Nigeria rallies Africa to back new Libyan govt

[TGD]

NIGERIA is now rallying other African states in a bid to stave off feared civilian loss of lives following the taking of Libya by rebel forces.

Nigeria had earlier joined the community of nations that recognised the National Transitional Council (NTC) as the government to do business with in the oil-rich north African country.

After a consultation meeting on the heels of the summit on drought in the north of Africa which ended at the weekend, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Nigeria's minister of foreign affairs ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru signed a statement which the Federal Government authored jointly with the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia seeking for African support of the new leadership in Libya.

Meanwhile, the Senator Rufai Hanga-led faction of Congress For Progressives Change (CPC) has condemned the position of the African Union (AU) over Libya while applauding the Federal Government of Nigeria for taking bold step in speaking out the truth by recognizing the populist movement of the majority of Libyans (NTC) as the official government in that country.

The party had in a statement by its protem National Publicity Secretary, Denis Aghanya, in Abuja, described the Federal Government move as wise step, which it stated, was in line with the principle of being our brothers keepers.

While commending the Federal Government, the party noted that when a similar step was taken over Ivory Coast, it yielded the desired result with peace gradually returning to the country.

Maintaining that the recent unfolding events in Libya have amply demonstrated that the NTC is in control of the greater part of Libya, Nigeria stressed that in line with its foreign policy built on consensus, it is not only giving its full support to the Libyan council but calls upon "all states who uphold democratic tenets to do likewise"  

The joint statement by the two nations made available to the Guardian yesterday read "In the interest of peace and stability, and the well-being of the people of Libya, the governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia have decided to jointly recognise the National Transitional Council as the interim legitimate authority in Libya..."

"We call upon all peace loving countries in general, African countries and the African Union, in particular to contribute to peace and stability in Libya by recognising the authority and legitimacy of the NTC.

"Ethiopia and Nigeria are on the side of the NTC at this important juncture of the history of Libya. We stand ready to extend to them the support necessary to facilitate the achievement of the difficult tasks of establishing an inclusive transitional government, reconstruction, national reconciliation and peace building in order to meet the yearnings and legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people for human rights, democracy, the rule of law and good governance.

"To ensure the realisation of the lofty objective, we urge the African Union and its members to be consistent by extending to the NTC the type of support and recognition that was extended to Tunisia and Egypt."

The Guardian

[emezico]

The move by Nigeria is a welcome development. Libya need a democratic government!