nigeria related to democratic institutions over the last year or so, particularly the strengthening of the national legislature. The House and Senate rejected attempts to amend the constitution for a third presidential term, and the courts showed independence in dealing with disputes over Vice President Atiku's [AH-TEE-COO's] eligibility as a candidate.
Nigeria has played and continues to play a crucial role in the region and subregion, and is an important partner to the United States.
It has the second largest economy in Africa, and is the continent's largest producer of oil. The country generates over $47 billion a year in oil and gas revenue. It is the 3rd largest oil supplier to the United States, and the largest beneficiary of U.S. investment on the continent.
Through the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union, Nigeria has provided peace keeping troops for missions that western governments have not. Nigeria troops went to Sierra Leone while the Revolutionary United Front was still wreaking havoc in that country. And they deployed to Liberia during the last days of the Charles Taylor regime.
If Nigeria had not sent troops to those countries it is doubtful that the conflicts there would have ended when they did.
According to USAID, 70% of Nigerians live on less than $1 per day, and the average life expectancy is only 47 years. USAID is the largest bilateral donor in Nigeria, and the Bush Administration has requested over $533 million in assistance to the country for FY2008.
The Niger delta region accounts for over 75% of the country's oil production since the 1970s which is plagued by a volatile political situation wrought with environmental degradation and human right's abuses.
Nigeria has Africa's second largest population of HIV/AIDS infected people.
Clearly Nigeria is a nation which we simply cannot ignore, especially at this critical juncture in time. It has all the potential in the world to be an even stronger nation with even closer ties to the U.S. However that will not happen if it backslides into despotism or dictatorship.
All eyes remain on Nigeria as the debate regarding the legitimacy of its recent elections continues. And I encourage strong, effective, statements by our government regarding the need for court challenges to move forward expeditiously and the need for electoral reform.
In the coming weeks, I plan to introduce legislation relating to election reform in Nigeria which will provide economic incentives and incorporate conditionalities on non-humanitarian aid.
I would like to work with newly elected president Yar-Adua [YAR-DOO-WAH] to encourage electoral reform. The hopes of the people of Nigeria for a democratic government must be supported by the international community.
We are honored to have with us today as the administration's witness Dr. Jendayi Frazer, Assistant Secretary of State for the State Department's Bureau of Africa Affairs.
On our second panel we are privileged to have Dr. Wole Soyinka. He is a world-renowned scholar, and the 1986 Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature. We thank him for his strong interest, leadership on issues related to Africa and his groundbreaking scholarship.
Joining him on that panel is Mr. Kenneth Wollack who is president of the National Democratic Institute (NDI). NDI led a high level delegation to observe the elections in April, which was headed by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Last but not least we have Lorne Crane who is president of the International Republican Institute (IRI). His organization also led a delegation to observe Nigeria's elections.
With that, I turn to Ranking Member Chris Smith for opening remarks.
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