Can Nigeria's New President Bring Reform and Stability?

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Nigerians witnessed an historic first this week, the peaceful transfer of power from one civilian president to another.  Despite this first after the nation's long history of coups and military rule, the election process that brought Umaru Yar'Adua to power has been widely criticized as fraudulent and will most likely result in legal challenges to his victory. What will be on his agenda as he tries to govern the second-wealthiest country in Africa, where half the population lives in poverty? Can he build on the anti-corruption successes of his predecessor? Will the new president be able to persuade rebels in the oil-rich south to stop their attacks, which have cut the country's oil production by one-third? What about the expectations of average Nigerians?  Sara Terry guest hosts.

Credits

Guests:

  • Scott Baldauf - Africa Bureau Chief, Christian Science Monitor
  • Chris Fomunyoh - Regional Director for Africa at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
  • Chukwuemeka Eze - Nigerian Network Coordinator for the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding
  • Michael Watts - Director of the Center for African Studies at UC Berkeley
  • Sulayman Nyang - Professor of African Studies at Howard University

Host:

Sara Terry