[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 98 (Monday, July 25, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1300
 
CONCERNING MOVEMENT TOWARD DEMOCRACY IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

  Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 151) concerning the 
movement toward democracy in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 151

       Whereas the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 
     the international community had been led to believe that the 
     presidential election held in Nigeria on June 12, 1993, would 
     result in a return to full democratic civilian rule in 
     Nigeria;
       Whereas General Ibrahim Babangida, the head of Nigeria's 
     military government at the time of the June 12, 1993, 
     election, interrupted the release of the election results on 
     June 23, 1993, and later annulled the election, thereby 
     preventing a return to civilian rule;
       Whereas the election process indicated that voters in 
     Nigeria--a country with a population of approximately 
     90,000,000 individuals comprising 250 ethnic groups and 
     spread across 357,000 square miles--were expressing a spirit 
     of national unity that transcended ethnic, religious, and 
     regional allegiances;
       Whereas reported returns suggested that Moshood Abiola of 
     the Social Democratic Party was receiving a substantial 
     majority of the votes cast, leading the poll in 20 of the 30 
     states in Nigeria;
       Whereas the annulment of the presidential elections 
     resulted in various forms of civil unrest, which in turn led 
     to the death of more than 100 individuals;
       Whereas an interim government established by General 
     Babangida on August 27, 1993, and headed by Ernest Shonekan, 
     failed to win the support of the Nigerian people;
       Whereas General Sani Abacha took power on November 17, 
     1993, appointing an unelected provisional ruling council to 
     govern Nigeria;
       Whereas General Abacha and the provisional ruling council, 
     upon taking power, stated their commitment to an early return 
     to civilian and democratic rule, and named several prominent 
     democratic political figures to serve in the government;
       Whereas the political and economic conditions in Nigeria 
     have continued to deteriorate in the months since Abacha took 
     control of the country;
       Whereas the faith of the Nigerian people in the viability 
     of the nation as a unified whole must be preserved, and the 
     balkanization of Nigeria guarded against;
       Whereas the people of Nigeria have not accepted the 
     continuation of military rule and have courageously spoken 
     out in favor of the rapid return of democratic and civilian 
     rule;
       Whereas on May 15, 1994, a broad coalition of Nigerian 
     democrats formed the National Democratic Coalition calling 
     upon the military government to step down in favor of the 
     winner of the June 12, 1993, election;
       Whereas the confidence of the Nigerian people and the 
     international community in the provisional ruling council's 
     commitment to the restoration of democracy can only be 
     established by a sustained demonstration of a commitment to 
     human rights, due process, and the return of civilian rule;
       Whereas the United States would prefer to have a 
     relationship with Nigeria based upon cooperation and mutual 
     support but cannot, and will not, condone or overtook the 
     denial of democratic civilian rule--against the clear wishes 
     of the Nigerian people--by the provisional ruling council or 
     any other body in Nigeria;
       Whereas the lack of support from the Nigerian authorities 
     on drug trafficking issues has recently forced the United 
     States to place Nigeria on the list of countries penalized 
     for failure to seriously address the narcotics proliferation 
     issue;
       Whereas continuing credible reports of widespread 
     corruption and questionable business practices in the 
     Nigerian Government, and the lack of cooperation in 
     addressing these problems by the Nigerian Government, further 
     undermines Nigeria's credibility in the international 
     community;
       Whereas the steps taken by the international community in 
     response to the refusal of the Nigerian military to 
     relinquish power serve both to encourage the people of 
     Nigeria in their legitimate struggle for democracy and to 
     limit the ability of the military to entrench its rule; and
       Whereas Nigeria's leadership role on the African continent 
     and its international influence will be severely compromised 
     by its failure to rejoin the world community of democratic 
     nations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) continues to support the Nigerian people in their 
     commitment to unity and democracy as evidenced by their 
     participation in the June 12, 1993, presidential election in 
     the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and in their subsequent 
     insistence on the return to full civilian and democratic 
     rule;
       (2) endorses the steps taken by President Clinton and the 
     Administration--specifically the restrictions on assistance 
     to agencies of the Nigerian Government, the suspension of 
     military cooperation between the United States and Nigeria, 
     the restrictions on travel to the United States by officials 
     of the Nigerian military regime, and the insistence that full 
     normalization of United States--Nigeria relations depends 
     upon the restoration of civilian democratic rule--to 
     demonstrate United States opposition to the annulment of such 
     election and to encourage the restoration of fully democratic 
     and civilian rule in Nigeria;
       (3) urges the Administration to continue all actions 
     designed to encourage the restoration of civilian rule in 
     Nigeria, especially the restriction on travel to the United 
     States by officials of the military regime, until concrete 
     and significant steps have been taken toward a genuine 
     transition to a democratically elected civilian government in 
     Nigeria;
       (4) encourages the Administration to explore additional 
     measures that might be taken, either unilaterally, in 
     cooperation with other nations, or through multilateral 
     institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the 
     International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to 
     constructively encourage the restoration of democratic and 
     civilian rule in Nigeria;
       (5) requests that United States officials, both in the 
     United States and in Nigeria, consistently reiterate United 
     States insistence upon the rapid return of civilian and 
     democratic rule in Nigeria, and that United States Government 
     agencies such as the United States Information Agency and the 
     Agency for International Development, as well as publicly 
     supported agencies such as the National Endowment for 
     Democracy, should provide support for activities aimed at 
     strengthening democratic forces and democratic institutions 
     in Nigeria;
       (6) condemns the recent arrests by the Nigerian military 
     authorities of Chief Abiola and other political leaders and 
     democracy advocates, as well as the new restrictions imposed 
     on freedom of expression; and
       (7) urges General Abacha and the provisional ruling council 
     in Nigeria, in order to maintain the viability of Nigeria and 
     restore political stability and to avert the further 
     deterioration of relations between Nigeria and the United 
     States, to--
       (A) fully restore freedom of the press, with access to all 
     contemporary political and electoral information, fully 
     respect human rights, and fully restore the independence and 
     authority of the judiciary in Nigeria;
       (B) immediately release Chief Abiola and the other 
     political leaders and human rights activists who have been 
     arrested or detained;
       (C) decisively move to resolve the political crisis in 
     Nigeria by setting up a rapid timetable for the full 
     restoration of civilian and democratic rule, unencumbered by 
     the military; and
       (D) positively respond to United States and other 
     international efforts to constructively encourage the 
     restoration of democracy in Nigeria.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Payne] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the gentleman 
from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Payne].
  (Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 151 is a timely bill to 
encourage a return to democracy and civilian rule in Nigeria. It is 
timely because in the last few weeks Africa's largest and most 
prosperous country is experiencing a major oil strike called to demand 
the release of Moshood Abiola, a Social Democrat, who has been 
imprisoned for announcing his claim to the Presidency. At least 20 
people were killed during protests in different locations in Lagos on 
Monday of last week. Demonstrations were also reported in Ibadan, 
Nigeria's second largest city. House Concurrent Resolution 151 was 
initiated following the June 12, 1993 annulled election for President 
in which Chief Abiola was reported leading in 20 of the 30 states in 
Nigeria. The election was significant because Nigeria's 90 million 
people comprising some 250 ethnic groups, were voting across ethnic 
lines and expressing a spirit of national unity that transcend 
religious and regional allegiances.
  As we view daily the stream of hundreds of thousands of Rawandan 
refugees we should remind ourselves that as serious as this is, it may 
only be a prelude to a larger disaster that could happen in Nigeria if 
timely action is not taken. House Concurrent Resolution 151 traces the 
history of one promise after another by former military dictator 
Babangida and his successor General Abacha to reinstate civilian rule. 
These have yielded no positive results.
  The resolution points out the lack of support from the Nigerian 
authorities on drug trafficking issues that forced the United States to 
place Nigeria on the list of countries penalized for failure to 
seriously address the narcotics issue. An issue that effects the youth 
of our land--not just Nigeria, but right here in the United States--in 
your community and mine.
  The U.S business community is complaining about the widespread 
corruption that is destroying trade relations, and the lack of 
cooperation in addressing these problems by the Nigerian Government. 
For instance, last week the Northeast Indiana Better Business Bureau 
reported more than 120 of their firms have been subject to Nigerian 
scams.
  We need to send a strong and clear message to the military 
dictatorship in Nigeria that: first, we support the Nigerian people in 
their quest for democracy and civilian rule.
  Second, that we endorse the steps taken by President Clinton to 
restrict assistance to the various agencies of the Nigerian Government 
and especially the suspension of military cooperation between the 
United States and Nigeria. I congratulate President Clinton for 
enforcing the ban on travel to the United States by officials of the 
Nigerian military regime, including the recently held World Soccer Cup.
  The bill further encourages the Clinton administration to explore 
additional measures that might be taken through the IMF and World Bank 
that will further encourage the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.
  At the same time the bill encourages increased efforts by AID, USIA, 
and the National Endowment for Democracy to support activities aimed at 
strengthening democratic forces in Nigeria.
  The bill condemns the arrests by Nigerian military authorities of 
Chief Abiola and other political leaders and democracy advocates, and 
urges their immediate release.
  Finally, the bill calls upon General Abacha and the Provisional 
Ruling Council to resolve the current political crisis by setting up a 
rapid timetable for the full restoration of civilian and democratic 
rule, unencumbered by the military.
  Since Nigeria received their independence in 1960, they have been 
under military rule for 24 out of 34 years. As the largest and 
potentially most prosperous nation in Africa, a major oil producer, a 
country that the United States depends upon for regional conflict 
resolution such as providing peace keeping troops in Liberia, we can 
hardly allow Nigeria to retreat from the trend toward democracy being 
embraced by South Africa and other African countries.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is the result of a very fruitful process of 
discussion and compromise with our colleagues on the other side.
  What we have is a truly bipartisan effort that will both encourage 
the democratic forces in Nigeria and put the Nigerian military 
dictatorship on notice that the United States rejects their cynical 
efforts to manipulate international public opinion.
  I look forward to the day when Nigeria can take its rightful place as 
a leader among progressive and democratic countries in Africa. With our 
action today, we can hasten the arrival of that day.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 151 
which expresses our strong support for democratization in Nigeria.
  Nigeria is a very important African country, rich in human and 
natural resources. But it will continue to squander those resources in 
an outrageous fashion as long as the present military junta fails to 
respect the democratic expressions of the Nigerian people.
  The United States must make it clear to the military regime in 
Nigeria that this Nation cannot countenance dictatorship, corruption, 
and abuse of human rights.
  I commend the chairman of the Africa subcommittee, Mr. Johnston, and 
the ranking Republican member, Mr. Burton, and especially the 
distinguished principal sponsor, Mr. Payne, for bringing this 
resolution before us and forging a bipartisan consensus.
  Mr. Speaker, I support their effort and urge adoption of House 
Concurrent Resolution 151.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the adoption of House 
Concurrent Resolution 151 which expresses our strong support for 
democratization in Nigeria.
  Next to South Africa, Nigeria is the African country best situated to 
contribute to the successful stabilization of the African Continent. 
Unfortunately, the failure of the present military junta to respect the 
democratic expressions of the Nigerian people threatens to retard any 
hopes of progress.
  This country cannot ignore the current political and economic crisis 
in Nigeria. The Nigerian people have been promised true democratic 
reform for too many years now, but have been continually frustrated. 
The recent strikes by the oil workers is only the latest expression of 
that frustration. We must make it clear to the military regime in 
Nigeria that the United States cannot countenance dictatorship, 
corruption, and abuse of human rights.
  I commend the distinguished chairman of the Africa Subcommittee, Mr. 
Johnston, and the able ranking Republican member, Mr. Burton, and the 
principal sponsor, Mr. Payne, for bringing this resolution before us 
and forging a bipartisan consensus. I support their effort and urge 
adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 151.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.


                             general leave

  Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks on the four resolutions just considered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Payne] that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 
151, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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