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A retired headmistress was sworn in Friday as Nigeria's first female state governor after her predecessor was sacked over allegations of financial misconduct and abuse of office, TV reports said.
Virginia Etiaba was sworn in by the chief judge in the southeastern state of Anambra following the impeachment of governor Peter Obi by the opposition-led House of Assembly early Thursday, the private Channels station said.
Etiaba, 55, who had been Obi's deputy and who carries the title "Dame" or Lady", initially turned down the offer to replace her superior and become the first female state governor in the oil-rich west African country.
The former schoolteacher was seen in television pictures Thursday holding talks with Obi before they rode in the same car to nearby Enugu city and reportedly met Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, their party leader.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, a former warlord and now a politician, is one of the key leaders and founders of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a left-wing party.
Addressing journalists in his office shortly after Etiaba was sworn in, Obi said insisted he was still governor of the state, the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.
"As far as I am concerned, what we have in Anambra State today (Friday) is a case of one governor and one deputy governor, we do not have two governors," Obi said, insisting that his deputy's inauguration was illegal.
The swearing-in of Etiaba, which took place at the government house in Awka, the state capital, was held under tight security and witnessed by a small crowd, reported Channels, which showed footage of the ceremony.
The Anambra State chief judge, Chuka Okoli, administered the oath of office on Etiaba, who was dressed in black.
More than 30 of the country's 36 state governors have been indicted for corruption by the country's anti-graft agency.
Reacting to his impeachment, Obi said the action of the legislators who impeached him was "criminal".
"The action is criminal and illegal. Fifteen does not constitute a two-thirds majority as enshrined in our constitution," he said in a televised interview, referring to the number of lawmakers who voted to impeach him.
Anambra State parliament has about 30 legislators and the constitution stipulates that two-thirds of the members are needed for impeachment.
However, there are conflicting figures on the number of legislators who sat to effect the impeachment.
Obi took over the post about seven months ago after a court dismissed his predecessor, Chris Ngige of the People's Democratic Party, over ballot rigging.
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AFP 032023 GMT 11 06
COPYRIGHT 2006 Agence France-Presse. All rights reserved.
