Lagos - Catholic bishops in Nigeria expressed concern yesterday about the dangers lying ahead of the country's transition to civilian rule.
Political tension has been on the boil in multi-ethnic Nigeria since five registered political parties last month chose military ruler Gen Sani Abacha to run as sole candidate in August presidential elections. A group of 34 veteran politicians recently urged the military strongman not to accept his "purported nomination" to avoid creating "a state of outlawry and anarchy".
Nigeria's 12 million Catholics, out of a Christian population estimated at slightly less than half of the country's 104 million people, are counted among the biggest and fastest growing Catholic communities in Africa.