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SCU PAN: Nigerian head of state General Obasanjo (foreground) and President Nyerere of Tanzania (slightly to left of picture and in background) arriving at banquet hall in Lagos, Nigeria.
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GV: two leaders take seats at dining table.
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SV: toast being drunk
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CU: Obasanjo addressing gathering, and GV gathering applaud at end of speech. (2 shots)
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CU: Nyerere addressing gathering, and applauded.
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OBASANJO: "I should like to recall, with great pride and admiration, Your Excellency's laudable role and heroic contributions to the birth of pan-Africanism and the growth of African nationalism in those glorious days of our nationalist struggles in a foreign land, that bring to mind other illustrious Africans whose names must, for posterity, be enshrined in letters of gold when the battle of gold when the battle for African liberation is finally won, and when the chequered history of African emancipation is written by Africa's own sons. "Suffice it to say, for the meantime, therefore, Mr. President, that the Government and the entire people of Nigeria are profoundly appreciative of your continuing efforts in the march towards the total liberation of Africa from foreign rule, colonial oppression, economic exploitation and the heretical bigotry of white minority supremacy on our African soil."



TANZANIA: "Recent events have indicated, once again, that despite, once again, that despite decades of ruthless oppression, the people of South Africa have not agreed with their degradation. Their spirit has not been broken, even by murder and torture on a large scale. Without arms, and always without hope, they have again protested at being treated as less than human. We, who live in freedom, and we claim to national sovereignty, rest only on the principles of human equality and national self-determination. We have no alternative but to give them whatever support we can give them."




Initials RH/WLW/PNG/1725



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Nigeria's head of state Lieutenant-General Olusegun Obasanjo has publicly praised Tanzania's President Julius Nyerere for his 'heroic contribution to African nationalism'.

SYNOPSIS: The Nigerian leader was speaking at an official banquet at the end of the Tanzanian President's first official visit to the nation which possess black Africa's biggest and best-equipped armed forces. Past Nigerian regimes have promised the use of their armed strength against white minority rule if called for.

President Nyerere, one of the main forces behind the Southern African struggle, was warmly praised for his stand.