From Laolu Akande, New York

The group, called Concerned Nigerians in the Diaspora, has already secured

a period to hold protest march in front of the White House while President

Obasanjo and his U.S. counterpart, George W. Bush, meet.

The U.S.-based Nigerians under the umbrella of Concerned Nigerians in the

Diaspora are up in arms against Obasanjo who is billed to meet Bush today at

the White House.

The Nigerian Democratic Movement (NDM), led by Prof. Bolaji Aluko has

already secured a permit to demonstrate in front of the White House.

A strongly worded letter has been forwarded to Obasanjo and copied to

President Bush. Both efforts are aimed at showing the displeasure of

Nigerians in the U.S. to move to extend the tenure of the Nigerian president

and governors.

The citizens are also particularly concerned that the Nigerian government

could not prevent President Charles Taylor from fleeing Nigeria after the

government had acceded to the request to have him extradited.

The former president of the Nigerian Lawyers Association (NLA), in the

U.S., Mr. Shamsey Oloko pointed out that the pursuit of a third term was a

"dangerous precedent" arguing that term limit remained the only way

Nigerians could effect a change of government since it is generally viewed

that elections in Nigeria are corrupt.

The Nigerian professionals addressed a letter to President Obasanjo,

declaring an unambiguous rejection of the third term. Copies of the letter

have also been sent to the U.S. Congressmen in the Senate Foreign Relations

and House International Relations committees on Africa.

The letter read in part: "We the undersigned Nigerian citizens in North

America write to express our outright and implacable opposition to on-going

legislative moves in our country Nigeria to amend the constitution to allow,

inter-alia, the executives in Nigeria (president and governors) three four-

year terms, which is being widely interpreted as intended to immediately

benefit the affected incumbents, including yourself."

It continued: "Prior official denials of the amendment move are no longer

tenable, now that the Nigerian National Assembly's Joint Committee on

Constitutional Review (JCRC) has recently approved it, despite widespread

opposition at various zonal public hearings. We are fully aware that the

amendment still requires approval by two-thirds of members of the National

Assembly and two-thirds of our 36 state assemblies, but the tension arising

from the very possibility of the extension of terms is causing ripples, heating

up of the Nigerian polity, and holding up the political process towards an

orderly transfer of power in 2007."

Signatories to the letter, besides Aluko who is the President, Nigerian

Democratic Movement, include Okop Usem Leadership Council, represented

by Mr. N. H. Ibanga; President, Nigerians United for Democracy and

Development led by Mr. Patrick Okigbo; President, World Igbo Congress led

by Ichie Igwemazi, as well as the group's Chairman of the Board, Forum for

the Advancement of Nigeria led by Dr. Emmanuel Dada, and the President of

the South-South Peoples Assembly in North America, Dr. Igho Natufe.

Others include the President of the Zumunta USA Inc., Dr. Mohammed

Ladan, President of the Egbe Omo Yoruba in North America, Mr. Adeola

Odusanya, and the Chairman of Pronaco-USA, Dr. Baba Adam.

Some of those who signed on self recognition are Tony Nammor, Oloye

Awojoodu, Samuel Ayodele, Muminu Badmus, Clement Ikpatt, Omoyele

Sowore, Ezekiel Macham, Olu Oreofe, Titus Folayan and Ebenezer

Adewunmi.

The letter insisted that "all the governors and yourself who have sworn

twice (in 1999 and 2003) to uphold the two-term limit of the 1999

Constitution must respect and obey it. ﾒThe question of leadership of any

country is a continuous process. No one leader can see a country's

development to its logical end. In a democracy, each leader makes his or her

contributions and leaves the stage to others according to the constitution."

The U.S.-based Nigerians argued that Obasanjo's visit to the U.S. "presents

another opportunity in the glare of the whole world to right matters.

They added: ﾒNothing will aid the strengthening of democratic institutions

in our country more than your eschewing of an unconstitutional move that

lacks integrity.ﾓ They pleaded: ﾒPresident Obasanjo, please seize the

opportunity; redeem the moment; do the right thing. During this visit, we

urge you to publicly denounce these campaigns and unequivocally dissociate

yourself from any scheme that will enable you and some others to contest for

a return to power in 2007."

Commenting further Oloko said third term would "open the door to future

leaders to amend the constitution as they wish and that is the end of

democracy." He added that an extension of tenure for Obasanjo would

"upend all the work that he has done all this years." According to him, "if

Obasanjo leaves at the appointed time, his place in history is set whether you

like him or not. But what we are seeing today with all the clamour against

him, is the harbinger of what will happen when he eventually leaves power."

Oloko continued: ﾒIf Obasanjo loves Nigeria he should step down in 2007

and refuse to change the constitution or elongate his tenure."

The flyers promoting the planned demonstration in front of the White

House yesterday read: ﾒDemonstration in front of the White House,

Washington DC As President Obasanjo Visits President Bushﾓ!

ﾒNo! To Obasanjoﾕs Third-Term in Nigeriaﾓ and ﾒAny other thing that

aggrieves you! Bring Your Own Placards! Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2006;

Time: 12:00 noon - Assemble at Lafayette Park (in front of the White House)

Time: 12:30 p.m. - Marching Demonstration on White House Sidewalk (1600

Pennsylvania Avenue, Wash DC, NW). Time: 1:00 p.m. - Deliver Letters at

White House Gate to President Bush Time: 1:15 p.m. - Disperse.

National Park Service Permit for Demonstration at White House Obtained

by Nigerian Democratic Movement (NDM).