2006年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Leader Faces Crucial Parliament Vote

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
26 October 2006
 
The two-chamber Nigerian parliament is scheduled to vote on the declaration of emergency rule in Ekiti State by President Olusegun Obasanjo.  The president faces defeat as a majority of lawmakers are reportedly against the proclamation.

-----

An unidentified policeman walks towards armored personnel carrier in Ado Ekiti  
  

With political tension and threats of violence rising, the vote is seen as crucial for Nigeria's political future and upcoming elections.
 
Tokunboh Afikuyomi, a senator from Lagos state, says the president's action was rather hasty and unjustified.

"There was nothing in Ekiti, as at October 18, 2006 that required extraordinary measures," he said.  "So, in my view, the decision to issue a proclamation for emergency in Ekiti is not only panicky, I also think it has not taken cognizance of the need for sustainable democratic processes in Nigeria."

 
Olusegun Obasanjo 
  
Mr. Obasanjo said he took the measure to stop instability from spreading across Nigeria, a nation with more than 250 ethnic¹ groups that is frequently shaken by ethnic and religious strife².
 
Akin Oshuntokun, political advisor³ to the president, rejects accusations⁴ that the introduction of emergency rule in Ekiti was politically motivated.

"The provision is there," he said.  "There is no other option, other than that, other than the declaration of emergency.  So, I do not see why it should be problematic.  They just politicize issues unnecessarily. If you were in the presidents shoes, what would you have done?"

With two more state governors facing impeachment⁵ and the likelihood of more contentious⁶ attempts to remove governors of other states, opposition⁷ to emergency rule in Ekiti state has grown tremendously.  State governors have denounced the president's action and called for the restoration of elected officials.

The Nigerian constitution requires a two-thirds approval by both houses of parliament within 10 days of emergency rule in any part of Nigeria or the declaration elapses
 
Analysts say corruption⁸ allegations have provided a convenient platform for the president to move against his political opponents ahead of crucial polls in 2007.
 
The senate last May defeated an attempt to change the constitution to allow Mr. Obasanjo run for a third term.

1 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

2 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

3 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

4 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

5 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

6 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

8 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。