VOA标准英语2008年-Nigerians Solidly Back Barrack Obama, Hope for

With the possibility of an American president whose roots extend to the African continent, Nigerians are rallying to the cause of Democratic Party candidate Barrack Obama. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa in Abuja reports on the Obamania that is currently sweeping¹ the West African country.

If Nigerians could vote in the November U.S. election, then Senator Barrack Obama would win the White House in a landslide². Nigerians are solidly behind the history-making Obama when asked which U.S. candidate they support. Few support John McCain.

The enthusiasm for the more charismatic Obama is understandable. An American president with an African background has clearly captured the imagination of most Africans.

Elvis Agukwe heads a group known as Africans for Obama, one of several in the pro-Obama movement in Nigeria. He rejects the opinion that Obama's appeal is borne out of the fact that he could be the first black president of the United States. Agukwe says Nigerians find Obama fascinating because he represents a big change from the unilateral approach to foreign policy under President George Bush.

"When there is democratic election in any part of the world, America takes part," he said. "We are also now interested in what America is doing because whoever emerges in America will play a leadership role and influential³ role in world affairs. So America must begin to bring the right caliber⁴ of leadership that would make the world to love America. We are trying to help America to get it right and know that the world is interested in whoever emerges in the leadership in America. We are tired of wars, we are tired of confrontations⁵."

Nigeria to Send Delegation⁶ to Democratic National Convention

The Nigerian senate is sending a high-level delegation to the Democratic Party national convention. Some pro-Obama groups in Nigeria say they will also travel to the United States to honor and support Senator Obama.

Even Nigeria's most prominent armed group, the Movement for the Emancipation⁷ of the Niger Delta⁸, offered last May to declare a ceasefire following an appeal by Senator Obama, describing him as "someone we respect and hold in high esteem⁹."

Mr. Agukwe says Nigerians are hoping to make their support for Obama count in the November polls.

"If we are legally allowed to make financial contributions, we are going to assist the Democratic Party, to make our modest contributions," he said. "Secondly¹⁰, we are helping¹¹ the Democratic Party nominee¹² Barrack Obama by praying, by fasting and by urging friends and well wishers and the Americans to support this particular candidate because this candidature will bring peace, will bring change and will bring a new order in world affairs."

Analysts¹³ say whoever occupies the White House in January, Africa will be a bigger priority than it has been in recent years. The hope is that an Obama presidency¹⁴ would reinvigorate United States' Africa policy in favor of a strategic partnership¹⁵.

 

 

1 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

2 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

3 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

4 caliber   

n.能力；水准

参考例句：

• They ought to win with players of such high caliber.他们选手的能力这样高,应该获胜。
• We are always trying to improve the caliber of our schools.我们一直在想方设法提高我们学校的水平。

5 confrontations   

n.对抗，对抗的事物( confrontation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• At times, this potential has escalated into actual confrontations. 有时，这一矛盾升级为实际的对抗。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• These confrontations and uncertainties were bing played out for the first time on a global scale. 所有这一切对抗和不稳定，第一次在全球范围内得到充分的表演。 来自辞典例句

6 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

7 emancipation   

n.（从束缚、支配下）解放

参考例句：

• We must arouse them to fight for their own emancipation. 我们必须唤起他们为其自身的解放而斗争。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They rejoiced over their own emancipation. 他们为自己的解放感到欢欣鼓舞。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

9 esteem   

n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• The veteran worker ranks high in public love and esteem.那位老工人深受大伙的爱戴。

10 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

11 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

12 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

13 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

14 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

15 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。