500 Nigerian witches and wizards provide protection for Goodluck Jonathan’s swearing-in

As the president-elect of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan is being sworn-in in Abuja, the capital of Africa’s most populous nation, the president of the Witches and Wizards Association of Nigeria says, the group is making available 500 of its members to provide protection for the president for a peaceful event today May, 29, 2011.

Dr. Okoyi Eboyi, in an interview with the BBC Focus on Africa broadcast monitored by ghanabusinessnews.com Saturday May 28, 2011 said the group which has millions of members in the country wants to see a peaceful swearing-in ceremony.

According to him, he predicted the death of the former Nigerian tyrant, Sani Abacha before it occurred.

When asked if Nigerian politicians have ever contacted him and offered him gifts, he said they have been going around the whole country looking for him. But he did not say if he has ever been met by any politician.

Nigeria’s political atmosphere is besmeared with violence. During the country’s independence anniversary celebration last October 2010 some groups detonated bombs at parade grounds killing about 15 people and injuring others. And soon after elections in April 2011 riots broke out in some northern states resulting in deaths and displacement of some citizens.

Nigerians expect President Jonathan, who is the first ever President from the country’s oil-Niger Delta to be elected into office to make good his campaign promises. The Niger Delta produces the country main foreign exchange earner – oil, but it is largely under-developed. The deprivation has forced unemployed youth to join armed groups that engage in kidnappings for ransom and bombings.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi