Profile of presidential candidates

1. GENERAL OLUSEGUN OBASANJO - People’s Democratic Party (PDP) 1937: Born an ethnic Yoruba from southwest Nigeria. Before his military career he spent a short time as a teacher 1958: Joined the army and received training in Nigeria and abroad. A 21-year military career included serving in the UN peacekeeping mission in the former Zaire and commanding the 3rd Marine Commando Division during Nigeria’s 30-month Biafran civil war (1967-70) 1975: Appointed works and housing minister, later becoming chief of staff, supreme headquarters 1976-79: Nigerian military ruler, following death of General Murtal Muhammad 1979: Presided over democratic elections, won by civilian northern politician Shehu Shagari 1983: Shagari ousted from power, Obasanjo critical of subsequent military regimes 1988: Founded the African Leadership Forum, based at his Otta farm 1991: Failed in bid to become UN secretary-general 1995: Tried for plotting coup against military leader General Sani Abacha and sentenced to life in prison, later commuted to 15 years after pressure from friends abroad including South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, former US President Jiimmy Carter and former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt Claimed to have “found God” while in prison 1998: Released from prison after Abacha’s death and returned to politics 1999: Nominated People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in first civilian elections for more than 15 years and favourite to win Political analysts have described Obasanjo not as an economic or political genius but rather a “safety first” candidate - someone who has projects and an important network of international contacts which will be useful for Nigeria. According to analysts, although an ethnic Yoruba, he is not recognised or loved in southwest Nigeria. His kinsmen accuse him of betraying Yoruba leader Chief Obafemi Awolowo and giving the presidency to a northerner, when he handed over power in 1979 to elected president Shehu Shagari. He has also been criticised for saying that Moshood Abiola, the southerner believed to have won the annulled 1993 civilian elections, was not the “messiah” that would save Nigeria. Abiola died in detention in July 1998. Southerners accuse the north of dominating Nigerian politics since independence from Britain in 1960. The former general draws most of his support from the predominantly Muslim north, where the military is popular. Despite widespread support for the PDP in the Ibo region of eastern Nigeria, Obasanjo does not enjoy the same popularity, partly due to the part he played in the civil war and also because an Ibo presidential candidate failed to be nominated. 2. CHIEF SAMUEL OLU FALAE - Alliance for Democracy/All People’s Party (AD/APP) 1938: Born in Akure, Ondo State, southwestern Nigeria. He has spent most of his life as a civil servant, having trained as an economist, with a Master’s degree from Yale University, USA 1963-81: Worked as a civil servant 1981-86: Ran a commercial banking group, the Nigeria Merchant Bank 1986: Appointed secretary to the government by military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida, closely associated with the tructural Adjustment Programme 1989: Appointed finance minister 1992: Barred by Babangida from running for president in 1993 elections. Member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) group that spearheaded opposition to General Sani Abacha 1997: Jailed by Abacha 1998: Released by current military ruler General Abdulsalami Abubukar 1999: Presidential candidate for AD/APP alliance Falae, although a Yoruba, has stressed that he is not a Yoruba nationalist, but simply advocates greater regional autonomy in Nigeria. He is seen as a skilled technocrat and a competent economist who has promised to turn Nigeria’s battered economy around. Most analysts judge him to be a political moderate who could gain support outside of the southwest. He is regarded as a reliable candidate for the presidency, but observers believe he will have a difficult campaign to overcome the political clout and financial backing of Obasanjo in the 27 Feburary election.