27 August 2000
Abuja — US President Bill Clinton Saturday made history in becoming the first foreign leader to address a joint session of Nigeria's two-chamber national assembly, since the country returned to civil rule in 1999.
But history was probably the last thing on Clinton's mind as he used the occasion to emphasise the importance of good relations between the executive and legislative arms of government for the success of democracy.
Touching on issues ranging from AIDS to Nigeria's peace efforts world-wide, the American leader stressed the role of legislators in acting as a check to the excesses of the executive.
The lawmakers, apparently interpreting the statement as a form of support for them in their incessant clashes with President Olusegun Obasanjo, gave Clinton a long- drawn standing ovation.
But Clinton, smiling at the cheeky applause, was not done yet, jokingly telling the lawmakers to hold their applause until he had finished his comments on the issue.
"But it (the assembly) must also be a source of creative and responsible leadership," he said, taking a swipe at the lawmakers' penchant for frequent leadership changes for reasons ranging from forgery to fraud, and the dearth of bills aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians.
Bickering between the lawmakers and the executive have hindered the passage of crucial bills, including the 2000 budget, slowing down the process of development.
"In the end, work must be done and progress must be made," Clinton told the legislators.
He started off his almost hour-long speech by referring to comments made by former US President Jimmy Carter, during his 1978 visit to Nigeria, that he had come "from a great nation to visit a great nation."
He said in spite of years of military repression, economic mismanagement and misrule that had ruined the country's reputation, its economy and infrastructure, people would know Nigeria as a great nation again.
Clinton said repairing the damage of the past would take some time and promised American support for the fight to entrench democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria. "Your fight is America's fight, and the world's fight," he added.
Saying Nigerians knew they must fight for democracy even in the darkest days, he praised the people for their resilience in their quest for freedom and democracy, mentioning such Nigerians, as radical lawyer Gani Fawehinmi, for their role in facing up to the evils of military rule.
Apparently aware of Nigerians' craving for the dividend of democracy, more than a year since Obasanjo assumed office, Clinton lectured on the virtues of perseverance, patience and support from the people as well as from friendly nations.
However, he said democracy would only have meaning if it affected peoples' lives positively.
"In the end, successful political change must begin to influence peoples' lives. That is the democratic dividend Nigerians are waiting for," he observed.
But he cautioned against giving up hope because of slow changes, saying it would "give victory to those who don't want to change."
On the ethnic and religious strife that have punctuated the first 15 months of the democratic experiment, he stressed the need for Nigerians to be tolerant and to celebrate their diversity.
He urged them to keep the nation as one, irrespective of their differences.
"Every nation must become more than the sum of its part. If we are torn by our differences, we become less than the sum of our parts," Clinton added.
He stressed the need to intensify the fight against AIDS in Africa, noting that the disease was "stealing the future of Africa."
Clinton disclosed that he had recently signed into law a bill committing 60 million dollars into AIDS vaccine research, as part of the US government's efforts to fight the disease.
He praised Nigeria's leadership for peace in West Africa and around the world, saying that even in its times of trouble, the country committed more than 10 billion dollars and sacrificed the lives of hundreds of its soldiers for peace in West Africa.
He said that by its peace efforts, Nigeria was building a record of a "moral super power," and pledged his support for the country's peace-keeping roles.
"I am determined (that) if you want to lead, to get you the international support you need to and deserve to do that," he added.
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