The new Nigerian regime under Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar would keep to an October 1st deadline for restoring civilian rule, a member of the junta's highest ruling body said yesterday.
Gen Abubakar, who came to power after the death on Monday of Gen Sani Abacha, was aware of problems connected to the transition programme but would do his best to hand over power as planned, according to Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Alfa.
He was speaking at the end of a joint meeting between the Provisional Ruling Council and state military administrators.
Gen Abubakar, who was sworn in early yesterday as head of state, has yet to make a declaration on the transition to democracy. A source close to the presidency said he might broadcast to the nation later yesterday and give his position on the direction his regime would take.
The transition process was set in motion by Gen Abacha in October 1995, two years after he seized power, but was branded undemocratic by the opposition and by parts of the international community after the five political parties authorised by Abacha chose him as their election candidate.
The US, Britain and most other members of the international community had reacted to his death by echoing calls from Nigerian opposition figures for democratic reform. The White House spokesman, Mr Michael McCurry, called for "an accountable civilian government" and referred to the Abacha years as "a very horrific episode". Exiled opponents of the regime had called for the presidency to be handed over to Chief Moshood Abiola, the man widely held to have won a 1993 presidential election annulled by the military five years ago this Friday. Chief Abiola was jailed on treason charges a year later for declaring himself head of state.
A career soldier who has been armed forces chief for several years Gen Abubakar is a Muslim from the north of Nigeria, a country of more than 100 million inhabitants which includes large Christian and animist populations mainly in the south.
It was Gen Abubakar who announced two alleged coup bids against Gen Abacha. Both incidents led to the jailing of dozens of perceived foes of the regime.