27th September
By Chesa Chesa, State House Correspondent, Abuja

He informed the new Ambassador of Netherlands to Nigeria, Arie Van Der Wiel, on Tuesday in Abuja that increased political activities would be seen after the Ramadan as parties hold conventions.

His words: "For the first time since independence in 1960, Nigeria will have a transition from one government to another and from one personality to another. I have no doubt whatsoever that we will have a successful transition. Arrangements towards the elections have been successful …."

He agreed that Nigeria has a very crucial role to play for Africa to succeed, so, "we have put in place far-reaching reforms to take us into the future, though it is not easy."

Wiel had informed him that his tour of duty in Mozambique and Ghana showed that the continent is looking up to Nigeria.

He promised that the Netherlands would co-operate with Nigeria, especially in agriculture.

Obasanjo also received letters of credence from a new Ambassador from Ethiopia, Suleiman Dedefo Woshe, and from China, Xu Jianguo.

He pledged to co-operate with both countries to improve bilateral relations and gave an assurance to Jianguo that China’s request for Nigerian professors for its 13 proposed universities would be met.