TOUGH TALK FROM NIGERIA CONTENDER !
Profile: Umaru Yar'Adua
Nigeria's ruling party presidential contender Umaru Musa Yar'Adua says if elected in April he will continue the anti-graft policies of his predecessor.
"I will continue with this effort vigorously until every Nigerian, anywhere in the world, can proudly raise his head up," he told the BBC.
It was the first major interview the reclusive Katsina governor has given since his surprise December selection.
His chances of winning are high as an opposition coalition has fallen out.
It is unclear whether they will be able to field a single candidate against Mr Yar'Adua.
President Olusegun Obasanjo steps down in April after eight years in power.
The polls should become the first transfer of power in Africa's most populous country from one elected leader to another since independence in 1960.
'Carries weight'
Mr Yar'Adua said as president he would prosecute anyone who was corrupt, no matter how highly placed they were - stressing that this was vital to his country's standing in the world.
"People are now having confidence in Nigeria that we are tackling some of our problems, we are tackling corruption," he told the BBC's Hausa service.
"You know that now Nigeria is in fact being de-listed from the list of the most corrupt countries in the world."
The Muslim governor has a reputation as having run one of the country's most honest state administrations.
Mr Yar'Adua also said that Africa would remain the cornerstone of Nigeria's foreign policy - and expressed his hope for improved bilateral relations with the rest of the continent.
Correspondents say the selection of Mr Yar'Adua by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) came as a surprise to most Nigerians.
His rise to power has come almost exclusively from the support he received from President Obasanjo.
"I will continue with this effort vigorously until every Nigerian, anywhere in the world, can proudly raise his head up," he told the BBC.
It was the first major interview the reclusive Katsina governor has given since his surprise December selection.
His chances of winning are high as an opposition coalition has fallen out.
It is unclear whether they will be able to field a single candidate against Mr Yar'Adua.
President Olusegun Obasanjo steps down in April after eight years in power.
The polls should become the first transfer of power in Africa's most populous country from one elected leader to another since independence in 1960.
'Carries weight'
Mr Yar'Adua said as president he would prosecute anyone who was corrupt, no matter how highly placed they were - stressing that this was vital to his country's standing in the world.
"People are now having confidence in Nigeria that we are tackling some of our problems, we are tackling corruption," he told the BBC's Hausa service.
"You know that now Nigeria is in fact being de-listed from the list of the most corrupt countries in the world."
The Muslim governor has a reputation as having run one of the country's most honest state administrations.
Mr Yar'Adua also said that Africa would remain the cornerstone of Nigeria's foreign policy - and expressed his hope for improved bilateral relations with the rest of the continent.
Correspondents say the selection of Mr Yar'Adua by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) came as a surprise to most Nigerians.
His rise to power has come almost exclusively from the support he received from President Obasanjo.
BBC NEWS REPORT.
posted by jackaranda at 4:32 pm
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