Interim Government Planned for Nigeria

Two army-created parties, in a move to end Nigeria’s 3-week-old political crisis, have agreed to set up an interim national government.

The decision, made at talks with military President Ibrahim Babangida in Abuja, represented a major breakthrough in a dispute that has triggered massive street protests in the southwestern part of Africa’s most populous country.

“Both parties have agreed on the formation of an interim national government which on Aug. 27 will take over from the present military government,” Tony Anenih, chairman of the Social Democratic Party, told a news conference.

Hameed Kusamuto, chairman of the National Republican Convention, said, “This decision was taken so that peace will be restored in the country.”

Disturbances erupted after Gen. Babangida’s government scrapped June 12 presidential elections in which Social Democrat candidate Moshood Abiola claimed he defeated fellow Muslim millionaire Bashir Tofa.

Babangida, in power since 1985, canceled the election on the grounds of alleged electoral malpractice but has since reiterated his pledges to hand over power Aug. 12 to elected civilians.

Social Democratic leaders earlier chose conditionally to have an interim national government, the second of two choices given to the parties by Babangida. For its part, the Republicans said they favored a fresh election.

A joint statement by the two parties said the government will now work out the details of the formation of the interim administration.