GOVERNOR Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s nomination as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in next year’s election has generated a plethora of views from Nigerians in Europe, the United States (U.S) and among western diplomats.
One western diplomat told The Guardian that the international buzz was numb on who Yar’Adua was, indicating that the Katsina State governor’s international clout is close to nil.
However, as his candidacy was revealed, indications emerged over the weekend that Yar’Adua might have some explaining to do over perceptions that he has been an Islamist governor whom some members of the international community may be wary about.
But from a unusually establishment-friendly section of Nigerians abroad came what looks like a subtle support for the PDP candidate.
Already, discussions are on-going among Nigerian pro-democracy groups abroad, especially in Europe and the U.S., with suggestions from a leader of one of such groups to give Yar’Adua a chance to prove his mettle.
According to Dr. Baba Adam, who chaired the U.S.-PRONACO group, it may be worthwhile to put “all our differences with the current Obasanjo Administration aside and send our congratulations to Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua for winning the PDP primaries.”
Pointing to his identification with the “Talakawas” (the masses), Adam said Yar’Adua’s victory might be a “good first step towards popular democracy.” Adam called attention to what he called Yar’Adua’s hidden strength.
Said he: “He is a first generation, truly very western educated Northerner” armed with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) degree, especially in the challenging field of Analytical Chemistry.
Adam said Yar’Adua was also a “progressive ally of the radical late Dr. Bala Usman, prince and academic who identified with the northern masses.”
But another leader of a U.S.-based Nigerian group of activists, Prof. Edward Oparaoji, asserted that Yar’Adua is an Islamist.
Already a Nigerian group, Peoples Mandate Party (PMP), has indicated in a statement over the weekend in New York that “a President Umaru Yar’Adua will put Nigeria back into the status of a pariah state due to his support for Sharia.”
According to a statement by a prominent U.S.-based Nigerian and Chairman of the PMP, “it will be the worst move for Nigeria at a time when the rest of the world is embracing progressives and rejecting conservatism and Islamists.”
But Yar’Adua’s Sharia credentials may cause him greater worry in western capitals as he seeks to endear himself not only to Nigerians abroad, but also seek friendly relationship with foreign nations, especially in the western world.
Katsina State under Yar’Adua”s watch as governor adopted the strict islamic penal code in August 2000, and the Amina Lawal case, where a young mother was sentenced to death by stoning got a huge play in the western press.
The state became the fifth northern state to adopt Sharia six years ago in what many saw as northern reaction to the transfer of power to the South.
Some western diplomats and sources based in the U.S., who pleaded for anonymity, are expressing surprise that President Olusegun Obasanjo would support a “perceived Islamist.”
One source said the President had given assurances to several western leaders, including the U.S. President, that the country would remain secular, adding that it was curious that the President would propose to hand over to a governor who had encouraged Sharia rule with fears of a potential radical Islamist agenda.
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports then, the introduction of Sharia by Yar’Adua and other northern state governors had led to a major unrest “and more than 1,000 people have died in clashes over the issue.”
However, Yar’Adua then promised non-Moslems “that government would guarantee the security of their lives and property.”
One of the most dramatic instances of Sharia sentences was from Katsina State, where Amina Lawal, a 33-year old mother, was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery.
Even though that sentence was quashed on appeal, some diplomats and human rights activists recalled the wide international publicity the case generated in 2003.
The buzz in international circles when the Sharia crisis was hot in Nigeria was that the introduction of the code was a deft political move by the North in reaction to its lose of political power at the centre.
However, according to Adam, a very influential Nigerian-American in U.S. government circles, if elected, Yar’Adua “will make a very good President.”
He predicted “that once he becomes President, we do not think President Obasanjo can control him.”