2006年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Analyst Predicts Tight Presidential Po

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
19 December 2006

Nigeria's main opposition¹ party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, has selected a former military ruler, General Muhammadu Buhari, as its representative in next year's presidential ballot².  The selection came barely 24 hours after the ruling party nominated a reclusive governor as its candidate.  Gilbert da Costa reports from Abuja that some of Nigeria's leading political analysts³ are already predicting a very tough contest.
 
 
General Mohammadu Buhari opposition candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party waves to his supporters during anti-government protest in Abuja (3 May 2004 file photo)
The two leading candidates, so far, for next year's presidential ballot are kinsmen⁴ from Nigeria's remote northern state, Katsina.
 
General Muhammadu Buhari - selected Monday as candidate for the main opposition party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party - is a former military ruler and considered a more established political figure in Nigeria.
 
His rival, the recluvive Governor Musa Yar'Adua of the ruling People's Democratic Party, is relatively⁵ unknown.
 
Abdulraheem Ojo, one of Nigeria's leading political analysts and a professor of political science at the University of Abuja, says the 2007 presidential election could be the most competitive in Nigeria.
 
"I still have a feeling that we are going to have another strong candidate from either ACD [Action Congress of Democrats] or AC [Action Congress] or whatever," he said.  "For the first time in the history of this country, we are going to have a very competitive election. Yar'Adua is coming in as an underdog.  He still has to convince Nigerians he can be a good president.  So, it's going to be a problem. But somebody like Buhari, we all know him.  He has been a head of state before and we know his policies and strategies.  We know everything about him. There are so many things that will happen between now and April.  Those things are likely to determine the outcome of the contest."

 
Leading candidate at the PDP presidential primary Umar Musa Yar'Adua waves to supporters at the Eagle Square venue⁶ of the convention in Abuja
The People's Democratic Party (PDP), which has ruled Nigeria since 1999, says it is not perturbed⁷ by a resurgent opposition.  Abdullahi Jalloh, a national executive committee member of the ruling party from the northern Gombe state, says PDP is still confident of winning next year's vote.

"God willing, my party will present Yar'Adua as an elected president come April 2007," he said.  "You've seen how he won, the gap, in the primaries.  He had about 3,000 against 300, for Okorocha.  So, the gap is just like that between PDP and any of the parties that will contest with Yar'Adua."
 
Another leading opposition party, the Action Congress, is scheduled to announce its candidate by Thursday.  Vice⁸ President Atiku Abubakar is widely speculated to have the support of the party for the presidential election.
 
Nigeria's 50 registered political parties are in the process of selecting candidates for April's vote, which should mark Nigeria's first transfer of power from one elected leader to another.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

3 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。

4 kinsmen   

n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Kinsmen are less kind than friends. 投亲不如访友。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• One deeply grateful is better than kinsmen or firends. 受恩深处胜亲朋。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

6 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

7 perturbed   

adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I am deeply perturbed by the alarming way the situation developing. 我对形势令人忧虑的发展深感不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mother was much perturbed by my illness. 母亲为我的病甚感烦恼不安。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。