THE NEW DAWN

Inaugural speech by President Olusegun Obasanjo following his swearing-in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Saturday May 29, 1999.

FELLOW Nigerians, we give praise and honour to God Almighty for this day specially appointed by God Himself. Everything created by God has itsdestiny and it is the destiny of all of us to see this day.

Twelve months ago, no one could have predicted the series of stunningevents that made it possible for democratic elections to be held at theLocal Government level, the State level, and culminating in the NationalAssembly Elections. Thereafter, you the good people of Nigeria electedme, a man who had walked through the valley of the shadow of death, asyour President, to head a democratic civilian administration. I believe that this is what God Almighty has ordained for me and for my beloved countryNigeria and its people. I accept this destiny in all humility and withthe full belief that with the backing of our people we shall not fail.

I wish, at this point, to thank all you good Nigerians for the confidencereposed in me. I wish to pay tribute to the great and gallant Nigerians who lost their lives in the cause of the struggle for liberty, democracyand good governance. They held the beacon of freedom and liberty high inthe face of state terrorism and tyranny. We thank God that their sacrificehas not been in vain. We will always remember them.

Our thanks go also to the friends of Nigeria in many lands for the commitmentand unrelenting support they gave throughout the dark, ominous days ofthe struggle.

Nigerians living in foreign lands deserve special tribute for not forgettingtheir fatherland and for making their voices heard persistently in defenceof freedom. And I must commend you my home-based fellow Nigerians for theway you bore unprecedented hardship, deprivation of every conceivable rightsand privileges that were once taken for granted.

I commend General Abdulsalami Abubakar and members of the ProvisionalRuling Council (PRC) for the leadership they gave the country in the lasteleven months and for keeping meticulously to their announced timetableof handing over to a democratically elected government today. As officersand gentlemen, they have kept their word.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also deserves thethanks of all of us. In the face of doubt and skepticism and great timeconstraints, the Chairman and his commissioners conducted elections rightfrom Local Government level to the Presidential level. They acquitted themselvescreditably and they deserve our gratitude.

Nigeria is wonderfully endowed by the Almighty with human and otherresources. It does no credit either to us or the entire black race if wfail in managing our resources for quick improvement in the quality oflife of our people. Instead of progress and development, which we are entitledto expect from those who governed us, we experienced in the last decadeand a half, a particularly in the last regime but one, persistent deteriorationin the quality of our governance, leading to instability and the weakeningof all public institutions. Good men were shunned and kept away from governmentwhile those who should be kept away were drawn near. Relations betweenmen and women who had been friends for many decades, and between communitiesthat had lived together in peace for many generations became very bitterbecause of the actions or inaction of government. The citizens developeddistrust in government, and because promises made for the improvement ofthe conditions of the people were not kept all statements by governmentmet with cynicism.

Government officials became progressively indifferent to propriety ofconduct and showed little commitment to promoting the general welfare ofthe people and the public good. Government and all its agencies becamethoroughly corrupt and reckless. Members of the public had to bribe theirway through in ministries and parastatals to get attention and one governmentagency had to bribe another government agency to obtain the release oftheir statutory allocation of funds.

The impact of official corruption is so rampant and has earned Nigeriaa very bad image at home and abroad. Besides, it has distorted and retrogresseddevelopment.

Our infrastructures - NEPA, NITEL, Roads, Railways, Education, Housingand other Social Services were allowed to decay and collapse. Our countryhas thus been through one of its darkest periods.

All these have brought the nation to a situation of chaos and near despair.This is the challenge before us. Fellow Nigerians, let us rise as one,to face the tasks ahead and turn this daunting scene into opportunitiesin a New Dawn. Let us make this the beginning of a genuine Renaissance.

Fellow Nigerians, the entire Nigerian scene is very bleak indeed. Sobleak people ask me where do we begin? I know what great things you expectof me at this New Dawn. As I have said many times in my extensive travelsin the country, I am not a miracle worker. It will be foolish to underratethe task ahead. Alone, I can do little.

You have been asked many times in the past to make sacrifices and tobe patient. I am also going to ask you to make sacrifices, and to exercisepatience. The difference will be that in the past sacrifices were madeand patience exercised with little or no results. This time, however, theresults of your sacrifice and patience will be clear and manifest for allto see. With God as our guide, and with 120 million Nigerians working withme, with commitment, sustained effort, and determination, we shall notfail. On my part, I will give the forthright, purposeful, committed, honestand transparent leadership that the situation demands.

I am determined with your full cooperation, to make significant changeswithin a year of my administration.

Together we shall take steps to halt the decline in the human developmentindices as they apply to Nigeria. All the impacts of bad governance onour people that are immediately removable will be removed, while workingfor medium and long term solutions.

Corruption

Corruption, the greatest single bane of our society today, will be tackledhead-on at all levels. Corruption is incipient in all human societies andin most human activities.

But it must not be condoned. This is why laws are made and enforcedto check corruption, so that society would survive and develop in an orderly,reasonable and predictable way. No society can achieve anything near itsfull potential if it allows corruption to become the full-blown cancerit has become in Nigeria. One of the greatest tragedies of military rulein recent times, is that corruption was allowed to grow unchallenged, andunchecked, even when it was glaring for everybody to see. The rules andregulations for doing official business were deliberately ignored, setaside or by-passed to facilitate corrupt practices. The beneficiaries ofcorruption in all forms will fight back with all the foul means at theirdisposal. We shall be firm with them. There will be no sacred cows. Nobody,no matter who and where, will be allowed to get away with the breach ofthe law or the perpetration of corruption and evil.

Under the administration, therefore, all the rules and regulations designedto help honesty and transparency in dealings with government will be restoredand enforced. Specifically, I shall immediately reintroduce "Civil ServiceRules", and "Financial Instructions" and enforce compliance. Other regulationswill be introduced to ensure transparency.

The rampant corruption in the public service and the cynical contemptfor integrity that pervades every level of the bureaucracy will be stampedout. The public officer must be encouraged to believe once again that integritypays. His self-respect must be restored and his work must be fairly rewardedthrough better pay and benefits, both while in service and in retirement.

Restoration of Confidence in Government

I am very aware of the widespread cynicism and total lack of confidencein government arising from the bad faith, deceit and evil actions of recentadministrations. Where official pronouncements are repeatedly made andnot matched by action, government forfeits the confidence of the peopleand their trust. One of the immediate acts of this administration willbe to implement quickly and decisively, measures that would restore confidencein governance. These measures will help to create the auspicious atmospherenecessary for the reforms and the difficult decisions and the hard workrequired to put the country back on the path of development and growth.

The issue of crime requires as much attention and seriousness as theissue of corruption. Although the Police are in the forefront of fightingcrimes and ensuring our security, it is our responsibility to help thepolice to be able to help us. The police will be made to do their job.All Nigerian citizens and residents in our midst are entitled to the protectionof life and property. A determined effort will be made to cut down significantlythe incidence of violent crime.

Priority Issues

I believe that this administration must deal with the following issueseven in these difficult times of near economic collapse:

The crisis in the Oil Producing Areas

Food Supply, Food Security and Agriculture

Law and order with particular reference to Armed Robbery, andto Cultism in our educational institutions

Exploration and Production of Petroleum

Education

Macro-economic policies - particularly, Exchange rate managementetc.

Supply and Distribution of Petroleum Products

The Debt Issue

Corruption, Drugs, organised fraud called 419 activities, and crimesleading to loss of lives, properties and investment.

Infrastructure - Water Supply, Energy, Telecommunication, Ports,Airways, National Shipping, Nigerian Railways, etc.

Resuscitation of the Manufacturing Industries

Job creation, and creation of conducive environment for investment

Poverty alleviation

Housing - both

Civilian Housing Programmes; and

Barrack Refurbishment and New Construction for the Armed Forces andthe Police

ECOMOG

Health Services

Political and Constitutional Dialogue

Women and Youth Development

In pursuit of these priorities, I have worked out, measures which mustbe implemented within the first six months.

Details of the focus and measures of this administration on these andother matters, will be announced from time to time. I shall quickly ascertainthe true state of our finances and the economy and shall let the nationknow. In the light of resources available, I shall concentrate on thoseissues that can bring urgent beneficial relief to our people.

Cabinet

I will need good men and women of proven integrity and record of goodperformance to help me in my cabinet. I appreciate that the quality andcalibre of the members of my cabinet and top appointments will send a positiveor negative signal to Nigerians and the international community as to theseriousness of the administration to make salutary changes. In our difficultand abnormal situation, great care and circumspection are called for inappointments to the cabinet and high public positions. To be appointeda minister or to any other public office is not a licence to loot publicfunds. It is a call to national service. It is one of the best ways ofrendering dedicated service to humanity. In this administration, beinga minister or holding any other public office will not deprive you of whatyou have before you come into office but you will not be allowed to haveconflict of interest, abuse of office or illicit acquisition. Service tothe satisfying must entail sacrifice.

Regular weekly meetings of Cabinet will be reinforced to enrich thequality of decisions of government through open discussions of memorandain Council. Before any issues are introduced to the cabinet, the time-testedprocedure of inter-ministerial consultations would have been made. Theconclusions of Council, circulated to all ministers and permanent secretarieswill, as used to be the practice in the past, be the authority for executiveaction and for incurring expenditure of public funds. This will help thecohesion of the government, ensure discipline, and hinder corrupt intentions,since all major contracts must go to Council for open consideration.

A code of conduct for ministers and other public offices will be introduced.Other measures for individual and collective self-control and self-disciplineof ministers and other public officers will be introduced.

Public Reconciliation

I am determined to stretch my hand of fellowship to all Nigerians regardlessof their political affiliations. I intend to reconcile all those who feelalienated by past political events and I will endeavour to heal divisions,and to restore the harmony we used to know in this country.

Crisis in the Niger Delta

A bill will be forwarded within weeks of the inception of the administrationto the National Assembly, for a law providing for 13% derivation in RevenueAllocation to be used for ecological, rehabilitation, infrastructural andother developments.

A competent group will be set up immediately to prepare a comprehensiveDevelopment Plan for the Niger-Delta Area. Dialogue will be held at alllevels with the great representatives of all sections of the oil producingcommunities to improve communication and better mutual understanding. Theresponsibility and initiative for resolving the crisis rests with the Government.

ECOMOG

Nigeria has over the years played a very active role in ECOMOG for therestoration of peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Our national interestrequires the establishment and maintenance of peace and stability in theWest African sub-region. Specifically in the case of Sierra-Leone, we shallendeavour to ensure a quick resolution of the crisis by dialogue and diplomaticmeans by increasing activity on the second track of peace and reconciliation.This will enable us reduce our commitments in both theatres but particularlyin Sierra-Leone.

External Relations

Nigeria, once a well-respected country and a key role player in internationalbodies, became a pariah nation. We shall pursue a dynamic foreign policyto promote friendly relations with all nations and will continue to playa constructive role in the United Nations and the Organisation of AfricanUnity, and other international bodies. We shall continue to honour existingagreements between Nigeria and other countries.

It is our firm resolve to restore Nigeria fully to her previous prestigiousposition in the comity of nations.

Let me, once again, thank our international friends who fought for democracyalongside with us. Today, we are taking a decisive step on the path ofdemocracy. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure sustenance of democracybecause it is good for us. It is good for Africa, and it is good for theworld. We call on the world, particularly the Western World to help ussustain democracy by sharing with us the burden or debt which may be crushingand destructive to democracy in our land.

The Nigeria Armed Forces

The incursion of the military into government has been a disaster forour country and for the military over the last thirty years. The esprit-de-corpsamongst military personnel has been destroyed; professionalism has beenlost. Youths go into the military not to pursue a noble career but withthe sole intention of taking part in coups and to be appointed as militaryadministrators of states and chairmen of task forces.

As a retired officer, my heart bleeds to see the degradation in theproficiency of the military. A great deal of reorientation has to be undertaken and a re-definition of roles, re-training and re-education will haveto be done o ensure that the military submits to civil authority and regainsits pride, professionalism and traditions. We shall restore military cooperationand exchanges with our traditional friends. And we will help the militaryto help itself.

Harmony with the three arms of Government

It is my resolve to work harmoniously with the legislature and the judiciaryto ensure that Nigerians enjoy good and civilised governance. I am alsodetermined to build a broad consensus amongst all parties to enhance nationalharmony and stability and thus ensure success in the long struggle ahead.

Politicians have a duty, in whatever capacity they may find themselves,whether as legislators or ministers, to be committed, and be seen to becommitted to the public good. Politicians must carefully examine the budgetto ensure that public funds are judiciously spent. They must avoid damageto their own credibility and not vote for themselves special privileges.They must join in the campaign against corruption and help re-establishintegrity in the conduct of public affairs. I assure you all that it isthe policy of this government to ensure fair remuneration in service andin retirement to public servants, which includes legislators, civil servants,the police and members of the armed forces, parastatals and public-ownededucational institutions.

I call on all Nigerians but particularly on our religious leaders topray for moral and spiritual revival and regeneration in our nation.

Conclusion

I shall end this address by stressing again that we must change ourways of governance and of doing business on this eve of the coming millennium.This we must do to ensure progress, justice, harmony and unity and aboveall, to rekindle confidence amongst our people. Confidence that their conditionswill rapidly improve and that Nigeria will be great and will become a majorworld player in the near future.

May the Almighty help us.