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Nigeria`s opposition chides Mbeki for congratulating Yar`Adua
Lagos, Nigeria, 04/30 - The opposition umbrella group Nigerians United for Democracy (NUD) has sharply criticised South African President Thabo Mbeki for sending a congratulatory message to the president-elect of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar`Adua.
In a statement issued in the capital city of Abuja Sunday, NUD said Mbeki`s "indecent haste" in supporting Yar`Adua had deepened the agony of Nigerians over the elections, described by local and international observers as the worst elections in the country`s history.
The opposition coalition wondered why the South African President chose to ignore the report of the observers that the election that produced Yar`Adua was massively rigged, hence it was totally unacceptable to Nigerians.
"By his hasty congratulatory message, Mbeki has aligned with those who wilfully thwarted the sovereign will of the Nigerian people by stealing their votes, just like he has aligned with the oppressors of the Zimbabwean people in Southern Africa," NUD said.
"One wonders if Mr. Mbeki`s sense of good judgment has been so blurred by selfish considerations, including the oil concession given to his country by Nigeria and the increasing takeover of the Nigerian economy by South African countries, that he could not spare a thought for the good people of Nigeria," it added.
NUD reminded the South African leader that Nigerian masses sacrificed so much to help end apartheid in his country, adding: "South Africa is free today thanks to God and all freedom-loving nations, especially Nigeria, whose people stood solidly behind their brothers and sisters in South Africa."
According to the group, a coalition of opposition political parties and civil society organisations, Mbeki`s predecessor, Nelson Mandela, stood "shoulder to shoulder" with the Nigerian people when the country found itself in a similar situation in 1993.
The statement also disagreed with the position of AU Chairman, Ghana`s President John Kufuor, that the Nigerian polls were "peaceful", saying by hailing as "peaceful" an election in which scores of people died, the AU chairman had succeeded "in making a laughing stock of Africa and its leaders".
"Africa has remained poor because of the antics of leaders like Mbeki and Kufuor, who have continued to condone the misdeeds of their peers who subject their citizen to sub-human existence through anti-people policies, greed, selfishness and outright incompetence," the group said.
It warned other leaders not to toe the line of Mbeki and Kufuor, adding: "The Nigerian people have opened a black book into which your names will be written, so that coming generations will never forget your ignominious role in the country`s hour of darkness."
In a statement issued in the capital city of Abuja Sunday, NUD said Mbeki`s "indecent haste" in supporting Yar`Adua had deepened the agony of Nigerians over the elections, described by local and international observers as the worst elections in the country`s history.
The opposition coalition wondered why the South African President chose to ignore the report of the observers that the election that produced Yar`Adua was massively rigged, hence it was totally unacceptable to Nigerians.
"By his hasty congratulatory message, Mbeki has aligned with those who wilfully thwarted the sovereign will of the Nigerian people by stealing their votes, just like he has aligned with the oppressors of the Zimbabwean people in Southern Africa," NUD said.
"One wonders if Mr. Mbeki`s sense of good judgment has been so blurred by selfish considerations, including the oil concession given to his country by Nigeria and the increasing takeover of the Nigerian economy by South African countries, that he could not spare a thought for the good people of Nigeria," it added.
NUD reminded the South African leader that Nigerian masses sacrificed so much to help end apartheid in his country, adding: "South Africa is free today thanks to God and all freedom-loving nations, especially Nigeria, whose people stood solidly behind their brothers and sisters in South Africa."
According to the group, a coalition of opposition political parties and civil society organisations, Mbeki`s predecessor, Nelson Mandela, stood "shoulder to shoulder" with the Nigerian people when the country found itself in a similar situation in 1993.
The statement also disagreed with the position of AU Chairman, Ghana`s President John Kufuor, that the Nigerian polls were "peaceful", saying by hailing as "peaceful" an election in which scores of people died, the AU chairman had succeeded "in making a laughing stock of Africa and its leaders".
"Africa has remained poor because of the antics of leaders like Mbeki and Kufuor, who have continued to condone the misdeeds of their peers who subject their citizen to sub-human existence through anti-people policies, greed, selfishness and outright incompetence," the group said.
It warned other leaders not to toe the line of Mbeki and Kufuor, adding: "The Nigerian people have opened a black book into which your names will be written, so that coming generations will never forget your ignominious role in the country`s hour of darkness."
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