THE WHITE HOUSE�Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo took a big step toward reestablishing his country as Africa�s preeminent leader during a wide-ranging series of meetings with U.S. officials including President Bill Clinton, congressional leaders, and Pentagon brass.

The United States will be an ally in the democratic transition of Africa�s most populous nation, providing all-important debt relief, as well as political cooperation to help President Obasanjo deliver a �democracy dividend� to the Nigerian people.

President Clinton �will support efforts to lift the burden of debt, so that we can have a breather, to be able to consolidate a democracy,� said Mr. Obasanjo at a joint press conference with his counterpart Oct. 28.

�He will support our efforts to be strong enough internally, as a country and within our sub-region and our region, so that we can contribute to peace and stability. He will support efforts to deal with crime, to fight against crime and narcotic traffic in our country.�

Washington is Nigeria�s largest trade and investment partner, with the United States relying on Nigeria for almost 10 percent of its imported oil, and has been loud in both its praise of Mr. Obasanjo�s election in May of this year, after years of military rule, and its promise of a major expansion of financial aid.

�As Nigeria undertakes its reforms I will support generous debt rescheduling through the Paris Club and encourage other countries to take further steps,� Mr. Clinton said at the news conference. �Barriers to trade are barriers to opportunity for Africans working hard to catch up in a global economy and for Americans who want to work with them.�

�Nigeria is at a pivot point on which the future of all Africa and much of the world will turn. I am very glad it is in the hands of this leader today. It is very much in America�s interest that Nigeria succeed and therefore we should assist them in their success,� Mr. Clinton continued.

Nigerian officials had said prior to Mr. Obasanjo�s arrival that the country�s foreign debt would be high on the agenda when the two presidents met. That debt to international financial institutions and several individual countries has increased as a result of accumulating interest from approximately $6 billion to more than $30 billion since 1985. Nigeria now spends between 35 and 40 percent of its national budget to pay that interest.

�It is neither morally right nor economically sound to say that young democracies like Nigeria, as they overcome the painful legacy of dictatorship or misrule, must choose between making interest payments on their debt and investing in the health and education of their children,� said Mr. Clinton.

Mr. Obasanjo earned high marks during meetings with congressional leaders as well. House International Relations Committee member Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) was one of several Congressional Black Caucus members who met with Mr. Obasanjo.

Rep. McKinney �commends Pres. Obasanjo�s aggressive moves to correct the wrongs of the past,� spokesman Scott Southworth told The Final Call. �She is also very encouraged by statements from the president and his foreign minister regarding U.S. corporate misbehavior and human rights in his country.�

Mr. Obasanjo has called on American oil companies to take greater responsibility for correcting the environmental devastation that has occurred as oil has been removed from the Niger Delta region of his country, Mr. Southworth said.

Nigeria has also played a major peacekeeping role throughout West Africa in recent years, sending and financing the bulk of the regional troops which have helped restore peace and a democratically elected government in neighboring Liberia, and which continue to help stabilize the elected government in Sierra Leone which faces a threat from rebels, despite a shaky cease-fire.

Other officials commended Mr. Obasanjo, the first Nigerian president to visit Washington since 1980, for helping shed his country�s image that it is mired in corruption and unwilling to tackle organized crime.

�We have to provide an environment that is reasonably devoid of crime,� Mr. Obasanjo said regarding his country�s efforts to improve the climate for foreign investment. �We are fighting against crime in such a way that lives and properties can be safe and secure, in such a way that investment can be secure.�

Even though there have been no widespread investigations into official corruption, Mr. Obasanjo has been praised in the West for forcing dozens of senior military generals to retire. Lately, his government has also shown a willingness to prosecute some of the officials in the administration of his predecessor, the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Gen. Abacha�s son and one of his top security officials were recently arrested in connection with the slaying of pro-democracy activist Kudirat Abiola, a wife of the late Chief Moshood Abiola, presumed winner of 1993 presidential elections which were annulled by Gen. Abacha�s predecessor.

Nigeria currently receives $27 million a year in U.S. aid. Clinton administration officials, including Secretary of State Madeline Albright who visited the country in early October, have promised an expanded aid package that could triple or quadruple that assistance, according to published reports.

The additional money would help Nigeria solidify its institutions; provide military training both in this country and in Nigeria; fight drug trafficking and corruption; support democratic rule at the state and national levels; fund teacher training; HIV/AIDS prevention; and efforts to extend civilian oversight of the military.