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  • Fayemi, Akinrinade, Oshun, others mark ‘special’ June 12 in Ekiti

    On Friday, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi brought some of the leading lights of the June 12 struggle to Ekiti for the 26th commemoration anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 elections. They did not just relive their exploits in the struggle; they praised President Muhammadu Buhari for the official recognition of the day and the renaming of the Abuja International Stadium after the martyr, Moshood Abiola.  Southwest Bureau Chief BISI OLADELE reports.

    Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Friday witnessed an influx of activist, leaders, renowned journalists, politicians, members of socio-cultural groups, students and others who are emotional about the annulled June 12, 1993 elections.

    The event came two days after the celebration of the notable day across the country, and particularly in Abuja, where President Muhammadu Buhari led the Federal Government, African leaders, politicians, activists and members of the Moshood Kashimaawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola’s family in official recognition as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

    While Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi was in Abuja for the ceremony, his aides were putting finishing touches to the home celebration of the ceremony. Fayemi was a core leading light of the struggle for the recognition of June 12 as the Democracy Day in Nigeria.

    Fayemi, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), was among the few people behind Radio Kudirat, a freedom radio station established to promote the struggle to free Abiola and install him as the winner of the annulled elections. Former Military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) annulled the presidential election which was adjudged the freest and fairest election ever held in the country.

    The Eagle Hall on Ikere Road, venue of the commemoration lecture, was agog with activists, trade associations, socio-cultural groups, politicians, students, government functionaries, artisans, religious leaders, market women and ordinary citizens. The lecture was entitled: “June 12: Lighting the Candles of Democracy”.

    Setting the tone for the lecture, Fayemi expressed delight that June 12 commemoration refused to die in spite of the indifference of previous governments before President Buhari’s.

    “It carries some import that makes it unforgettable. Every nation has such important days. June 12 is that important day for us in Nigeria,” he said with delight.

    Fayemi added: “Successive administrations shied away from it until President Buhari decided that enough was enough. There could not have been May 29 without June 12. That’s why Buhari did what he did. In fact, June 12 made May 29 artificial.

    “June 12 is not just about MKO Abiola but about ordinary Nigerians who believe that it would be a great tragedy for their votes to be annulled.”

    Also Read: The road to June12, 1993

    He further explained that though Abiola was a capitalist on one hand, he was a populist on the other. He pointed out that his life story was that of grass-to-grace. As a staunch Muslim, he recalled that Abiola gave generously towards building of churches and church programmes, stressing that the deceased represented and understood Nigeria’s uniqueness. He recalled that he won the election in spite of the fact that he ran a Muslim/Muslim ticket.

    “Since I joined politics in 2006, my comrades know that March 6 (Obafemi Awolowo’s birthday) and June 12 were sacrosanct for me. Hence, today’s celebration is not an accident. We can’t ignore our history if we will maximise democracy. We must continue to strengthen democracy in every way in spite of its deficiencies,” he said.

    The governor, however, lamented that in spite of the strategic importance of the date in Nigerian history, about 70 per cent of the country’s population lack knowledge of June 12 because they are 30 years old and below. He said commemoration of the date was therefore important to ensure that generations of Nigerian citizens continue to remember what happened on June 12, 1993.

    Reflecting on the role some activists and leaders played in the development and efforts to keep Nigeria united, Fayemi emphasised that Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd) should be praised continually for his steadfastness in fighting for Nigeria’s unity. He revealed that the commander of the Biafran Army, Col. Effiong, surrendered to Gen. Akinrinade but that the latter took him to Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo who was the overall commander at the time. Rather than acknowledge Akinrinade and others who made it happen, Fayemi said Obasanjo appropriated the success to himself alone.

    “Akinrinade is a patriot to the core,” he said.

    In his remark, Akinrinade, who chaired the lecture, also eulogised Fayemi for the strategic role he played in the struggle for the actualisation of June 12. He highlighted Fayemi’s sterling qualities, sacrifice and values, urging Ekiti people to support his administration.

    Recalling that Ekiti people have always been in the forefront to defend Yoruba and national interests, he said Fayemi is one man who is a gift to the state and Nigeria at large. He also thanked Buhari for being one of the army generals who supported the cause of the Yoruba.

    According to him, many military leaders abandoned the struggle for the Yoruba because they believe that Yoruba are betrayers.

    Deploring Obasanjo’s claims that Buhari has the plan to Islamise Nigeria, Akinrinade said: “I wouldn’t want us to see Buhari as a Fulani who wants to Islamise and Fulanise Nigeria. A criminal is a criminal. I appeal to President Buhari to support the creation of state police. It will help return peace to Nigeria.”

    He also thanked Mr. President for finally recognising June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

    The retired army officer further appealed to Buhari to make June 12 the Inauguration Day for new president and governors so that everything will roll into one.

    In his comment, the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, also relived his involvement in the June 12 struggle. He said it was a surprise that a retired Fulani military general was the one who eventually recognised June 12. He showered encomiums on Fayemi for his role in the struggle for the actualisation of June 12, stressing that his commitment was second to none.

    Prof. Mobolaji Aluko also expressed satisfaction for seeing June 12 celebrated by the Federal Government after 26 years.

    The academic, who currently serves in Fayemi’s administration, betrayed his emotion while recalling his involvement and the sacrifices they made in the struggle for the actualisation of June 12.  He recalled vividly how Fayemi served as the brain behind Radio Kudirat and other projects used for the struggle, adding that he was delighted to learn that an Ekiti man was the brain behind the struggle at the time. He said he knew Fayemi and Akinrinade over June 12 struggle.

    The Zonal Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Southwest, Mr. Ayo Afolabi, also recalled the struggle and commended Fayemi and other leaders for their commitment. He said Fayemi deserved all the commendation he could get for the actualisation of June 12 struggles; having committed his time and resources to the struggle without an expectation of pecuniary gain.

    In his keynote address, the National Chairman, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) Hon. Olawale Oshun, also praised Fayemi and others in the struggle. He recalled the days of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) with nostalgia.

    A newspaper columnist, Dr. Femi Orebe and veteran journalist, Dare Babarinsa, discussed the topic of the lecture.

    At the lecture were members of the state House of Assembly; renowned journalist Niran Malaolu; Comrades Segun Jegede, Bisi Dada and Raheem Ajayi.

    Groups and associations were also part of the lecture. They included members of the Hausa community, members of the O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Agbekoya Hunters’ Association, traders and others.

  • How to avert disintegration, by Oshun

    How to avert disintegration, by Oshun

    The Chairman of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Hon. Olawale Oshun, spoke on the criterial for national unity and peaceful co-existence at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of self-government in Western Nigeria organised in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, by Atayese, a socio-cultural group. 

    As demanded by the significance of this event, I should have been here with you but for prior personal commitments. However I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending that the views and content that will be thrown up today by the erudite Lecturer, Prof. Adebayo Williams be food for thought for all Yoruba leaders – political, traditional, sociocultural, religious and professional levels.

    What we are commemorating today stands still as perhaps the most productive, progressive, welfarist and proficient administration the world has ever known in terms of human development indices.

    Comparing France and Nigeria today, who would have believed that we Yoruba people were availed of television broadcasts before the French?

    But here we are today commemorating what was and lamenting what could have been.

    I contend sincerely, and I believe everyone of you here do, that Yorubaland would have been boasting of similar rankings as today’s developed nations, had the Government of Western Nigeria survived for another twenty years under the Independence or  Republican Constitutions of 1960 or of 1963.

    But today, Nigeria rubs shoulders with failed states on all globally acceptable rankings on human development, and Yorubaland and people are dragged into that cesspool.

    Who would have believed that the subversion of Yoruba developmental trajectory and of Yoruba leadership was triggered just two years into Nigeria’s Independence, with an insidious and conspiratorial plan by the other two majority nationalities to subjugate Chief Obafemi Awolowo and dominate Yoruba people, hence the connived trial of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other leaders on November 2, 1962 and the violation of democratic and parliamentary tenets engineered in the legislative house in Ibadan at that time.

    The short time between Independence and the subversion should be instructive to us as a people. Perhaps, it was the reason history was initially taken off our schools curriculum! The subversion did not happen because of any breach of democratic principles and or Law by Chief Awolowo and or his Party, the Action Group but because, I dare repeat, the Federalist Constitution which created cooperating and equal partners was unacceptable to the then Coalition government led by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi completed the task when he enacted Decree 34 in 1966 to turn Nigeria into a unitary state. However at that time the falcon could no longer hear the falconer, the North irritated by the affront of the coup, the killing of prominent political and military officers of northern extraction and the fear she now could be victim of domination violently reacted. But the same North using the military and collaborators have effected with perfection and subterfuge what General Ironsi sought to do with his Unification Decree.

    Politics of subversion and domination has played out in different forms in the last 57 years, consolidating the 1999 Unitary Constitution and whilst we may even have some of our own people benefitting from the anomaly to contend with, it is the duty of all Yoruba people to push and ensure that the true Federalist Constitution is reinstated in our country. And here we should not leave this gathering without endorsing Chief Bisi Akande’s recommendation that Nigeria returns immediately to the 1963 Constitution, pending an acceptable constitutional making process. The latest attempt by the NASS at constitution making remains a farce and should be treated as such.

    For the Yoruba people, our position is simple, clear, and unwavering: we wish to live in a country where every component ethnic nationality is respected and given its autonomous space to pilot its development affairs, while we all cooperate and collaborate to build a strong, united Nigeria.

    I conclude with these three statements:

    1. As long as the ethnic nationalities would not respect each others’ rights and would not see themselves as cooperating partners in the development of Nigeria, there will never be unity.
    2. In the absence of unity, development will remain a permanent mirage
    3. In the absence of growth, development and unity, why continue to pretend with nation building, deeply embedded in waste and the destruction of the fortune of younger and yet unborn generations?

    If the three statements above continue to hold true for any country, the only viable option is the dissolution of that country.

    I hope these statements will be taken as food for thought by all well-meaning Yoruba leaders.

     

    • Oshun is Third Republic House of Representatives Chief Whip
  • Implement 2014 national conference reports, says Oshun

    Implement 2014 national conference reports, says Oshun

    Chairman, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) Mr. Olawale Oshun, has urged the government to implement the report of the 2014 National Conference. He called for true federalism and regional government.
    Speaking during a lecture series organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences University of Lagos on the topic; Politics and Government: A Nigerian Contradistinction, Oshun said government must review its policies to meet the yearnings of the people.
    Oshun explained that governance was sacrificed on the altar of politics, noting that the country was in a fix because of misplaced priorities.
    He added that the fight against corruption and other good intensions would not be achieved except something was done about the constitution.
    He said: “The 2014 conference reports is retrieved from the archives which the present government consigned it and implementation is worked upon or the government canvasses a Sovereign National Conference”
    “My recommendations are predicated on a number of factors, the most of which is that my generation was availed of the dividends of good governance, free, compulsory primary education, heavily subsidized secondary and university education.
    “All these dividends were made possible because the question of nationhood was then reasonably settled with the Federal system complemented by strong virile regional government established by their respective constitutions.”
    He said the country was going through one of its most difficult period since independence in 1960, adding that researchers and academics must assist by giving insights on how the country could overcome the perilous moments.
    ”I have asked myself what really are we doing right and what really are we doing wrong, that we came to be where we find ourselves. The Faculty of Social Sciences must help therefore in refocusing our society.
    “The leadership of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and particularly Chief Obafemi Awolowo politics focused on development without denigrating society and cultural values.
    “I intend to suggest that in Nigeria, there could be a contradistinction between the meaning and practice of politics and of governance that while one is opaque, the other is transparent, while one sacrifices truth, the other sought to uphold it.”
    Oshun noted that as long as country failed to devolve powers in a way that is recognized and managed in the diversity of the component units, so long would the problem of the country persist.
    He said the Federal Government since 1975 had behaved like a drunken sailor, noting that Nigerians tolerated the excesses of government particularly under military dictatorship.
    The ARG chieftain said Nigerian started resisting the prolongation of military leadership in 1991, when it was obvious that former head of state; General Ibrahim Babangida was working toward life dictatorship.
    ”The quest for restructuring of the country and for devolution of power from the central government to the federating components commenced in 1991 was led by a range of civil activists, the clamour continues today more than before.”
    Gen Alani Akinrinade, who chaired the event said the younger generation must look for solution to the issues that are confronting the country.
    He explained that it was unfortunate that things took they shape they were in the country today, adding that the lecture by Oshun put everybody on its toes to save the country.
    “The lecture to my understanding is how deal with the concept of politics, politicking and how it can lead to good governance. It is to you to decide because I am not sure that in my life time we are going to get to place we were coming from; it is therefore to you to decide.”

  • Afenifere chief Oshun turns 64

    Afenifere chief Oshun turns 64

    The Chairman of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Olawale Oshun, turned 64 yesterday.

    Oshun, a national conference delegate, is in Abuja. His family, political associates, friends and admirers converged on the National Library Auditorium, Yaba, Lagos, to mark the event.

    A group of young writers, under the aegis of the Pen Society, organised a programme to entertain guests. It featured drama, dance, poetry, talk and music.

    Oshun, who addressed the gathering through his wife, Anthonia, said he would have come, but for the conference.

    He said: “I tried my best to be available for today’s event marking my 64th birthday. I thank the Almighty God for keeping me alive, healthy and lucky enough to be one of those nominated to participate in the conference. It is that luck that in a way kept me away from this programme.”

    Reflecting on the state of the nation, the ARG leader said: “Our country is in a dilemma. Every year adds to the agony of Nigerians and you our children bear the largest burden. It has affected the quality of education and other social services, such as health and security that your governments have had to provide for you.”

    Oshun absolved the youths of any blame in the situation in the country.

  • ARG not part of Afenifere reunion, says Oshun

    ARG not part of Afenifere reunion, says Oshun

    Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) yesterday said it was not part of the purported reunion of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, as the latter claimed, following its recent meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    The ARG Leader Wale Oshun said members of the ARG have no antecedent of fraternity with the conservative politicians in Afenifere.

    He noted that such politicians have been antagonistic to progressive ideas in the Southwest.

    Oshun told reporters in Lagos that ARG cannot have dealings with an Afenifere, which he said harbours the likes of Senator Iyiola Omisore.

    He added: “If Omisore sits in Afenifere, the bodies of Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo, Adekunle Ajasin, Bola Ige and Abraham Adesanya will turn in their graves.”

    The ARG leader denied any tension between the group and the Chief Reuben Fasoranti-led Afenifere.

    He explained that its delegations had visited Fasoranti, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi and Chief Ayo Adebanjo at various times to brief them on ARG activities.

    Oshun said: “ARG is a group with explicit and untainted moral values and stance. We affirm, therefore, that anybody that purported to be an ARG member and sits in a meeting with Iyiola Omisore as well as some of the other personalities mentioned at that meeting, is on his or her own. Such individual cannot and will not be a member or an associate of ARG.”

    There have been speculations that the Fasoranti faction of Afenifere, allegedly supported by Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, is being positioned to play a critical role in the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for 2015. But the old Awoists in the association said it would be hard for them to hobnob with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Oshun alerted Southwest residents to the clandestine moves by the PDP to encourage the formation of new political parties to cause confusion in the region.

    He said: “We are aware of the plans by the PDP-led Federal Government to take the advantage of our historical sensibilities by promoting certain individuals to form political associations and political parties in our region as well as funding them through spurious and dubious contracts to use them as agents of destabilisation. This is for a sinister 2015 agenda.

    “We are putting this in the public space so that our people would be informed about the threats that are being massed against them. However, this is Yorubaland. We are veterans in this kind of struggles and we dare say that we are not battle-weary. We will, as usual, fend this off.”

    The ARG leader expressed concerns over persistent Boko Haram threats to the peace and unity of the country.

    He urged the Federal Government to halt the frequent bloodshed by the Islamic sect.

    Oshun expressed misgivings on the agitation for amnesty for the sect, as being canvassed in some quarters.

    The ARG leader doubted if an amnesty would end the sect’s activities, adding that it might even create an opportunity for anarchists to have a field day.

    He added: “Considering the structural deficiency of this country, it is not likely that we would see an end to the use of amnesty. Therefore, in line with our constant agitation for the imperative of restructuring this multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-faceted country, it is our view that there is no better time than now to convene a national conference that would finally resolve the nationality question that consistently and continuously pushes this country to the precipice.”