Mixed views on Nigeria's Obasanjo
The outgoing president, who steps down Tuesday after two 4-year terms, is credited with spurring growth. But few citizens have seen any improvements.
from the May 29, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 3
But Mr. Adaleke, the financial analyst, says the best thing that the next president, Umaru Yar'Adua, can do is to continue the privatization drive started by Obasanjo. Pointing to the simple act of deregulating the state-run phone industry, and allowing private mobile phone companies to proliferate, Adaleke says that Nigerian entrepreneurship quickly took advantage.
"In 2000, the Nigerian state telecom company had created 700,000 telephone lines... and only 400,000 of those were working," he says. "After deregulation, private cellphone companies like MTN and Econet came in, and we had 8 million lines, 10 million lines, 20 million lines. Now electricians can have their own phone services. That's made a big difference in the lives of ordinary people."
"The bright light for Nigeria is that the policy is finally going in the right direction," says Adaleke, "and Obasanjo can take credit for that."
Key events in Olusegun Obasanjo's career
1937: Born in Abeokuta, southwestern Nigeria
1958: Joined the Army and received training in Nigeria and abroad
1967-70: Served as commander in Nigeria's 30-month Biafran civil war
1976: Became Nigeria's military ruler
1979: Handed power to civilians
1995: Jailed for plotting to topple former dictator Sani Abacha
1998: Freed from jail by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar
1999: Elected president of Nigeria
2007: Leaves after two four-year terms
Sources: BBC, AP, UN
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