Nigeria's presidential primary: Another term beckons

Economist

20 Janaury 2011

Nigeria's presidential primary: Another term beckons

To prove himself, the president needs to do more than win an election primary

IT TOOK President Goodluck Jonathan a mere decade to go from lowly official to undisputed leader of his country. He became president by default a year ago and has now clinched the nomination for presidential candidate in Nigeria’s ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by winning 77% of the vote in a primary on January 14th. He is now the favourite to triumph at a poll due in April. Yet many still think his best quality is a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

Having long laughed at his seemingly apt name, Nigerians are far from certain what lies ahead. Africa’s most populous country and biggest energy producer, Nigeria is the continent’s giant, with 150m people, over 250 ethnic groups and at least 36 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. Yet it is also known for a level of chaos and corruption that makes other Africans raise their eyebrows at the mention of its name. A string of military and civilian leaders have embezzled the country’s oil wealth rather than investing in basic infrastructure. The chasm between rich and poor fuels militant gangs in the oil-rich southern delta and Islamist sects in the arid north.