Exile is a mansion by the sea
2003-08-12 14:16
Calabar - Liberian former president Charles Taylor embarked on life in exile here on Tuesday in a deluxe mansion by the sea, guarded by a corps of armed Nigerian police.
Taylor, 55, who resigned and left his war-ravaged west African country on Monday under intense international pressure, arrived first in Nigeria's capital Abuja late on Monday to a red-carpet welcome by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Shortly afterwards, Taylor, his wife, Jewel, and four daughters took off for Calabar, the quiet and mostly Christian capital of Nigeria's southeastern Cross River State.
Obasanjo said as Taylor arrived: "We will endeavor to be good hosts while he is in Nigeria."
Nigeria, the regional powerhouse that has played a leading role in mediating for peace in war-torn Liberia, has granted asylum to Taylor, who faces war crimes charges for his role in Sierra Leone's brutal civil war.
Officials here have emphasised the decision was motivated by concern about the humanitarian crisis in Liberia and the hope that Taylor's departure would speed up an end to the war, which has been pitting two rebel movements against government forces.
Threat to security and peace
They say they will not accept any "harassment" or discussion about Taylor's asylum status with Sierra Leone's United Nations-backed special court.
But a leading Nigerian human rights group, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) based in Calabar, condemned the asylum offer and said Taylor was not welcome in the city.
"Mr Taylor is a threat to the security and peace of this state.
"His stay here will definitely hurt the tourism effort we have all laboured to build," it said, urging Obasanjo to "facilitate the speedy arrest" and trial of Taylor.
Cross River State governor Donald Duke and other top officials were expected to receive Taylor formally on Tuesday.
Duke was also expected to hold a news conference later, but it was not clear whether the former president would be present.
Calabar officials have worked quickly to spruce up the Patrick Archibong Lodge, a former governor's mansion, to a standard befitting an exiled African leader, grooming the grounds and giving the two buildings on the premises a fresh coat of paint.
Mixture of indifference, indignation
Landscaping in the exclusive and serene neighbourhood has been touched up, and long-dead street lights have come to life.
Security was further tightened around the compound on Tuesday to accommodate Taylor and his entourage, who began arriving on Monday.
Calabar residents reacted to their new neighbour's presence with a mixture of indifference and indignation.
Etim Obot, a resident, said: "I initially thought that Taylor's coming to Calabar was a joke, but now that he is here, it has dawned on me that it is a fact."
Patrick Edobor, an engineer in Calabar, said: "How does his presence bother me? Since the government has decided to grant him asylum and since I was not consulted in the matter, I do not lose any sleep over it."
Taylor was accompanied out of Liberia to Abuja by Ghanaian President John Kufuor, Mozambican President Joachim Chissano, former Nigerian military leader Abdulsalami Abubakar and the executive secretary of 15-nation regional bloc Ecowas, Mohammed ibn Chambas.
South African President Thabo Mbeki, who also was at the handover ceremony in Monrovia, followed shortly afterward.
Taylor and his family immediately visited the state governor's lodge, officials said.