Chief Moshood Abiola, the man whom many Nigerians regard as their country's rightful president, has indicated he will renounce his long-standing claim to the leadership. The tycoon politician, in detention since declaring himself head of state in 1994, is one of scores of political detainees whose release is expected shortly.
The UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, who has completed a four-day visit to Nigeria, said yesterday he expected Chief Abiola's release to be unconditional.
The detention of the 61-yearold politician has been seen as the main stumbling block in Nigeria's promised return to civilian and democratic rule. His fate was discussed at an emergency meeting of the Nigerian cabinet yesterday. The Secretary General said he was told by Chief Abiola on Tuesday: "I'm not naive enough to make assumptions that I'm going to come out and be president." Chief Abiola, generally believed to have won the annulled 1993 presidential election, was imprisoned for treason by the late military ruler, Gen Sani Abacha, the following year. His prolonged detention resulted from his refusal to give up his claim to the presidency. The announcement that he has softened his position since Gen Abdusalam Abubakar came to power last month will come as a shock to his many supporters.
The new ruler of Africa's most populous nation has committed himself to holding democratic elections and returning Nigeria to civilian rule. What role Chief Abiola will play in that transition process is unclear, but it now seems he will be free to contest the promised elections.
The UN Secretary General denied reports that Chief Abiola was in poor health. "He was in very good health. He was alert," said Mr Annan, the first non-Nigerian to see Chief Abiola in four years. "I found him in some ways more realistic than some of us outside." Mr Annan said Chief Abiola confided in him that he was out of touch and that he no longer knew what his supporters were up to. "I want to get on with my life," he said, "and I know the world has moved on." Nigeria's new head of state has already set free dozens of political prisoners, among them the former military ruler, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo. This week's visits by the UN Secretary General and by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, are seen as indications that Nigeria's pariah status is about to end. Mr Annan said yesterday that he had met several previous heads of state as well as traditional rulers and prominent opposition figures while in Nigeria.
"Everyone I met wants the military to return to its proper role in a democratic society," said Mr Annan in Abuja, before leaving for his native Ghana. "Everyone wants the remaining political prisoners to be released. And finally everyone wants to see an end to Nigeria's political and economic isolation."