Obama's Africa visit prompts Nigerian, Kenyan angst

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U.S. President Barack Obama's choice of Ghana for his first official trip to Africa next week has triggered a bout of self-questioning in Nigeria and Kenya, where many see his itinerary as a deliberate snub.

The first black U.S. president is keen to hold Ghana up as a democratic model for Africa, where polls are too often marred by vote-rigging and violence, denting the pride of states which consider themselves equally important and worthy of a visit.

"Part of the reason is because Ghana has now undergone a couple of successful elections in which power was transferred peacefully," Obama told the AllAfrica news website, when asked why he had chosen to visit Ghana (allafrica.com).

"Countries that are governed well, that are stable, where leadership recognizes that they are accountable to the people and that institutions are stronger than any one person, have a track record of producing results for the people. And we want to highlight that," he said.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and a major supplier of oil to the United States, was already sensitive to the growing clout of its regional rival, particularly since Ghana is itself due to become an oil producer by the end of next year.

Endemic corruption, shambolic infrastructure and weak regulation in the so-called "Giant of Africa" or "Sleeping Giant" as some weary Nigerians call it have already pushed some international companies to relocate.

In contrast to Ghana, which in January held a closely contested election that brought former opposition leader John Atta Mills peacefully to power, Nigeria has an appalling record on organizing transparent polls.

The April 2007 vote which brought President Umaru Yar'Adua to power was so marred by ballot-stuffing and intimidation that local and foreign observers said it was not credible.

Critics of Yar'Adua who have dubbed him "Baba Go-Slow" for lack of progress on everything from the fight against corruption to providing reliable power supply say Obama's snub should make his administration sit up and think.

"If Obama decides to grace Nigeria with his presence, I will stone him," Nigerian Nobel prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka was quoted by Nigerian newspapers as saying.

"The message he is sending by going to Ghana is so obvious, is so brilliant, that he must not render it flawed by coming to Nigeria any time soon," he said.