NIGERIA: Enthusiasm surrounding the U.S. presidential campaign of Barack Obama campaign fever has reached Nigeria

Record ID: 234794

  • Title: NIGERIA: Enthusiasm surrounding the U.S. presidential campaign of Barack Obama campaign fever has reached Nigeria
  • Date: 25th April 2008
  • Summary: SET UP OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE OBAMA NIGERIA INITIATIVE, ONIBIYO ADELABU (SOUNDBITE) (English) ONIBIYO ADELABU, CHAIRMAN OF THE OBAMA NIGERIA INITIATIVE, SAYING: "We must celebrate Obama because the Americans have demonstrated the spirit of democracy by voting itself for a coloured person all round. I think it is important because here in Africa, it will be difficult for a man in Lagos to win any elections in the East in the first instance, ditto for a man from the East to win elections in the North. But Obama is something we should learn from and people have accepted him and that we must recognise." OBAMA CAMPAIGN STICKER ON THE TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ONIYIBO ADELABU, SAYING: "I have received a couple of circulations from the U.S, from Obama, from his wife, about preparations for the elections and what have you, but whatever they circulate there gets to Obama Nigeria initiative, so I don't think they don't know that a body like this exists in Nigeria." THE LIST OF NAMES OF LAGOS LEGISLATURES TAKING PART IN THE OBAMA NIGERIA INITIATIVE (SOUNDBITE) (English) OLADIMEJI ANIEKAYE SAYING: "It just goes to show a brother kind of support, because if Obama should win, to a large extent, it will be more beneficial to Africans. That's what I feel." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ADEWALE ADEKOYI, SAYING: "He has a good chance of winning, although I don't support him, because I think America is not ready for a black president yet. That's my opinion."
  • Embargoed: 10th May 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA8X9FN2F9FT3L3DCZM63BBNZ49
  • Story Text: Enthusiasm surrounding the U.S. presidential campaign of Barack Obama campaign fever has reached Nigeria, afflicting almost an entire state legislature and others. Thirty out of the forty members of the Lagos State legislature have pledged their support to Obama and launched the Obama Nigeria campaign initiative.
    Barack Obama's campaign fever has reached Nigeria, with almost the entire Lagos State Legislature signing up to support him and advocate what he stands for.

    "We must celebrate Obama because the Americans have demonstrated the spirit of democracy by voting itself for a coloured person all round, " said Oniyibo Adelabu, member of the Lagos State Legislature and Chairman of the Obama Nigeria Initiative. Adelabu added that Obama is something Africa can learn from given the continent's own tribal divisions that have always been politicised by politicians.

    "Here in Africa, it will be difficult for a man in Lagos to win any elections in the East in the first instance, ditto for a man from the East to win elections in the North," he said. Nigeria's political scenario, as in many parts of Africa, follow ethnic trends. Adelabu hopes that the Obama Nigeria initiative will help popularise in Nigeria what Obama stands for in order to educate the population about democracy and the fact that a good lead leader need not necessary come from ones own tribe.
    Nigeria which is Africa leading oil exporter to the U.S, is also Africa's most populous nation with over 140 million people and nearly 250 ethnic groups.
    The Obama Nigeria initiative, has however, been criticised elsewhere.
    Some residents of Lagos, many of whom are without running water or electricity, believe that their leaders' decision to support and popularise Obama is just another gimmick to squander away public funds. But Adelabu denied the legislature was using public funds to support the initiative and its newly launched website, www.obamanigeria.com.
    Obama fever is highly contagious and may have afflicted many Nigerians, but some doubts over his prospects in the U.S. presidential race remain.

    "He has a good chance of winning although I don't support him.
    America is not ready for a black president yet, " said 39-year old, businessman Adewale Adekoyijo.
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