2007年VOA标准英语-Nigerian President Inaugurates New Government

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
26 July 2007

Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua unveiled his new cabinet Thursday, nearly two months after he became leader of Africa's most populous¹ country.  The cabinet includes some opposition² elements in what is labeled a government of national unity³. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa in Abuja reports.

Umara Yar'Adua

President Umaru Yar'Adua's ruling Peoples Democratic Party came to power in April elections that were marred⁴ by violence and alleged⁵ vote rigging and were deemed largely flawed by local and international observers.

In naming his cabinet, the president brought some of his critics into the new government.

The main opposition party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, was given two ministerial slots for agreeing to join the government of national unity.

But President Yar'Adua retained the vital oil portfolio⁶, while veteran politician and ruling party official, Ojo Maduekwe, is the new foreign minister.

Action Congress, Nigeria's second largest opposition party rejected an offer to be part of the new administration.  Party spokesman Lai Mohammed explains.

"The presidential system of government that we operate today makes no provision for a government of national unity," he said.  "We also believe that joining the government of national unity will negate⁷ all that we've stood for throughout all the years, which is multi-party democracy."

Representatives from each of Nigeria's 36 states are included in the 39-member cabinet as stipulated⁸ by Nigerian law. Government appointments in Nigeria follow a very complex and cumbersome⁹ process that seeks to accommodate Nigeria's ethnic¹⁰ and religious diversity.

However, University of Abuja political scientist Hameed Ojo says the result of the complex system is appointments that are not always based on merit.

"We are operating a federal system of government which is not like the American system," he explained.  "Whereas in the United States of America, the president appoints his ministers and these ministers are directly responsible to him, here, theoretically it is the same, but so many factors are at work. We have what is called federal character. The various states have to be represented, the various zones must be represented, and of course, you have special interests. So, what actually determines appointment here is not merit."

Mr. Yar'Adua was sworn in as president of Nigeria, Africa's leading oil exporter, in May, which marked the first transfer of power from one civilian¹¹ administration to another in Nigeria since its independence from Britain in 1960.

1 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

2 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。

3 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

4 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

5 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

6 portfolio   

n.公事包；文件夹；大臣及部长职位

参考例句：

• He remembered her because she was carrying a large portfolio.他因为她带着一个大公文包而记住了她。
• He resigned his portfolio.他辞去了大臣职务。

7 negate   

vt.否定，否认；取消，使无效

参考例句：

• Our actions often negate our principles.我们的行为时常与我们所信奉的原则背道而弛。
• Mass advertising could negate the classical theory of supply and demand.大宗广告可以否定古典经济学的供求理论。

8 stipulated   

vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的

参考例句：

• A delivery date is stipulated in the contract. 合同中规定了交货日期。
• Yes, I think that's what we stipulated. 对呀，我想那是我们所订定的。 来自辞典例句

9 cumbersome   

adj.笨重的，不便携带的

参考例句：

• Although the machine looks cumbersome,it is actually easy to use.尽管这台机器看上去很笨重，操作起来却很容易。
• The furniture is too cumbersome to move.家具太笨，搬起来很不方便。

10 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。

11 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。