Washington — Nigeria, if it cleans up its act, could still host Barack Obama, and United States Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, will this week present a list of demands Washington wants Abuja to meet if it really wants the U.S. President to visit.

Key among the demands is immediate electoral reform and the strengthening of all agencies that conduct elections .

The U.S. also wants a pledge by President Umaru Yar,Adua to protect human rights and freedom of expression among rights organisations and pro-democracy groups.

Clinton,s agenda is a fall-out of the several petitions by Nigerian groups in the Diaspora and in the country to Obama during his trip to Ghana on July 11.

Her message is to counter an intense lobby by Abuja officials to get her to commit to a visit by Obama to Nigeria before December.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Johnie Carson, disclosed part of Clinton,s plans when he told reporters in Washington that she will push Nigeria to put in place plans for transparent elections.

,,Domestic issues such as electoral matters, corruption and transparency would also feature in the talks in Abuja next week. We would like to see greater improvement in their electoral performance which will help to strengthen their democracy,,, he added.

Carson said Nigeria is not doing enough to rein in corruption and abuse of office which is adversely contributing to widespread poverty.

,,When there is an absence of transparency and a great deal of corruption, it makes the business environment extremely difficult.

,,I think it was a point that (Obama) made in his speech to the Parliament in Accra, Ghana. If, in fact, you have democratic governance, respect the rule of law, it is easier to draw in investment and business opportunities because people are certain and assured that they will be treated fairly.,,

Carson stressed that Clinton,s visit may be the last opportunity for Nigeria to take a positive step in the eyes of the international community as a nation willing to learn from its past and live out its full potential.

,,(She) is going there because we have serious political, economic and hydrocarbon interests in that country. In Nigeria, U.S. oil companies play a significant role, both in investment and production.

,,U.S. investment in Nigeria in the oil production and service industry is well in excess of $15 billion. We are one of the leading purchasers of Nigerian oil. And we think that it,s important to discuss with Nigeria a range of issues.,,

According to Carson, America wants to purchase more of Nigeria,s crude and see it continue to play a positive regional role, including providing peacekeepers to key conflict areas.

The White House, explained that Clinton,s trip is also to ,,highlight (Obama,s) commitment to making Africa a U.S. foreign policy priority.,,

She would also speak at the Africa Trade and Economic Co-operation Forum (AGOA) in Kenya, beginning August 5.

Washington said Africa is on the priority list of the administration, and this is the earliest in any U.S. administration that both the President and the Secretary of State have visited Africa.

Global hunger and agricultural issues will also feature highly in Clinton,s discussions with African leaders.

Kenya is her first stop, where she is set to address the AGOA forum on new approaches to development, investment and broad-based economic growth.

Kenya is the birthplace of Obama,s father.

Clinton will also visit South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Cape Verde.

And she will meet Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the President of Somalia, whose forces are battling Islamic insurgents.

Obama insisted in his address to the Ghanaian Parliament on July 11 that ,,no business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 per cent off the top, or the head of the port authority is corrupt.

,,No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end.,,

That made it clear, in his own words, why he shunned Nigeria when he dashed with pride onto the continent of his ancestors as an African-American President.

,,I am proud to be a Ghanaian today because Obama has made us proud,,, said Kojo Sakyi, a taxi driver in Accra.

,,I have heard the news that Nigerians and Kenyans are angry that he has chosen to come to Ghana. Well, the message for them is they should do what Ghanaians are doing so that they would attract U.S. Presidents like we have done so far.,,

Obama added: ,,I am speaking to you at the end of a long trip. I began in Russia, for a Summit between two great powers. I travelled to Italy, for a meeting of the world,s leading economies. And I have come here, to Ghana, for a simple reason: the 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Accra as well.,,

This is the simple truth of a time when the boundaries between people are ,,overwhelmed by our connections,,, he said, because ,,your prosperity can expand America,s. Your health and security can contribute to the world,s. And the strength of your democracy can help advance human rights for people everywhere.,,

At the heart of Obama,s message is that African nations, crippled by coups and chaos, like Ghana has been in the past, can reshape themselves into lawful democracies.

He said it takes good governance, sustained development, improved health care. And that the moment is now. ,,Africa doesn,t need strongmen. It needs strong institutions.,,

Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, reacted on July 12 by asking Nigerian public office holders, federal and state, to gird their loins for the challenge thrown by Obama.

He noted how the man demonstrated why he went to Ghana to highlight good governance and drum up warning on the danger of the forces of tyranny and corruption.

His visit to Ghana is a message for democracy and good governance, Senator Olorunimbe Mammora added.

He said he could not fault Obama,s choice of Ghana as his first port of call in sub-Saharan Africa, as Ghana has demonstrated exemplary adherence to democratic tenets with two successful peaceful transitions.

Former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwemeka Ezeife, reiterated that Obama,s visit to Ghana instead of Nigeria, ,,the so-called giant of Africa,,, shows that ,,we are a shame to black Africa.,,

He said Obama is justified because Nigeria has not done anything in the last 10 years to suggest the country wants to take the lead history entrusts to it.