A New York State of Mind

Omoyele Sowore of Sahara Reporters interviews Nigerian foreign minister Ojo Madueke at the United Nations in New York City. When pressed regarding the lingering absence of President Umaru Yar'Adua from his official duties, Mr. Madueke claims that his own authority is somehow independent of the president due to the manner in which ministerial duties are assigned in the Nigerian constitution. He observes that Mr. Yar'Adua is not a "micromanager" with respect to foreign affairs, although one might question whether there is management of any sort at the present time.

African Leadership Prize

Africa’s political leaders are being offered a $5m prize and a stipend for life if they do not plunder the national coffers or rig elections. Nelson Mandela, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton are backing the initiative to be formally launched tomorrow in London by a foundation started by a Sudanese-born telecom tycoon, Mo Ibrahim. Let us hope that this prize reduces in some small measure the onerous crimes committed upon African people by the likes of the infamous military dictator of Nigeria, Sani Abacha, shown above.