21.   Nigerian military ruler Gen. Sani Abacha cited security concerns, but his real motive was seen as political.

22.   Nigerian military ruler Gen. Sani Abacha sacked his army and air force chiefs in a surprise move that further shakes the unstable West African nation.

23.   Obasanjo is well-known for being the only Nigerian ruler to give up power voluntarily.

24.   Obasanjo is well-known for being the only Nigerian ruler to ever give up power voluntarily.

25.   Obasanjo, the front-runner, is the only Nigerian military ruler to voluntarily hand over power to an elected civilian.

26.   On the face of it, Nigerian ruler Gen. Sani Abacha appears unfazed by international outrage over the hanging of nine dissidents.

27.   Rifkind said the groundswell against the Nigerian rulers was still building.

28.   President Jerry Rawlings was inaugurated for a second term Tuesday in a ceremony attended by the reclusive Nigerian military ruler and a controversial African-American Muslim leader.

29.   Ransome-Kuti had spoken out against the arrest Wednesday of Tunji Abayomi, a human-rights activist and attorney for former Nigerian ruler Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo.

30.   The death of Nigerian military ruler Gen. Sani Abacha provides an opportunity for the troubled country to return to democracy, Foreign Minister Don McKinnon said Tuesday.