Nigerian Leader Won’t Step Down : Africa: Military chief Abacha says he’ll stay in power until 1998. He refuses to release political prisoners, including prominent pro-democracy figure.

Defying international pressure for immediate democratic reforms and an end to human rights abuses, Nigerian leader Gen. Sani Abacha announced Sunday that his military regime will stay in power for three more years before allowing civilian rule.

The hard-line stance is expected to further entrench oppressive military rule in this sub-Sahara African nation crippled by grave political and economic crises.

In a long-awaited speech that was peppered with criticism of his foes here and abroad, Abacha refused to release scores of political prisoners--specifically Moshood K.O. Abiola, the prominent pro-democracy leader who was imprisoned 15 months ago.

Abiola was charged with treason and placed in solitary confinement after claiming victory in a 1993 presidential election that was annulled despite reports by international observers that the vote was the most fair in Nigeria’s troubled history. President Clinton and other world leaders have appealed for clemency.

“Those who describe Chief Abiola as a political prisoner seek to trivialize the grave offense for which he is charged,” Abacha said. Nigeria’s courts ultimately must determine if Abiola should be freed, he said, adding that the case had been “distorted in an orchestrated attempt to mislead the world.”

But citing what he called the “earnest pleas of our friends,” Abacha said he will commute the sentences of about 40 politicians and members of the military who were tried and convicted in secret trials in June for allegedly plotting to overthrow the regime.

Abacha, however, did not say if they will be given lesser sentences nor did he detail their fates. At least 14 members of the group were reportedly sentenced to death by the military tribunal, with others given life sentences or lengthy prison terms.

“This situation will be reviewed at the appropriate time,” Abacha said.

Hundreds of people have been jailed or detained without charges over the past two years. In addition, human rights groups say that at least 300 Nigerians have been shot dead in political protests since 1993.

Abacha’s only other apparent concession Sunday was to lift a ban on two major newspaper groups, which together publish about 15 titles. The papers were closed more than a year ago after criticizing the regime. Many journalists remain in prison, are hiding from police or have fled into exile.

Squads of riot police in armored vehicles patrolled the trash-strewn streets of this impoverished city Sunday after the nationally televised speech, which marked the 35th anniversary of independence from Britain. No protests were reported from a population that has endured rule by military fiat for 25 of those 35 years.

But the Abacha regime’s refusal to step down quickly or free political prisoners was criticized by Western diplomats, human rights groups and political opponents.

“They think this is a bold move. But we do not,” a senior Western diplomat said. “It may push back the imposition of new sanctions, but not necessarily for very long.”

The Clinton Administration has already imposed a series of sanctions against the Abacha regime. It has cut all but humanitarian aid, refuses to issue visas to government officials and military officers, has vetoed assistance from international financing institutions and has repeatedly cited the regime for trafficking heroin and other drugs to the United States and Europe.

The diplomat welcomed the apparent pardon of those on Death Row but added that Abacha said nothing to ease human rights concerns. He said a three-year transition to civilian rule is far too long.

“Nothing really has changed,” agreed Osaze Lanre Ehonwa, acting executive director of the Civil Liberties Organization, a human rights group that has documented the jailing of scores of journalists, labor leaders, human rights activists and other regime foes.

At her north Lagos home, Doyin Abiola, the most outspoken of Abiola’s several wives, said she was not surprised by the hard-line speech. “I’ve heard it all before,” she said angrily. “Abiola does not belong in prison. Period.”

She pleaded for international intervention and called for mass action by Nigerians against the regime. “The people should take it from now on,” she said.

Abacha seized power in a palace coup in November, 1993, and had taken part in at least three other military coups, but in his speech he denounced what he called the “cycle of coups and countercoups” that has replaced politics in the West African nation.

“Nigerians have long become disenchanted with the coup culture,” he said.

When he seized power in 1993, Abacha promised to turn over power to a civilian government by January, 1996. But he said Sunday that he would instead remain in power until Oct. 1, 1998.

Nigeria has about 95 million people. Despite its natural resources--including vast reserves of oil and natural gas--annual per capita income is about that of Haiti.