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Tag: Mko Abiola

  • There’ll never be another MKO Abiola, says Akerele

    The late Chief Moshood Abiola’s former aide, Lisa Olu Akerele, spoke on the life and times of his boss and how efforts to secure his release from detention was aborted on a Television Continental Programme, Platform, anchored by SAM OMATSEYE, Chairman of The Nation Editorial Board.

    Now, let us start from the latest development at the Villa when Abiola and his close and all those who fought for June 12 were recognised. Now, you were one the prominent people there. Now, give us a sense of what you observed and what happened?

    Let me put it this way. To God be the glory that it happened in our lifetime. I remember when the late MOK was running, the thought for some us that time who were close was that we would work inside the villa. And I remember the late MKO told me that I would be in his domestic section as domestic adviser. So, then the thing got truncated and I found myself locked up in there instead of working there. I was a captive of Mustapha (Major Al-Mustapha) for six days before I was transferred to the SSS gulag. Then, for 25 years, we have been waiting. We’ve been everywhere trying to get the elections recognised and for the late MKO to be given the highest honour in the land. So, we’ve been making efforts and just out of the blues, 6th June, the news came and I thought it was a joke.

    It was like that to me. When I first got the news, I was like, what is this? Is it real? I first ignored it.

    Yes, because, coming from Saibaba himself, we knew something can come but not this way. So, I tried to get Kola whether he has heard. I couldn’t get across to him. I think he travelled abroad or something like that. Then, I now called one or two people. I called Adesina, our man there. I was told he’s away in China. So, where do I go? So, I now called somebody else. Then I saw the TV. I saw the president’s letter, signed by himself. And the first thing I did was to kneel down and say, ‘God, 25 years after. So, in my lifetime, this thing is happening.’ So, that was the reaction. So, God can be nice because we were supposed to be there as Abiola’s background men. But we got scattered. In fact, I had my own personal encounter where I was beaten, tortured right inside that place. And then, on Tuesday by the grace of God, we were there to receive this honour on behalf of the man with Kola leading us all and then, the formal recognition of that mandate. So, that day and the day after, it was like I was still dreaming. But now, the thing has sunk and it’s real deal.

    You were very close to Abiola. Can you take us through some of those heady days after the elections and what happened? What was going on in Abiola’s mind when, first before the annulment, because before the annulment, there was silence?

    We heard stories that the Generals were not going to let go, especially because it was planned for him to lose but the magic man won. So, it was something they could not just take on. So, somebody now called to say, and I would mention the fellow’s name. He’s a colleague. He was working with  Aikhomu (Augustus) then as vice president, Irabor. He said, ‘Olu, there is something ooo. Where can we meet? ‘ I said, ‘over what?’ Because there are two divides now but the journalistic something in me said, oya’ let’s talk.

    That’s Nduka Irabor

    Nduka Irabor, yes. He now said, ‘go tell oga to go and dobale (prostrate) for the Generals ooo’. I said, ‘excuse me, are you drunk or something.’ He said, ‘no, he should go and dobale.’ I took the phone, I got the late MKO, Oga, on phone and said, ‘Oga, this is what I heard ooo.’ He said, ‘iro l’onpa. On si were (they’re lying. They’re mad.) That was his reaction. That was the beginning of the trauma. And then, the ABN came.

    ABN, Association for Better Nigeria let by Arthur Nzeribe

    Then, on afternoon, the chief called and said, you’re Abuja man, take me to Ikpeme’s house, that judge that gave the (annulment). I said, ‘is it safe?’ ‘Take me to that house.’

     Who said so?

    It was Abiola. He wants to see that young woman who gave that judgment to annul the election. We got the, the place was locked up.

    He couldn’t get in?

    Of course, the woman ran away and she died mysteriously, something like that. So, that was how it first started as if it was a joke. Then, we picked the gauntlet. We teamed up with INEC. Is it NEC then?

    NEC, yes.

    Then, off to Kaduna for NEC to revalidate or do the right thing.

    That’s under Humphrey Nwosu?

    Yes, Humphrey Nwosu. Then, the announcement by the General himself, that even though that so and so and so, there were irregularities, we knew that the dobale that that fellow said is true. So, we learnt later that he sauntered in the newsroom one day and threw one unsigned paper at the reporters.

    I was in Abuja that time when Adamu brought the paper to me and I said, what did this mean. He didn’t sign it. It was unsigned. It was very curious. I had to hold my phone and call the editor in chief, Dr. Abiola and say, ‘this is what I heard.’

    So, that was how it started. Until, we later had to leave town to do the campaign, to sustain the thing and then his journey back home. All these while, I was in Abuja, getting things across to him, then him asking me to meet one or two people to keep the struggle going.

    Now, one thing that was interesting at that time was that at the very onset, when Abiola said, ‘this mandate, I’m going to hold on to it, there were riots and all kinds of instability in the country.’ People were saying, on June 12 we stand, on June 12 we stand. At a certain point, things seemed to cool and it looked like the civil society was on one side and they saw that Abiola was neither with them or with the military. Or they were thinking that he was going to cave in. Give me a sense of that period.

    Yes, actually it happened that some politicians that I will call politricians’. You know, when I was just locked up, I was taken to the Villa. There is one gate they call Independence Gate that leads to Mr President’s office then. So, that is Mustapha’s enclosure, where he keeps his victims.

    Major Mustapha?

    Major Mustapha. So, I was there. I think I spent six nights. So, some men were coming in at night. Those who were shouting ‘Halleluyah’ in the afternoon, they were coming to see IBB at night. I said, ‘’Ah, what’s going on?’

    These are politicians ooo

    Yes, they’re the same…. I won’t mention names but in my book, I told you I have a book, I will mention the names there. So, they would come at night surreptitiously. In the afternoon, they would say, ‘On June 12 we stand.’ That’s how they confused the public not MKO himself. But all these while, I was getting these things across to MKO. And he kept saying, ‘My mandate is my mandate. It’s not my mandate, it’s peoples’ mandate and he’s not going to relinquish it. And that was what he did till the very end.

    Then, there was this period when it looked like there was going to be an interim government. Shonekan came in and the he became the man in charge.

    ING

    Yes, ING, Interim National Government. What was going on that time with Abiola because Abiola said he did not associate himself with the Interim Government?

    He was not even in tune with any outside arrangement besides his mandate. We thought Shonekan was with us but apparently he was with them.

    With Abacha and co. Abacha was secretary

    The Owu General was asking…

    That’s Obasanjo

    Yes. He was asking Kola some funny questions.

    What kind of questions?

    Has he satisfied them? Has he done this? Is it true he is close to this? He was asking Kola about whether MKO has done what was expected of him.

    What was expected of him?

    Well, maybe to negotiate, to dobale, to do this. It was a confused situation. But then, the thing was that MKO was not ready to negotiate.

    And eventually, Abacha removed Shonekan at the ING and became the man in charge. Then what happened was that some people in the so-called progressives became part of the government. Tell us the goings-on that time

    Yes, like I told you, what I saw from that place where some people would come at night and I saw some prominent men that were from the southwest. So, by the time things changed, I now saw some of the in that government. And it was a complete betrayal of the whole thing.

    Some people say that Abiola’s decision was that let us sit down and work with this Abacha. Was it that they wanted Abacha’s government to stabilise a little and then the people would come, those who were there like Jakande, like Babtope, like Onagurwa and so on and so forth.

    That was the bogey sold to some of them by Diya who was the go-between. But they had their original hidden agenda. So, when they stabilised a little bit, then they turned against us.

    So, what did Diya tell them? What was Diya’s plan?

    Diya said they should just give them a little time to clear the Aegean stable then Abiola would come and then he’d be sworn in. And apparently, it was a trap.

    So, it was on that basis that all the people like Jakande and all the others, they were told to come into the government.

    Yes, they got into the government and they saw the picture and they were told to get out. And they said, ‘no.’

    They were told to get out of the government?

    Of course, they said, ‘it is better we stay in and fight.’

    Some people said it was not that. That if they left, that their lives would be in danger because they knew they were on the other side.

    No, they knew it.  And then because of money was moving round. And then, it’s like some people wanted Abiola out. Because to them Abiola was the only one (taking the shine). So, let them keep the man for some time. After all, Abiola met them in the game. How can it be Abiola alone? So, that’s what happened.

    That’s interesting. So, did Abiola tell you anything? Around that time, Abiola was already in jail.

    Yes now. They captured him like you know. The first time out in court, I’m sure Chief Abiola himself thought it was a joke. Because he thought he would get there and they would give him bail. So, the late lawyer, that is Aka Bashorun, came. He came with Kudi and the man came with just one shirt, thinking that he would come, make his submission and then they would release MKO and then go home.

    Who came with just one shirt?

    Alao Aka Bahsorun. He just flew in and when they got to court, the game changed. They now said, nothing like oral application, bla, bla, bla. So, that is the beginning of the end. So, Abiola got taken to Bwari, one village. When I got there and I saw where they put him, you can’t imagine somebody at that level, that height, in a pit latrine.

    The place with pit latrine?

    In the police station.

    That’s where they put Abiola

    Yes. So, I and the policeman in charge who later became a DIG, we had to go to town to go and buy 3 by 6 student foam (mattress).

    Student foam?

    (laughs) To bring to MKO, at least for him to spend that first night.

    What was the attitude of MKO to that kind of atmosphere?

    You know him now. He’s peoples man. Then there was this School of Governance put in there by Babangida, then headed by Benin professor.

    Yes, Omo Omoruyi

    So, the students were there, that village. So, they heard Abiola was there. So, they started trooping there.  He (Abiola) now became a celebrity. That’s how they just captured him to real jail.

    So, that’s why they removed him

    Yes, because it was now a Mecca. So, people in town heard that Abiola is being kept in that place. So, they removed him. And that is the end.

    So, you guys got that foam for him. What else did you get for him?

    Tissue and Jalabia, this long Muslim (gown) that Kudi bought.

    Kudi was still alive that time?

    Yes, she was still alive.

    Okay, when they took him from there, they took him to Kuje Prison?

    Not prison. Police Station headquarters. So, that was when we now knew we were in trouble because they now brought in the dreaded bodyguards. So, for you now to see him, it’s something else. You have to be frisked.

    How many of you were allowed to see him?

    Well, the court appointed me the liaison officer through the intervention of Falana (Femi Falana) in court. That at least there should be someone who will have to liaise when lawyers are coming, the wives or the family. So, I got that legal cover. So, whoever is coming will have to come to me, then we ‘ll have to go to Abba, who later became IG, then the Abba will call the police commissioner, the commissioner would call Mustapha.

    So, if you want to just give him, maybe toothbrush. You have to go through all these…

    All these. Then we will now go to the police commissioner who would now ask for Dr. Falomo to give him medicine too.

    He would ask for medicine for himself too

    Of course, he knew he was bringing quality medicine for Abiola. So, he too became our patient. But that was how tight it was.

    Did you get any time when you got frustrated trying to even reach him?

    Oh yes. You know at a time, the court seemed upside down. The Supreme Court judges didn’t form quorum deliberately. You remember that incident?

    I remember

    So, to get across to MKO, we now had to devise our own means in getting across. We had to recruit some of their own men too. MKO had goodwill all over the place. So, some people had sympathy for him within the system. So, we got some people to work for us. So, we started doing communication through.

    Were you able to see him?

    Of course, they were moving him from one place to the other. But when you have insider there, they will tell when to move in. We go there atimes at 2am, 3am, they would be sleeping, then the man (MKO) would speak to us through the window. And then we pass (messages). But there was something dangerous I was doing then and I think I learnt it from him too.

    He said that you can convey anything, any information, the moment you know what you want to talk about, you just scribble it and you can pass it on. In journalism parlance, when you use bullet points, codes. So, I would do this coding thing. I will now squeeze the paper in my palm. So, all I needed to do was just handshake with MKO. He would then stretch and put it in his pocket. So, he will now reply through our insiders. So, that was how I was able to get letters to so many people, Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Osoba, his wife. You know, some letters came out. That was the channel we were using.

    When the letters were coming out, were they firing some people, were they asking questions?

    They were mad but then we kept doing it. But eventually, we got caught. My driver got careless one morning. He was coming from the run, the normal run. He was going to see our man. So, they had a meeting point. Unfortunately that morning, Abacha was leaving his secret rest house. So, the cars passed by my driver. They knew my own car, the wagon. So, one of them was smart enough to spot, this is Olu’s car. So, the big man had gone so, they call them ‘Road Open, Road Close’. So it one of those ‘Road Open Road Close’ people saw the car. The boy (driver) ought to have just driven off. I think he got scared, so, he parked. So, they now went to him and they saw him, ‘oh, na you. What are you doing here? ’ He got jittery. So, they searched the car and they saw my notes. When they got the notes, they captured the boy, they carried the car, got to the house. Then, one of our friends in the house called me and said, ‘Olu, your time is up. Oya move. ’  So, the choice for me was to either run or stay. So, I considered many things. I decided to wait because MKO was still there. So if ran to America, I had two visas anyway. I had British, I had American. Too many things were involved for me to now leave. That would be like leaving the man because nobody could get that kind of network we had. So, I had to stay back. So, I was waiting for them. The commissioner called and said, ‘Olu, where are you?’ I said, ‘I’m in my house now.’ He said, ‘we want you to come and see some people. Where is your place?’ He now sent that Abba.

    Did he not know your place?

    Where they park two cars every night.

    Just to tell the viewers. He is the one that alerted me to the fact that two cars, two SSS vehicles  were trailing me around town when I was Managing Editor of Concord in Abuja. I will always thank you for that

    It’s one of those things. Here we are today. If they had captured you or maimed you, would you be here today? Would I be here? No. So, let’s thank God for that. So, the Abba that later became IG came. He was the one who arrested me. Then, he arrested all the cars in the house. So, they took me there. I thought it was a joke. I didn’t know that was the beginning of the end. That was the last time I spent in freedom.

    So, once they held you, there was no access to MKO

    Yes.

    You couldn’t access him because you were also incarcerated

    First of all, I spent some days at the Villa. Then, they transferred me to SSS. Then from SSS, I started building network again. So, from there, they took me to Yakubu Gowon barracks where I had field day. They were a bit careless. In fact, I got to know the barber.

    Who was working on MKO

    Yes, I said that is good. Then, as providence would have it, the driver to Abacha happened to know me. He too had problem with Mustapha, so Mustapha locked him up in the same place. So, the fellow was biter. So, he told me so many things. He didn’t know he was giving me information. So, I now built more network and through that barber, I was able to reach out to MKO. So, MKO now asked the fellow to ask that man the name he calls me to be sure it’s me. The fellow came and I told him and he told him (MKO). Then we linked up again.

    So, from detention, you were also connecting and working with people outside.

    Yes.

    What was the nature of your network?

    Well, to get what people were doing outside, the NADECO people, the things people were doing, just to encourage him. Because without information, you know that kind of man. So, we were able to buoy up his confidence. So, all the harassment they were given him to either truncate the thing or leave it, the thing did not jell with him.

    Now, when you were seeing him in detention, how would you describe the state in which he was?

    You know he had heart problem, BP, which has been his ailment for years. And he has been managing it. So Falomo was always around to give him the medication. So, he was in good spirit because, at least he knew more than some of them knew. The question now was Abiola had goodwill. Some big men were even getting across to him. So, he was hopeful that something would happen. So, while that one was going on, I made runs to IBB to let him know that his friend was expecting him to call this thing off, tell Nigerians that we’re sorry. And then the thing would be off. And I met with IBB 16 times in Minna and he knew I had access. In fact, there was a time they had one-on-one. So, I took IBB’s number, gave it to someone to give to him (Abiola). So, we thought with that, IBB would come down and do the right thing. But he procrastinated till the very end.

    What was the nature of your interaction with him? You visited with him, you had conversation. What was the spirit of that conversation with IBB?

    He was trying to… you know him now.

    He was charming as ever, warm

    He was saying, ‘it’s not me. You see, this country is big. I’ve been everywhere.’ Of course, he kept saying the same thing. And I knew he was under pressure. The IBB we knew before the crisis was not the man I was seeing.

    Now, people forget that IBB and Abiola were very chummy. In fact, when the Orkar coup happened, Abiola took his family, I don’t know if you followed him that day, to go and meet IBB to show solidarity. This was how close they were.

    Yes, that was what I tried to do, that follow-up that I was doing. People know you to be friends. Why can’t you just do something, just own up, I made a mistake. But he said, ‘Generals don’t own up.’

    That’s what he said

    He said ‘Generals don’t own up’ and then he’s not alone in this thing. It’s a massive thing and there are patriots. You know, he would regale you with all these highfalutin.

    Abiola was very human and when you’re in pressure like this, historically, sometimes, you’re afflicted with self-doubts an say, ‘do you think I should sit with these people and find a way out.’ Did you see such moments with him?

    Yes, Abiola said he wrote letters to Abdulsalam Abubakar and made representations to some other Generals, Mark and visited him later, that it’s a question of sitting down to work this thing out, that they were not ready. You know they were enjoying the something now. So, they didn’t want to leave it. Then, this brings me to one we did and it’s a pity that it didn’t work out.

    Okay, I was going to ask that question.

    At a stage when nothing was moving on again, the Supreme Court was not sitting, it’s like the man (Abiola) had been abandoned there. Then some of his friends approached me, both in the military, retired and then civilians. They sent someone to me to meet them somewhere. Getting there, I saw an American diplomat that I knew had been coming to court. So, they now raised the issue of spiriting Abiola out of that place. And they thought it could be done.

    Which was a kind of jailbreak

    Yes, something like that if they could get the man. But then we need the support of then Big (Uncle) Sam, Abiola’s friends in America. So, we parleyed over it and it was decided that I should get in touch with his PA (Personal Assistant) in the US. There’s one Randy Echols. He was my opposite number in Washington. They now suggested that the man should get in touch with Abiola’s friends at the Capitol so they would work out the thing. So, they took me to a secret house (in Abuja), gave me a secure phone. Surprisingly, I was on to Randy Echols.

    Where were you then? Was it the time you were still in jail?

    No, it was when I came out. I was still working then. They didn’t know how serious we were. So, we got Randy and the idea was that Randy should link up with his friends over there, that’s Abiola’s friends and then with the military. There’s one ship mooring somewhere in the ocean. So, a small plane would come and land in a neighbouring town or even in Abuja. It’s a question of taking Abiola from that jail, four, five hours, he’s into the plane and then, the plane flies out. So, that was the idea. But when the thing was discussed with the late MKO through the window as usual, he said, ‘it’s a dangerous thing to do ooo.’ And that if his friends or my friends insisted, we should leave out his children and members of his family out of it because the Abacha he knew would not hesitate to wipe out his family and then the families of those people guarding him.

    But we thought it is fool-proof. We thought we could do it because they were not so popular, except for those who were making money from them. So, we thought Randy Echols would do the right thing. Then, just for him to ensure he was talking to the right person, me – I had met him twice when he came with MKO to Abuja when things were going (okay) – So, I spoke to the man. I now said, for him to confirm my identity with Doyin (Abiola), our MD (Concord Press) and then Alhaji Akinteye, that’s the PA to MKO at his office.

    This thing I’m going to say would embarrass some people but they just have to take it like that. Instead of talking to Doyin or Akinteye, Randy now called Wuraola Abiola, that is Kola’s youngest sibling to ask about me, ‘who is this Olu?’ Then Wura now called Agbo, the MD of RCN, ‘who is this Olu?’ Then Agbo now called Kola. Then Kola now called, ‘Olu, what’s going on? They said there is one Olu making enquiries about some things.’ I said, ‘Oh, is that so? I don’t know anything about it.’ So, I denied it. So, that was the end of the thing.

    So, the word has gone out.

    Maybe he (Randy) thought it’s a family thing. He should have known with experience that it’s not a tea party that we were planning. So, I went back to Oga, saying ‘so,so,so and so.’ He said he said it. He said ‘Alhamdulillah’, thank God. Because if we had spirited him out, there would have been blood because Abacha would react violently and then more people would die.

    He didn’t want his family members to know about the plan so that their innocence would keep Abacha away from them.

    Yes, because the plan then was that if were able to get MKO out, those staffers around him would go with us, me too I follow. It had to be a clean sweep.

    That means you would have just gone too because if you were around, you’d be gone

    So, when the thing now failed, then we said ‘it’s from God.’ So we dropped the idea.

    You were also fortunate that nobody knew that that plan ever happened at that time because even if the family…

    They (family) didn’t even know the details. The details, I’m saying it now. Nobody knew the details.

    But they knew that something was going on with Olu

    Randy called Wura. Wura called Agbo. Agbo called Kola. Kola asked me and I said nothing. So, I went back to the big man and he said, ‘thank God it didn’t work out.’

    He didn’t even let even a scintilla of the idea to go out because that would have been fatal

    You know the man (Abacha.) So, that was how far we got.

    But you give the impression that Abiola was not too sure that he wanted it or not

    No, he didn’t want to go.

    He didn’t want to go?

    Yes.

    But if you guys insisted

    It was we who, I think, they were asking me to pressurise him. And I thought I was doing my job to get him out of that place. But now, he now opened my eyes to the larger picture – my family and the family of those people around him – their villages, their men. That man (Abacha) would roll the tank all over the place. So, if he now comes out as president, over the dead body of his own children? So, when we say the thing has flopped, he was happy.

    That was interesting. Now, tell us, many people talk about Abiola. Abiola grew up a poor man. He was dirt poor. He used to talk about dancing in order to get balls of eba and amala to feed his family. What kind of person was the Abiola you interacted with?

    Well I should put the question back to you because you interacted with him.

    Not as much as you did

    Yes, but for me, that was like there was never an Abiola before I knew him. And there would never be anyone like that. The only person close to him, you know him. I won’t mention his name. So, the question now is a good man would come once in a while. God sent him here and he did what he had to do and he left. He affected lives and he made things happen. For him, there is no problem. When they said he was not going to win, he said, what are they talking about? He said, ‘let’s start the game joor, you will see.’ He said he’s going to beat Tofa in his village.  And he did.  That’s the kind of spirit he had. For me personally, I met him as a chief correspondent.

    A chief correspondent in Sokoto

    In Sokoto, yes. I did something innocuous and he took it big.

    I always tell a story which I put in my column of a story I did about a Lebanese family in Apapa who were displaced, they were suffering and I wrote it in African Concord. And two weeks later, somebody from the family came to thank me for bringing the story to the attention of Abiola. I said, I never brought the story to the attention of Abiola because they were rehabilitated. Everybody of the family was taken care of and they were thanking me. Abiola never called me. He just read the story and found out where the family was and rehabilitated.

    That’s why I said you’re in the position to describe him. I was a bloody chief correspondent when the NPN (National Party of Nigeria) people were to hold their convention in faraway Argungu village. So, they were all there. He was there as chairman of Ogun NPN, I think. And then, I think the late Alhaja Simbiat, that’s Kola’s mum, was the vice chairman. So, they were there together with the secretary, one Lawal. So, they gave us a press village. So, we were there and then you know, for Concord people then, we were the only reporters with cars. And I had a brand new Beetle. So, I drove my car to his place to go and greet the big MKO, my publisher. So, I met him discussing with the late (Shawu), minister for communications. So, immediately he saw me, I said I’m so, so and so. He said, ‘oh, my friend.’ I said, ‘who is your friend? Your employee.’ He embraced me. Then, I said, what kind of thing is this? Who is your friend? Can you see the connection. The next thing, he said ‘Mummy’

    That’s Simbi

    Our staff is here. Our man Olu, as if…

    You had known each other

    I now went to greet ‘Mummy’ and then ‘Mummy’ was worried. She was looking for something. Then I said, ‘mama, Se ko si ooo?’ What is the problem ma? She said, ‘oh, those kids who packed the luggage, she left their toothbrush and toothpaste. And then, the laundry people were not answering them because they had to iron their dresses for the convention night. I say, ‘wetin I dey do?’ Mama, bring the cloth jare. He said, ‘where iron?’  I get iron for journalist village now. I sauntered down, brought the iron, then I brought a colleague of mine, Bisi Adekunle of New Nigeria. We went there. So, I now said, ‘Bisi, please iron the clothes, let me go and buy toothpaste and toothbrush.’ That was the beginning. I did it. The man was dressed up, he was looking at me. Then Mummy told him all that the other fellow did. So, the following morning, they were now going for the convention. They brought his big Mercedes for chairman. Then, he now said, he’s driving with Olu in his Beetle. I nearly lost my steering. I mean, you can imagine your Publisher abandoning his Mercedes. Then, the Lawal, his secretary, said, ‘Chief, that’s Beetle.’ He said, ‘ehen, so your own Mercedes has eight tyres.’ I drove him to the venue. So, I became star.

     

    For driving the great MKO

    And that is a reporter driving publisher in that kind of place. So, when he now got down, he went to see Shehu Shagari to shake. You can imagine a Beetle in the midst of all these dignitaries. That was the beginning of the long lasting friendship. So, when I was going to get married, it’s like leaving my village to go to big man’s place to marry in Lagos. So, he was in Sokoto with Dele Giwa and co and I told him, I dey go do marriage ooo. He said, ‘where?’ I said so, so, and so. He said these are my friends. When is it? He said, ‘we’ll be there.’ Then, he gave me a bundle. I won’t tell you (what he gave). I said ‘ah.’ And he came. He came and (on) all the tables, he dropped something.

     

     

  • NASS to Buhari: We pray you’ll continue to tolerate us as your `children’

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday got a loyalty and commitment pledge from an unlikely source: the National Assembly.

    Besides the pledge, Senators and members of the House of Representatives  prayed that God might bless Buhari with additional tolerance for him to continue to tolerate them  as his `children’.

    Deputy Senate leader, Alhaji  Bala ibn Na’Allah, representing  Senate President Bukola Saraki made the pledge when representatives of residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) paid Sallah homage to the President at the Presidential Villa.

    Na’Allah  said the National Assembly would keep supporting the vision of the Buhari administration for a greater Nigeria and claimed that  no administration since 1999 has received more cooperation from the legislature like President Buhari.

    He said: “Mr. President, I have the authority of each and every member of the Senate and the House of representatives to wish you a blessed Eid-el-Fitr in 2018 which we are celebrating today.

    Read Also: Buhari is hero of Nigerian democracy – Group

    “And I have the authority of each and every one of us to equally pledge our loyalty and commitment to work with you for the betterment of this country and to wish you more strength; to wish you more health and most importantly Mr. President to add additional degree of tolerance for you so that you tolerate us as your children.

    ““Let me seize this opportunity to say, for the record, that from 1999, when we started our democratic experience, to date  no president and I repeat, `no president and I say for the third term `no president has received the amount of cooperation from the National Assembly like you contrary to what is outside there.”

    The senator also thanked the president, on behalf of the National Assembly, over his decision to revisit and address the issue of June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was won by late MKO Abiola.

    President Buhari had, on June 6, in a statement declared that henceforth, June 12, be observed as Democracy Day in Nigeria and that some heroes of democracy be given national honours.

    The president fulfilled this promise on Tuesday when he conferred on late MKO Abiola the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (Posthumous),  Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe and late Gani Fawehinmi were also conferred with Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.

    Continuing, Na’Allah  said: “May I, on behalf of the Senate and the House of Representatives, again thank you for that bold steps you have taken in addressing the unresolved issue of the June 12.

    “You might have underestimated the effects of that singular act. But I will tell you, sir, you have achieved more than 75 per cent of what South Africa did with the Truth and Reconciliation Committee with this singular act.

    “You may not understand sir, but I’m sure in near future you will understand the value of that singular act.

    “Along that line, may I on behalf of the National Assembly implore our religious leaders to begin to think along the line of uniting this country.

    “God has brought together, we do not have any alternative, as far as we are concern we should continue to live as brothers and sisters.”

    Responding, President Buhari called on all Nigerians to work towards salvaging the nation from the shackles of past wrongs by sharing in the collective vision for a greater Nigeria and contributing individually to realize the goal.

    He urged all citizens to embrace the reality that Nigeria must exist and continue as one nation, noting that the country needed all its human and material resources to succeed.

    “We have no other country than Nigeria. We may as well stay and salvage it together,’’ he said.

    President Buhari told the gathering of religious leaders, traditional rulers, security chiefs and top government officials to start expanding the frontiers for development by sensitizing their “constituencies’’ to work harder for the collective good of the country.

    President Buhari also received women groups led by his wife, Aisha, President of the National Council of Women Societies, Dr. Laraba Shoda, and former Deputy Governor of Plateau, Pauline Tallen.

  • MKO Abiola Day or Democracy Day?

    Sir: The first democratically elected government in Nigeria was inaugurated on October 1, 1960 and re-elected in 1964, but was toppled by a military coup on January 15, 1966. Likewise, on October 21, 1979, democracy was revived, but was toppled by the military on December 31, 1983. Again, in 1993, another democratic election took place on June 12, but was halted by the military. The most sustained democracy in Nigeria is the one that was ushered in on May 29, 1999, and it is the current democratic era in the country.

    In choosing a democracy day among these dates, one may be indecisive. Would you consider a date in the past democratic era or a date in the current democratic era? Would you use a date that marks a success to the democracy or a date that marks a failure to the democracy? Whichever one you choose, you will still have to choose among options. If you go for a date to commemorate a failure to the democracy, you would then have to choose between January 15, 1966, December 31, 1983, and June 12, 1993. All these dates were days when democracy was ruined or crucified in Nigeria. So, what criteria would you use to choose among these options?

    Changing the democracy day from the date in which the democracy was revived and achieved success seemingly forever (May 29) to the date in which a democratic election was negated 25 years ago (June 12) is a big call. Which of the two dates is more deserving to be a democracy day?

    Many would have chosen differently.

    The presumed winner of the June 12 election, MKO Abiola is no doubt a great symbol of democracy in Nigeria, and it is fair to dedicate a special day to remember his struggle and sacrifice, and June 12 is a perfect date to do that. MKO Abiola Day is a day in which the country will reflect on and renew our hope for true democratic principles and the contributions we can make to sustaining democratic values. So, June 12 should be an MKO Abiola Day.

    For Democracy Day, it should remain May 29, the day in which democracy was revived to stay forever; and a day in which every newly elected government is inaugurated. In Nigeria, we have tried democracy four times, but we all failed except for the fourth time (May 29, 1999). So, May 29 is a perfect date to celebrate our democracy. It was in this democracy that was ushered on May 29, 1999 that we had four consecutive elected presidents. It is worth celebrating.

    May 29 should not be isolated; it is a date we really achieved sustained success in democracy, and it is still the date we mark the beginning of every new democratic dispensation. Therefore, we should have both Democracy Day on May 29 and MKO Abiola Day on June 12. This will be more sustainable; otherwise, a different regime in the future may also wish to change democracy day to either January 15 or December 31. January 15 is already being marked and commemorated every year as Armed Forces Day, and that is okay because it was not made a democracy day as it is a day to remember a sad event. Dates for sad events may not be fit to celebrate a democracy, but can be renamed to remember the victims and the struggles made in those times. The government should reconsider its decision on June 12 and make it an MKO Abiola Day instead of Democracy Day.

     

    • Dr. Ahmed Adamu, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina.

  • June 12: A parley with MKO Abiola

    WHAT a glorious outing for the Abiola family and all those who identify with the magic of June 12!

    Millions watched on television as President Muhammadu Buhari, at a colourful ceremony and before a select audience of worthy compatriots, apologised for the injustice that saw a nation lose its sense and a great man his life. It was an emotional spectacle at the seat of power in Abuja on Tuesday. And what a day of reminiscences.

    Kola Abiola, the late Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola’s eldest son, yielded the podium for his sister Hafsat to speak for the family. She did not disappoint. We were touched as she spoke, carefully picking her words to strike the right chord and urging Buhari to forgive whatever wrong her father might have done him. Of course, she drew great applause.

    Abiola, she said, was already rehearsing his inaugural speech. Why not? The results were pouring in and victory was in sight.

    What a day of apologies and genuine actions to lay to rest the ghost of the June 12, 1993 election – Nigeria’s fairest and freest ever – which was annulled for no reason by the military, headed by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who went by the fraudulent title of “president”. He was not at the ceremony. Ernest Shonekan, a chief and head of the Interim National Government (ING), the emergency contraption the military deployed to subvert the popular will, but which collapsed like a pack of cards that it was, was also absent. So was former President Olusegun Obasanjo, arguably the biggest beneficiary of the June 12 crisis, who refused to recognise Abiola, obviously from sheer egoism.

    Nobody missed them.

    Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka shelved a foreign trip for the ceremony. He, as usual, lashed the dictators who abused Nigerians by their horrific actions and called for a “hall of shame” to ensure that history records their evil deeds for future generations.

    Asiwaju Bola Tinubu recalled the days of the struggle, praised the President for showing courage in honouring Abiola and assured him of support in his bid for a fresh term.

    If only the dead could talk. What could the man of the moment have said on all this? How would Abiola have reacted to the recollections of his heroism? A newspaper baron, he was fond of calling his editors to catch up on the news of the day and make some comments. Let us just imagine one of his numerous calls to the Concord newsroom. Here we go:

    Hello… this is MKO. How’re you?

    Ah! Fine; thank you sir (the reporter is shocked).

    Good. I trust all is well with you. What’s going on in town?

    It’s the 25th anniversary of your historic election as President. Now you have been officially recognised as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The highest honour in the land has been bestowed on you sir.

    “Ah! Thank you. I aaam…mmm .. I am grateful. Mo dupe pupo. But let me tell you, I knew this day would come. Nigerians, 14 million of them, voted in that election. From the east, west, north and south; everywhere. It was a sunny day; I remember. Even nature was behind us. No tribe; no religion. Then the military…no, a clique in the military annulled the election. They said if I was sworn in I would be killed. Did I look like a commander-in-chief who would be afraid to die?

    “And, young man, aburo, you may recall that I told them clearly that a student who has passed an exam does not need to repeat it. Yes. I said so. The people have spoken. Loud and clear. You cannot make the sun to rise twice in one day, even in Africa. No.

    “It was a colourful ceremony at the Villa sir. President Buhari apologised to your family and all Nigerians. All your June 12 activists were there. “

    “Really? That’s great and I thank them all. Mo dupe. And I praise Buhari for his courage; that is how it should be. Those who were trying to clap with one hand now know on which side of history they are. Men of no principles, no character and mere weaklings who were not worthy of the uniforms they wore. Shame.”

    “Unfortunately, Obasanjo could not attend. He was away in Norway, according to his letter to the Presidency.”

    “Obasanjo. Eh en; Obasanjo was invited? Was he not the one who said I wasn’t the messiah Nigeria needed? He’s a master of intrigues, full of foxy ideas and pure ego. After I had made the supreme sacrifice, he became the biggest beneficiary of it all. I was even told that he planned to stay on in power and all that. What’s Obasanjo doing in Norway? Is he selling stockfish now? I remember he used to be a chicken farmer.”

    “Babangida, your friend, was also not there sir – for some health reasons.”

    “Hmmmm. Ibrahim. I didn’t expect him to come. He caused it all by not behaving like a true General. His courage failed him (I doubt if he had any). He said his boys vowed to kill him if he handed over to me. And I asked him if he was ready to relinquish power before I contested the election; he swore with the Holy Koran that he was. That was why I told them when they mounted pressure on me to surrender my mandate: ‘The mandate belongs to 14million Nigerians. I am only the custodian of this sacred mandate. And you can’t shave a man’s head in his absence. Nigerians, 14million of them, will be here if I must give up. They didn’t find it funny. And remember that I once said ‘with a friend like Babangida, nobody needs an enemy. That is the truth.”

    “Chief, there are people who believe that if you had agreed to rerun the election, you would have been alive for your family and business today.”

    “Looook, my dear, doooooon’t, don’t talk like that. You can’t abort a pregnancy after the baby has been born and people are already congratulating the mother. No. It’s too late. And I…I… I …I told them so. How can you be running and at the same time you are looking backwards? “

    “Shonekan was also absent, chief. I don’t remember the reason he gave.”

    “Shonekan; why should he be there- to collect another Greek gift? He reminds me of the elephant’s story. They told the elephant that he was going to be king. They dug a big hole and covered it with a beautiful carpet and put a throne on it. On the day of the elephant’s inauguration, there was a huge party. Women were singing, A o merin j’oba…(We shall install the elephant as king). They put the elephant on the throne. He crashed into the deep pit. He was deceived. He was used. I won’t say more than that. I won’t – for now. What Chief Shonekan failed to realise is, ‘the bigger the head, the bigger the headache’ Yes.”

    “As for those who are saying that I should have surrendered to stay alive, I thank them. That is human. But you know me; I am a man of the people. I can die for anything I believe in. Besides, I stated clearly when the struggle began that on this matter, one of three things would happen. ‘I have never been president, I have never been dead before and I have never gone to jail. One will surely happen.’ No regrets at all. An Are Onakakanfo must be ready to die fighting; he must not run away. It is a taboo, eewo.” Only a bastard will say the fear of death would not let him claim his father’s title.

    “Tinubu is advocating that your manifesto should be adopted to fight  poverty.”

    “You see, aaah…aaaah (Abiola laughs),let them read Farewell to Poverty, my economic blueprint in which I said by the grace of God in five years, no Nigerian child will go to bed hungry. And that is the truth. We can do it. I have to go now, aburo.

    “Thank you and God bless.”

    “Thank you sir.”

    Joshua Dariye goes to jail

    FORMER Plateau State Governor Joshua Chibi Dariye chose a wrong day  to go to jail. Tuesday was full of activities to mark the 25th anniversary of the June 12,1993 election, which MKO Abiola won. It was Abiola’s day at the Villa. President Muhammadu Buhari  revalidated the election and conferred on Abiola the highest honour in  the land – the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

    Editors were troubled. The front page, naturally, was Abiola’s. But here was a former governor bagging a big award – 14 years in jail for N1.162b fraud – which also deserved a front page splash. Dilemma. To his credit, Dariye still found space on some front pages. What a feat!

    Dariye
    Dariye

    He arrived in court in his official vehicle as a senator; he left in a pick-up van. Of the N1.162b ecological fund released to the state, Dariye surrendered N550m. He splashed part of the cash on his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    To his lawyer, Paul Erokor (SAN), there is no point appealing the verdict. “We are forced to fall on your mercy,” he told Justice Adebukola Banjoko, who insisted that corruption must not go unpunished.

    The Dariye case went on for 11 years. Now, justice is served – fresh  and hot. Just as it was in the case of former Taraba State  Governor Jolly. He was jailed on May30. Are public officials learning any lesson from these and similar cases?

  • June 12: Buhari did the unthinkable – Gani Adams

    President Muhammadu Buhari did the unthinkable by honouring the martyr of democracy, the late MKO Abiola, with the most prestigious national honour (GCFR), the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba Land, Gani Adams, has said.

    Adams made the assertion at the 25th anniversary of June 12. 1993, Presidential Election organised by the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in Lagos State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that OPC organised the event in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council.

    The anniversary had the theme: “Nigerian Politics and Democratic Process: MKO Abiola and the June 12, 1993, Crisis and Beyond”.

    Adams, also OPC National Coordinator, said: “Where we least expected the truth about June 12 to come from, there is where it came.
    “ I salute you all for persevering in the last 25 years.
    “Whether the Federal Government’s decision is more political than legal, as argued by some people, for me, it is crystal clear that the journey to make June 12 our Democracy Day started years back.

    “I feel relieved to witness this day being recognised as our Democracy Day. Today, we have defeated the evil voices that killed the dream of the late MKO Abiola.

    “I will like to express my appreciation to President Buhari for taking the bold initiative of honouring the late Abiola and the late Gani Fewehinmi,’’ he said.

    Adams said that posterity would be kind to Buhari for putting Nigeria’s democratic history in the right perspective.

    According to him, Abiola, as the 14th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba Land, was committed to the cause of the masses and good governance.
    He expressed delight that the reward for Abiola‘s struggle had come.

    Adams, the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo, said: “The way we clamoured and struggled to have this day as our Democracy Day, we also need to make the needed sacrifices, struggles and make a case for restructuring. We need to stand firm and raise our voices in support of restructuring.”

    In his remarks, Sen. Shehu Sani, the Chairman of the occasion, said that Buhari wrote his name in gold by honouring Abiola, but advised that the honour should not be politicised.

    “With the annulment of June 12, we (Nigerians) missed an opportunity for unity, progress and prosperity as a nation,” Sani said.

    He said that the greatest honour to Abiola would be upholding democracy ideals, good governance and justice, and ensuring end to poverty, killings and political vendetta.
    Dr Qasim Akinreti, Chairman of NUJ, Lagos Council, said: “Today we salute President Buhari for his courage to allow justice on June 12 to prevail. Hope has finally come for Nigerians. We welcome this.’’

    Akinret noted that many journalists suffered in the June 12 struggle, saying NUJ desired announcement of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election result.

    The guest speaker, Associate Prof. Derin Ologbenla of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, said that `monetisation’ of political process negatively affected Nigeria’s democracy.
    Ologbenla added that political manipulations through `godfatherism’ adversely affected the democracy.

    “We are subject to godfathers and money in our body politics. We have divisive instruments of ethnicity and religion.

    “Ethnicity is an ugly monster that must be killed if Nigeria’s democracy most grow and develop. We have not come together to bury this monster,’’ the don said.

    Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Coordinator, Women Arise Initiative, said that the best honour to Abiola would be organisation of free and fair elections as well as end to poverty and injustice.

    Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, a former Governor of Abia, said that he sent a bill to the state House of Assembly in 2000 to declare June 12 a public holiday because of his belief in it.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Buhari on June 6 announced that June 12 would replace May 29 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

    The president also announced posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) to Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, Presidential Election.
    He also announced award of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger to Abiola’s running mate Babagana Kingibe, and the late social critic and human rights campaigner, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

    The beneficiaries received the awards on Tuesday in Abuja.

  • Photo: Ambode unveils new Moshood Abiola statue

     Lagos state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday, unveiled the New Chief Moshood Abiola Statue in Ojota.

  • June 12: OPC, Pro-democracy activists demand for restructuring

    Senator Shehu Sani, NADECO chieftain Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Are Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba Gani Adams, and other Pro-democracy activists on Tuesday restated their demand for restructuring of the polity.

    They said the gains of the democratic struggle in Nigeria would be incomplete until the nation is restructured to allow all component parts of the country be in full control of its resources.

    They also demanded the full declaration of the results of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, to remove the cloud of uncertainty over the actual winner, as well as turning Abiola’s  residence into a national monument and a presidential library.

    Leading the call, Sen. Shehu Sani, said restructuring would allow the crystallisation of the gains of the June 12, which according to him was the watershed in the nation’s political struggle.

    Sani who had earlier expressed his profound appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his courage in recognising June 12 as “the authentic democracy day” and honouring Chief MKO Abiola with the highest honour of GCFR.

    “By that singular honour President Buhari has unofficially recognised Abiola as the winner of that election, what remains is for him to give an executive order directing the then National Electoral Commission Chairman Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, to officially declare the rest of the suspended result and declare the late Abiola winner of the election so that we can move on as a nation.”

    He said while the movement acknowledged the courage behind the preside it’s gesture, they however reject in its entirety any attempt to use it to score any cheap political point ahead of next year poll.

    Read Also: Buhari apologises over June 12 poll annulment

    “Mr President, we accept the gift which is coming 25 years after that election, but reject any intended political motive it especially if it is a solicitation for votes.”

    He said in his attempt to correct the errors of the past, the President inadvertently has recognised traitors of the June 12 struggle, adding that the real heroes of democracy would resist any attempt by such men to rewrite history.

    Speaking on the symbolism of the June 12, Sani said though its annulment prevented Nigerians from benefitting from the genuine intention to correct its errors, by calling on the President to put an end to senseless politically motivated killings across the country and be more dogged in his anti-corruption crusade.

    The National Coordinator of the Oodu People’s Congress Are Gani Adams said the recognition of June 12 and posthumous awards bequeathed to Abiola is as a result of the dogged struggle of pro-democratic activists, especially men of the OPC who resisted the injustice that the annulment represented.

    He said: “Today, through the awards bequeathed to heroes of our Democratic struggle, we have silenced the voices of evil and their machinations on the country.

    The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists Lagos State Chapter, Dr Quasim Akinreti lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his courageous deed, and urged him to declare the late hero as the authentic winner of the June 12 election.

    Rear Admiral Ndubusi Kanu described the declaration last Wednesday by President Muhammadu Buhari as the game changer adding that those who are criticising the declaration are the real enemies of the nation’s tortuous democratic struggle.

    Hr called for an end to the mindless killings going on in the country as well as restructuring that would give full autonomy to component units of the country.

    Convener of Women Arise Dr Joe Okei Odumakin said though she got her invitation to be at the villa, she had decided to cancel her appearance to be at this year’s event.

    She however lauded the recognition of June 12 as Nigerias democracy day and the recent signing of the Not too young to run bill by the president as a step in the right direction.

    The guest lecturer, Prof Derin Ologbenla said since the intervention of the military in Nigeria’s democratic journey, there has been a deliberate play up of ethnicity and religion to divide the country.

    He charged all politicians to learn how Abiola won massively in 1993 and adopt his mandate to pull the nation away from the slide to poverty.

    The highpoint of the event was present station of award to 21 pro-democracy activists who have contributed immensely to the sustenance of the struggle over the last 18 years.

    Among those who were presented awards for their dedication to the struggle are; Dr Joe Okei Odumakin, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum leader Alhaji Yerima Shetima, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, (Rtd) Comrade Joseph Evah Comrade Ayodele Akele, Prof Sophie Oluwole and Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere Yinka Odumakin.

    Others are; Kudirat Abiola Initiative for Democracy (KIND), OPC Secretary General Barr Segun Babajide, Dr Jide Rotilu, Prof Charles Alade, Dr Tony Uranta, Dr Amos Akingba, Prof Tunde Babawale, Prof Derin Ologbenla, and Prof Bayo Lawal.

    Others are Prof Orimogunje, Prof Chidozie Okoro, Prof Wale Ogundowole, Send Shuhu Sani, and the NUJ Lagos Chairman Dr Quasim Akinreti.

  • Photos: Tinubu, Kola Abiola in Aso Rock

    Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Kola Abiola  in Aso Rock during  the Special National Honours Investiture for Chief MKO Abiola on Tuesday.

     

  • Buhari apologises over June 12 poll annulment

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday apologized on behalf of the administration of former President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida for annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential elections presumably won by the late MKO Abiola.

    He spoke at the investiture of national honours on Abiola and other who played key roles in ensuring that Nigeria returned to democratic government.

    The President conferred posthumous national honours on Chief M.K.O. Abiola as Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Chief Gani Fawehinmi as the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) and decoration of Ambassador Babagana Kingibe with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

    Stressing that the government now cannot rewind back to 1993, but he said that it can correct some of the errors made by the government at the time.

    Read Also: June 12 like no other

    The awards and recognitions, he said, is in the national interest and boost reconciliation.

    “What we are doing is to celebrate the positive side of June 12.” he said

    He urged all Nigerians to accept the recognitions and awards in good faith.

    According to him, Nigeria will no longer tolerate such perversion of justice.

  • The Epetedo declaration by MKO Abiola

    Text of Chief Moshood Abiola’s speech on June 11, 1994, when he declared himself president

    People of Nigeria, exactly one year ago, you turned out in your millions to vote for me, Chief MKO Abiola, as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    But politicians in uniform, who call themselves soldiers but are more devious than any civilian would want to be, deprived you of your God-given right to be ruled by the President you had yourselves elected.

    These soldier-politicians introduced into our body politic, a concept hitherto unknown to our political lexicography, something strangely called the ‘annulment’ of an election perceived by all to have been the fairest, cleanest and most peaceful-ever held in our nation.

    Since that abominable act of naked political armed robbery occurred, I have been constantly urged by people of goodwill, both in Nigeria and abroad, to put the matter back into the people’s hands and get them to actualise the mandate they gave me at the polls.

    But mindful of the need to ensure that peace continues to reign in our fragile federation, I have so far tried to pursue sweet reason and negotiation.

    My hope has always been to arouse whatever remnants of patriotism are left in the hearts of these thieves of your mandate, and to persuade them that they should not allow their personal desire to rule to usher our beloved country into an era of political instability and economic ruin.

    All I have sought to do, in seeking dialogue with them, has been to try and get them to realise that only real democracy can move our nation forward towards progress, and earn her the respect she deserves from the international community.

    However, although this peaceful approach has exposed me to severe censure by some who have mistaken it for weakness on my part, those with whom I have sought to dialogue have remained like stones, neither stirred to show loyalty to the collective decision of the people of their own country, nor to observe Allah’s injunction that they should exhibit justice and fair-play in all their dealings with their fellow men.

    Appeals to their honour as officers and gentlemen of the gallant Nigerian Armed Forces, have fallen on deaf ears.

    Instead, they have resorted to the tactics of divide and rule, bribery and political perfidy, misinformation and (vile) propaganda.

    They arrest everyone who disagrees with them. Even the 71-year-old hero of our nation, Chief Anthony Enahoro, was not spared.

    How much longer can we tolerate all this? People of Nigeria, you are all witnesses that I have tried to climb the highest mountain, cross the deepest river and walk the longest mile, in order to get these men to obey the will of our people.

    There is no humiliation I have not endured, no snare that has not been put in my path, no ‘setup’ that has not been designed for me in my endeavour to use the path of peace to enforce the mandate that you bestowed on me one year ago.

    It has been a long night. But the dawn is here.

    Today, people of Nigeria, I join you all in saying, “Enough is Enough!”

    We have endured 24 years of military rule in our 34 years of independence.

    Military rule has led to our nation fighting a civil war with itself. Military rule has destabilised our nation today as not before in its history.

    Military rule has impoverished our people and introduced a dreadful trade in drugs which has made our country’s name an anathema in many parts of the world.

    Even soccer fans going to watch the Green Eagles display in America are being made to suffer there needlessly because Nigeria’s name is linked with credit card and fraud and ‘419’.

    Politically, military rule has torn to shreds the prestige due to our country because of its size and population.

    The permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council that should be rightfully ours, is all but lost.

    For who will vote for Nigeria to get the seat if Nigerian military rulers do not respect the votes of their own people?

    Enough of military rule.

    We are sickened to see people who have shown little or no personal achievement, either in building up private businesses, or making success of any tangible thing, being placed in charge of the management of our nation’s economy, by rulers who are not accountable to anyone.

    Enough of square pegs in round holes.

    We are tired of the military’s repetitive tendency to experiment with our economy: Today, they say “no controls”. Tomorrow, they say “Full controls”. The day after, they say “Fine tuning”. The next day, they say “Devaluation”. A few days later, they say “Revalue the same naira upwards again Abi?”

    All we can see are the consequences of this permanent game of military “about turns”; high inflation, a huge budget deficit and an enormous foreign debt repayment burden, dying industries, high unemployment and a demoralised populace.

    Our youths, in particular, can see no hope on the horizon, and many can only dream of escaping from our shores to join the brain drain. Is this the Nigeria we want?

    We are plagued also by periodic balance of payments crises, which have led to a perennial shortage of essential drugs, that has turned our hospitals and clinics into mortuaries.

    A scarcity of books and equipment has rendered our schools into desolate deserts of ignorance.

    Our factories are crying for machinery, spare parts and raw materials. But each day that passes, instead of these economic diseases being cured, they are rather strengthened as an irrational allocation of foreign exchange, based on favouritism and corruption, becomes the order of the day.

    Enough is enough of economic mismanagement! People of Nigeria, during the election campaign last year, I presented you with a programme entitled: “HOPE ’93″.

    This programme was aimed precisely at solving these economic (problems) that have demoralised us all.

    I toured every part of Nigeria to present this programme to you the electorate. I was questioned on it at public rallies and press conferences and I had the privilege of incorporating into it much of the feedback that I obtained from the people.

    Because you knew I would not only listen to you but deliver superb results from the programme, you voted for me in your millions and gave me an overwhelming majority over my opponent.

    To be precise, you gave me 58.4 per cent of the popular vote and a majority in 20 out of 30 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Not only that, you also enabled me to fulfil the constitutional requirement that the winner should obtain one-third of the votes in two-thirds of the states.

    I am sure that when you cast an eye on the moribund state of Nigeria today, you ask yourselves: ‘What have we done to deserve this, when we have a president-elect who can lead a government that can change things for the better? Our patience has come to an end.’

    As of now, from this moment, a new Government of National Unity (GNU) is in power throughout the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, led by me, Bashorun MKO Abiola, as President and Commander-in-Chief.

    The National Assembly is hereby reconvened. All dismissed governors are reinstated. The State Assemblies are reconstituted, as are all local government councils.

    I urge them to adopt a bi-partisan approach to all the issues that come before them.

    At the national level, a bi-partisan approach will be our guiding principle. I call upon the usurper, Gen. Sani Abacha, to announce his resignation forthwith, together with the rest of his illegal ruling council.

    We are prepared to enter into negotiations with them to work out the mechanics for a smooth transfer of power.

    I pledge that if they hand over quietly, they will be retired with all their entitlements, and their positions will be accorded all the respect due to them.

    For our objective is neither recrimination nor witch-hunting, but an enforcement of the will of the Nigerian people, as expressed in free elections conducted by the duly constituted authority of the time.

    I hereby invoke the mandate bestowed upon me by my victory in the said election, to call on all members of the Armed Forces and the Police, the civil and public services throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to obey only the GNU that is headed by me, your only elected President.

    My GNU is the only legitimate, constituted authority in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as of now.

    People of Nigeria, these are challenging times in the history of our continent, Africa, and we in Nigeria must not allow ourselves to be left behind.

    Our struggle is the same as that waged by the people of South Africa, which has been successfully concluded, with the inauguration of Mr. Nelson Mandela as the first African President of that country.

    Nelson Mandela fought to replace minority rule with majority rule.

    We in Nigeria, are also fighting to replace minority rule, for we are ruled by only a tiny section of our armed forces.

    Like the South Africans, we want majority rule today, that is rule only by those chosen by all the people of Nigeria as a whole in free and fair elections.

    The only difference between South Africa and Nigeria is that those who imposed minority rule on the majority rule whether it is by black or white, remains minority rule and must be booted out.

    I call on you, heroic people of Nigeria, to emulate the actions of your brothers and sisters in South Africa and stand up as one person to throw away the yoke of minority rule for ever.

    The antics of every minority that oppresses the majority are always the same. They will try to intimidate you with threats of police action. But do not let us fear arrest.

    In South Africa, so many people were arrested, during the campaign against the Pass Laws, for instance, that the jails could not hold all of them. Today, apartheid is gone forever.

    So, let it be with Nigeria.

    Let us say goodbye forever to minority rule by the military.

    They talk of treason. But haven’t they heard of the Rivonia Treason Trial in South Africa? Did those treason trials halt the march of history?

    People of Nigeria, our time is now. You are the repository of power in the land.

    No one can give you power. It is yours. Take it!

    From this day, show to the world that anyone who takes the people of Nigeria for fools is deceiving himself and will have the people to answer to.

    God bless you all. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Long live the Government of National Unity.