2006年VOA标准英语-Nigerian MP: Lawmakers Offered Bribe to Ch

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
11 March 2006

 
Olusegun Obasanjo
(file photo)
  
An opposition¹ leader in Nigeria's parliament is alleging² lawmakers are being offered bribes³ to support another term for President Olusegun Obasanjo.  Opposition elements are mobilizing to challenge the proposed change.

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The stage is set for a major showdown in the next few days in the Nigerian parliament when it debates a proposal to change the constitution to allow President Olusegun Obasanjo to run for a third term.

A parliamentary group endorsed⁴ the much criticized proposal last Thursday. 
 
An opposition leader in the House of Representatives, Wunmi Bewaji, alleges⁵ bribes are being offered to lawmakers to support the proposed change.

"It is $1 million  because after what happened in the committee, with the rejection⁶ of the report of the committee, they went back.  What they are touting⁷ now is $1 million dollars per vote," he said.  "And it has been coordinated⁸ by a principal officer in the senate and a principal officer in the House."

Bewaji, the House leader of Nigeria's third-largest political party the Alliance for Democracy, insists opposition to the proposal is strong.

"I can assure Nigerians that it will be roundly defeated," he added.  "The third-term proposal will be roundly defeated on the floor.  I can tell you that we have the number in the larger House.  We have the number to ensure that the third term thing is brought to an end."

Supporters of President Obasanjo have dismissed reports that the president is campaigning for a third term.  Senator Ibrahim Mantu, a close friend of the president and head of the committee that approved the third term, says it is all a matter of speculation⁹ at this point.

"The president has never told anyone that he wants to stay beyond the year 2007 and constitutionally, he had always said he does not intend to go against the constitution, that he swore by the constitution, he will respect the constitution, he will uphold the constitution.  I think what is happening right now is the handwork of enemies of democracy," said Mr. Mantu.

Bewaji says changing the constitution to accommodate a third term for the president could lead to the break up of Nigeria.

"It will spell doom¹⁰, it will spell anarchy," he explained.  "That will be the end of democracy in Nigeria.  And that, mark my words that might be the end of Nigeria as a federation¹¹, as a united country.  The fact remains¹² that Nigeria is a very, very fragile federation and anything that is done with reckless abandon, without regard for the fragile nature of the federation, is going to push the nation to a precipice¹³."

Nigeria, a leading crude oil producer, is facing threats of widespread violence in the oil-rich Niger Delta¹⁴, where kidnapping oil workers has become fairly regular.
 
There are also prospects¹⁵ of politically motivated violence in other parts of the country.  More than 14,000 people have been killed through violence in Nigeria since Mr. Obasanjo was inaugurated in 1999.

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 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

3 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

4 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 alleges   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The newspaper article alleges that the mayor is corrupt. 报纸上断言该市长腐败。
• Steven was tardy this morning and alleges that his bus was late. 史提芬今天早上迟到的说词是公车误点了。

6 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

7 touting   

v.兜售( tout的现在分词 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报

参考例句：

• He's been touting his novel around publishers for years. 他几年来一直到处找出版商兜售自己的小说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Technology industry leaders are touting cars as a hot area for growth. 科技产业领袖吹捧为增长热点地区的汽车。 来自互联网

8 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

9 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

10 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

11 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

12 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

13 precipice   

n.悬崖，危急的处境

参考例句：

• The hut hung half over the edge of the precipice.那间小屋有一半悬在峭壁边上。
• A slight carelessness on this precipice could cost a man his life.在这悬崖上稍一疏忽就会使人丧生。

14 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。

15 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。