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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| New Nigeria head to take office | New Nigeria head to take office |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Umaru Yar'Adua is to be sworn in as Nigeria's new president, hours after outgoing leader Olusegun Obasanjo made his final address to the nation. | Umaru Yar'Adua is to be sworn in as Nigeria's new president, hours after outgoing leader Olusegun Obasanjo made his final address to the nation. |
| In a live broadcast on national television, Mr Obasanjo said Nigeria was a more stable and unified democracy following his eight-year rule. | In a live broadcast on national television, Mr Obasanjo said Nigeria was a more stable and unified democracy following his eight-year rule. |
| A two-day strike called by trade unions in protest at alleged electoral fraud received a muted response. | A two-day strike called by trade unions in protest at alleged electoral fraud received a muted response. |
| Local and international observers had condemned the polls as "not credible". | Local and international observers had condemned the polls as "not credible". |
| 'Changed image' | 'Changed image' |
| Guests have started arriving in Abuja's Eagle Square for what is expected to be a colourful ceremony. | Guests have started arriving in Abuja's Eagle Square for what is expected to be a colourful ceremony. |
| The BBC's Mannir Dan Ali says security is tight - he saw police whipping people without passes from entering the area. | The BBC's Mannir Dan Ali says security is tight - he saw police whipping people without passes from entering the area. |
| What a country like Nigeria needs is a genuine, authentic but humane revolution Wole SoyinkeNobel laureate Can Yar'Adua bring peace to the Delta? Challenges ahead for Yar'Adua | What a country like Nigeria needs is a genuine, authentic but humane revolution Wole SoyinkeNobel laureate Can Yar'Adua bring peace to the Delta? Challenges ahead for Yar'Adua |
| In his farewell address, Mr Obasanjo pledged his support for Mr Yar'Adua and his government, and said he was leaving the country with a strengthened democracy. | In his farewell address, Mr Obasanjo pledged his support for Mr Yar'Adua and his government, and said he was leaving the country with a strengthened democracy. |
| "For the eight years that I have enjoyed your mandate and support, we changed... the image of our country in the eyes of fair-minded, honest and objective observers both at home and around the world," Mr Obasanjo said. | "For the eight years that I have enjoyed your mandate and support, we changed... the image of our country in the eyes of fair-minded, honest and objective observers both at home and around the world," Mr Obasanjo said. |
| "We have run the longest democratic dispensation and eliminated the risk of violent changes of government through coups and counter-coups in our political culture." | "We have run the longest democratic dispensation and eliminated the risk of violent changes of government through coups and counter-coups in our political culture." |
| Mr Yar'Adua's inauguration on Tuesday will mark the first time in Nigeria's history that one elected leader has handed power to another. | Mr Yar'Adua's inauguration on Tuesday will mark the first time in Nigeria's history that one elected leader has handed power to another. |
| After many years of military rule, Mr Obasanjo was elected president in 1999 and served two four-year terms. | After many years of military rule, Mr Obasanjo was elected president in 1999 and served two four-year terms. |
| The BBC's Alex Last in Abuja says Mr Yar'Adua will have to prove his independence from Mr Obasanjo, who picked his successor and remains chairman of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). | The BBC's Alex Last in Abuja says Mr Yar'Adua will have to prove his independence from Mr Obasanjo, who picked his successor and remains chairman of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). |
| He adds that Mr Yar'Adua inherits many challenges in Africa's largest oil producer. | He adds that Mr Yar'Adua inherits many challenges in Africa's largest oil producer. |
| Surprise holiday | Surprise holiday |
| On the first day of the strike in protest against the elections, banks were closed and many school children stayed at home. | On the first day of the strike in protest against the elections, banks were closed and many school children stayed at home. |
| The roads of Lagos and Abuja were unusually quiet. | The roads of Lagos and Abuja were unusually quiet. |
| Most Nigerians still live in crushing povertyBut correspondents say it was unclear whether this was due to the strike. Some people may have stayed home because Monday and Tuesday had at the last minute been declared public holidays for the inauguration. | |
| Reuters news agency reports that many Nigerians were apathetic about the protest on Monday. | Reuters news agency reports that many Nigerians were apathetic about the protest on Monday. |
| "Tomorrow is the handover, so what difference will it make?" said Daniel Legunsen, who was at work selling photocopiers in Abuja. | "Tomorrow is the handover, so what difference will it make?" said Daniel Legunsen, who was at work selling photocopiers in Abuja. |
| Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has told the BBC the country needs a revolution to break the cycle of incompetent and inhuman leadership. | Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has told the BBC the country needs a revolution to break the cycle of incompetent and inhuman leadership. |
| "I think what a country like Nigeria needs is a genuine, authentic but humane revolution," he said. | "I think what a country like Nigeria needs is a genuine, authentic but humane revolution," he said. |
| Mr Soyinka said Mr Yar'Adua was "an unknown quantity" who was taking power at a "perilous time". | Mr Soyinka said Mr Yar'Adua was "an unknown quantity" who was taking power at a "perilous time". |
| The election commission, Inec, has denied charges that it favoured the PDP during last month's elections. | The election commission, Inec, has denied charges that it favoured the PDP during last month's elections. |
| Mr Yar'Adua won a landslide victory in those polls, according to official results. He has promised to introduce electoral reforms. | Mr Yar'Adua won a landslide victory in those polls, according to official results. He has promised to introduce electoral reforms. |
| The two main opposition candidates have challenged the results in court. | The two main opposition candidates have challenged the results in court. |