Nigeria embraces democracy

ABUJA, MAY 29: Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn in today as Nigerian president, ending more than 15 years of military rule in Africa’s most populous country.The 62-year-old retired general was sworn in by the chief justice of the Nigerian federation, Muhammadu Uwais, placing his hand on a copy of the Holy Bible and swearing allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Promising to protect the interests of the constitution and the sovereignty of the country, he replaced military ruler General Abdulsalami Abubakar.A flurry of balloons in Nigeria’s green and white colours were released into the sky as singing broke out in the crowd massed for the occasion. Dressed in a resplendent white and green agbada, the traditional Yoruba costume, Obasanjo leant over and warmly embraced Abubakar.

Obasanjo, who was elected in the February polls, thus became Nigeria’s third civilian president since independence in 1960, following Nnamdi Azikiwe and Shehu Shagari.

Nigeria has been ruled by military regimes for all but fouryears since 1966.