Abuja
11 January 2008
Nigeria's main trades union has endorsed calls by opposition groups for a corruption investigation of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. But as Gilbert da Costa in Abuja reports for VOA, very few expect a full-blown probe to kick off any time soon.
Mr. YarAdua came to power in May pledging zero tolerance for corruption. The EFCC says it is probing about half of Nigeria's 36 former state governors for corruption. At least seven have already gone on trial.
President YarAdua, a former state governor, was plucked from obscurity by his predecessor to run in last April's disputed election. Analysts say Mr. YarAdua owes his election success almost entirely to the support of Mr. Obasanjo.
Some critics say the government is shielding the former president. The government has rejected the allegation, saying anyone with verifiable claims against Mr. Obasanjo should come forward.
The former president, one of Nigeria's all-time top political figures, ruled the 140 million people of Africa's most populous country for eight years, winning elections in 1999 and 2003. He was also a military ruler in the 1970s.
The former leader has been criticized for conducting a witch-hunt of political opponents. Mr. Obasanjo denies any wrongdoing.