Thursday, June 23, 2011

A man and a morass: Can Goodluck Jonathan clean up corruption?




NIGERIANS have taken to watching an old film—one of their own—since the presidential election last month. It shows intrigue and thievery at the court of an ancient king in the Niger Delta. Decked out in glittering costumes on an improvised sound stage, the wicked court at last collapses under the weight of its own sins.

When it was released in 1999, “Saworoide” was seen as a commentary on the regime of Sani Abacha, who ruled (or, as some prefer, “dismembered”) Nigeria between 1993 and 1998. Once again, Nigerians are hoping to see the back of their ruling elite. Goodluck Jonathan, the president, wafts along on a wave of personal goodwill and is mostly seen as benign. It is the men and women around him whom voters blame for Nigeria’s woes.

Click here to read the full report

  • BUSINESS: African airlines

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    Flying in Africa is getting easierJun 16th 2011

  • BRIEFING: Nigeria's prospects

    A man and a morass

    Can the new government of Goodluck Jonathan clean up corruption and set enterprise free in Africa’s most populous country?May 26th 2011

  • LEADERS: Hope in Nigeria

    Hail the useful chief

    To thrive, Nigerians need strong medicine. They may at last be about to get itMay 26th 2011

  • MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA: Africa's elephants

    To cosset or to cull?

    Elephants are poached in central and east Africa but proliferate in the southMay 19th 2011

  • INTERNATIONAL: Demography

    ...isn't destiny, one hopes

    Good and bad news from the UN’s population projectionsMay 12th 2011




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