NIGERIA: MILITARY RULERS CRITICIZED AT OFFICIAL CHURCH SERVICE

(2 Oct 1995) English/Nat
An official church service became a public humiliation for Nigeria's military rulers on Sunday as they were forced to sit through scathing attacks from a senior clergyman.
The criticism came from the Vicar-General of the country's capital, Abuja, at a service celebrating Nigeria's 35th independence day.
He said Nigeria was "a heap of ruins" as a result of their policies.
SOUNDBITE:
"And so we move from corruption unto corruption, we keep sinking deeper and deeper into it from the frying pan into the fire and now we have almost completely lost our sense of direction. Our country that was once great is now a heap of ruins. The giant of Africa is a giant of corruption. How are the mighty fallen." - lots of applause
SUPER CAPTION: Right Rev Monsignor DE Lyang, Vicar General Abuja
The mood of some members of the audience contrasted dramatically with that of the generals, who sat stony-faced as others applauded wildly.
SOUNDBITE:
"Failing this we shall continue to be moving from the frying pan into the fire and one day the fire will burn us and we shall perish. Honour and shame from no condition rise act well your part - there all the honour lies." - applause
SUPER CAPTION: Right Rev Monsignor DE Lyang, Vicar General Abuja
The outburst is a sign of growing unrest after Nigeria's military leader, General Sani Abacha, said on Saturday he would remain in power for the next three years.
He also commuted to life imprisonment the death sentences on 13 alleged coup plotters, convicted at secret trials.
Abacha - who took power in June 1993 - had promised to hand over to a civilian government by January 1996. His main opponent is Chief Moshood Abiola, widely believed to have won elections in 1993 which were cancelled by the military. Abiola is in prison awaiting trial for treason.
Reactions to Abacha's speech in the capital were mixed.
SOUNDBITE:
"My initial reaction is that since I did not preempt anything of what he said. I am just feeling naturally like that. There is nothing that has happened."
SUPER CAPTION: Abuja resident
SOUNDBITE:
"We are expecting something good from him. I mean he's a man of his words and I believe he's a very nice guy as well. We're expecting something good from the President."
SUPER CAPTION: Abuja resident
It seems the generals have not yet done enough to change the mood on the streets.
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