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Published 27th June 2014

Vol 55 No 13

Nigeria

Ekiti, the shape of things to come

Jonathan and Fayose at PDP gubernatorial rally in Ekiti
Jonathan and Fayose at PDP gubernatorial rally in Ekiti

After a year on the defensive, the governing PDP has launched a determined fightback against opposition strongholds in the south-west

The victory of Ayo Fayose, candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), in the governorship elections in Ekiti State on 21 June held some harsh lessons for modernising politicians in the lead up to the elections due next February. The most obvious conclusion is that a well-financed and highly aggressive campaign with a bad policy record backed by state security will trump a decent policy record presented by less ruthless campaigners. It is also the first major reverse for the opposition alliance this year in its battle against President Goodluck Jonathan's government, which has been in retreat as criticism mounted of its handling of the security crisis in the north.

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THE INSIDE VIEW

The theme of the African Union summit in Equatorial Guinea on 26-27 June was 'Agriculture and Food Security' but the part that really resonated among leaders was the word 'security'. Egypt was readmitted to the AU after last month’s election and on 26 June, President Abdel Fatah el Sisi denounced Islamism as the overwhelming threat of the day to thunderous applause....

The theme of the African Union summit in Equatorial Guinea on 26-27 June was 'Agriculture and Food Security' but the part that really resonated among leaders was the word 'security'. Egypt was readmitted to the AU after last month’s election and on 26 June, President Abdel Fatah el Sisi denounced Islamism as the overwhelming threat of the day to thunderous applause. The day before, a bomb had exploded in Abuja killing 21 people, which prompted Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to fly home just hours after he had arrived in Malabo. Last week’s massacres in northern Kenya reinforced concern about a belt of worsening instability across the middle of Africa and the lack of effective forces to stop it.

AU Peace and Security Commissioner Smaïl Chergui insists that an African Standby Force will be ready for action by the end of next year. Yet some governments are reluctant to second troops to a continental force. Chad's President Idriss Déby is offering his capital as a base for African and Western forces to tackle Boko Haram, the Islamist militia in northern Nigeria and its border zones. In power since 1979, the summit host, President Teodoro Obiang, is also keen on regime security. His opening speech called for reform of the United Nations to stop foreign meddling in Africa. Unsurprisingly, Obiang is a great supporter of the protocol for a new African Court of Justice which would try suspects for war crimes and human rights abuses but would exempt serving heads of state and senior officials from prosecution.

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Pointers

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