U.S. President Bill Clinton wrapped up a two-day state visit to Nigeria, preaching that democracy is good for business and promising American help on trade and in the fight against disease.
Clinton told business leaders that the way to revitalise the battered economy was to rally round their democratically elected president and government.
“Along with the political tragedy of the last 20 years, you have had a colossal economic tragedy,” he said in the final address of a two-day state visit to Africa’s most populous nation.
“I want us to be good partners with this good new democracy you have,” he added, announcing that henceforth certain Nigerian exports were eligible for duty-free treatment.
Clinton praised the political line adopted by President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose election in 1999 ended 15 years of military rule.
Hailing opportunities created by the information revolution, he urged Nigerians to diversify their oil-based economy and also suggested they rebuild agriculture and broaden the manufacturing sector.
Clinton, who pointedly avoided Nigeria and military dictator Sani Abacha during his first trip to Sub-Saharan Africa in 1998, visited none of Nigeria’s main regions.
One of the messages of Clinton’s visit has been that Nigeria can show Africa and the world that within a democracy ethnic and religious diversity can be a source of strength and not of conflict.