Reuters AlertNet Lite - Nigerian legislator killed over politics -governor

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Nigerian legislator killed over politics -governor

16 Sep 2007 10:12:20 GMT
Source: Reuters

ABUJA, Sept 16 (Reuters) - A Nigerian state governor has condemned as "political" the murder of a member of the House of Representatives and offered a 10 million naira ($80,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of his killers.

Olusegun Oladimeji, 62, was killed on Friday night by two gunmen who shot him at close range at a village bar in his home area in southwestern Oyo state. He was a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

"There is no doubt that the killing was political ... They are no armed robbers, they are hired assassins," said Adebayo Alao-Akala, the governor of Oyo, in comments reported by the Sunday newspapers and confirmed to Reuters by an aide.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, returned to civilian rule in 1999 after three decades of almost continuous military dictatorship, but political violence remains common.

There have been dozens of politically motivated assassinations since 1999 and most of them are unresolved.

Nigeria held elections for president, state governors and members of the state and national assemblies in April but vote rigging and intimidation, mostly by the PDP, were so widespread that European observers called the polls "not credible".

Oladimeji was one of dozens of politicians whose electoral victory was being challenged in a tribunal. On the day of his killing, he had returned to his home state from the federal capital Abuja to appear before the tribunal.

Local newspapers reported that Oladimeji was close to Lamidi Adedibu, known as the "godfather" of Oyo state politics. Like other Nigerian political godfathers, Adedibu is an unelected but powerful figure who uses a combination of personal influence, money and intimidation to ensure his proteges win office.

Alao-Akala, the Oyo governor, is among those who largely owe their position to Adedibu's backing.

But Adedibu's role is controversial and Oyo was plagued by sporadic outbursts of violence between politically sponsored thugs both in the run-up to the April elections and in their aftermath.

Nigerian newspapers quoted both Adedibu and the victim's son as speculating that the killers could be disgruntled PDP members who were jealous of the godfather's support for Oladimeji.

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Last updated:Sun Sep 16 10:11:42 2007