Nigeria’s New Ruler, Key Politician Meet
Moshood K. O. Abiola, the Nigerian politician widely believed to have won a presidential election annulled in June, visited new military leader Sani Abacha on Monday, a senior aide to Abiola said.
“We discussed the state of the country and how to bring about peace, stability and the restoration of democracy,” said Jonathan Zwingina, who accompanied Abiola.
Abiola has not commented on Gen. Abacha’s takeover last Wednesday, when interim leader Ernest Shonekan resigned.
Shonekan was appointed by former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, who annulled the election and later stepped down.
Many Nigerian politicians, including Abiola’s supporters, have been in shock since Abacha last Thursday banned political activity and dissolved all democratically elected institutions, scuttling a long transition to democracy.
Meanwhile, Nigerians returned to work Monday after the country’s main trade unions ended a strike.
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