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A special
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A File on
Men who live in our Hearts
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See footnote for readers' comments
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"To build a just society, icons have
to be kept alive; values have to be
remembered, and an appropriate
current of thought should be
encouraged. MKO Abiola is
central to this at a national level of
needful deification; additional dramatic
personae will include all the other martyrs
of the unraveling of the Nigerian state and
nation."
............Reuben Abati |
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"When Professor Awojobi died at an
unripe age of 47 in 1984 about 21
years ago I was a young man grubbing
to capture the national image and
its existent correlation but
Professor Awojobi’s name had rent
the air as a fighter against social
dislocations and political dis-conditions.
I could remember, me in company of
some folks murmuring his name in
delight and in anticipation for
curious legacy. At few occasions I
had argued that a magic wand of
change was raising issues in a far
away Lagos and those of us at the
extreme end of the pole in Maiduguri
are missing the piece of action"
.............Paul Mamza
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The Man, Moshood Abiola
Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale
Abiola (often referred to as M. K.
O. Abiola, August 24, 1937 - July 7,
1998) was a Nigerian Yoruba
businessman, publisher and
politician, though he was an
accountant by training. He ran for
the presidency in 1993, and won, but
was denied the opportunity to become
President when the election results
were annulled by a court during the
regime of Ibrahim Babangida.
Abiola was born in Abeokuta, Ogun
State. His name, Kashimawo, means
"Lets wait and see". His early
career was with the ITT Corporation,
where he later rose to the position
of Vice President, Africa and
Middle-East. Abiola built a vast
business empire consisting of an
airline, publishing company, farms,
shipping line, bookshops, oil
company, bank, to name a few. Abiola,
along with ex-military leader
Olusegun Obasanjo, was
"name-dropped" at the end of
musician Fela Kuti's 25-minute
political screed "International
Thief Thief", which led to Fela's
arrest in 1983 on faked currency
charges. There is no evidence to
suggest that Moshood Abiola had
anything to do with Fela's arrest.
In the presidential elections of
June 12, 1993, Abiola was the
candidate of the Social Democratic
Party (his running mate was Baba
Gana Kingibe) and overwhelmingly
defeated his northern rival, Bashir
Tofa of the National Republican
Convention. However, the election
was annulled by Ibrahim Babangida,
and subsequent events led to General
Sani Abacha seizing power later that
year.
When Abiola declared himself the
lawful President of Nigeria, he was
accused of treason and imprisoned.
He is widely believed to have won
what was considered to have been
Nigeria's freest and fairest
presidential election.
He has been
referred to as Nigeria's greatest
statesman, but in a country with
a history of political corruption,
it is impossible to say how far Moshood Abiola would have gone in
overhauling the system, as he died
before ever getting to the
Presidency. However, given his track
record for philanthropy and
generosity, which was doled out
without discrimination, both inside
and outside of Nigeria. Plus the
military's unwillingness to allow
him to ascend to the Presidency, he
was likely to have been very much in
favour of the Nigerian masses.
Moshood Abiola was criticised for
being close to the military, however
the way that he was treated by them
after winning the June 12th
elections, most likely indicates
that the relationship was
superficial at best.
Abiola's wife, Kudirat, was murdered
in a drive-by shooting in her car,
for her dogged pursuit for the
actualization of the perceived
electoral mandate of her husband.
His daughter, Hafsat Abiola, later
became a democracy activist and
founded the Kudirat Initiative for
Democracy in honor of her mother.
Shortly after the death of Abacha,
Abiola himself succumbed to a heart
attack while in prison on July 7,
1998. Ironically, this was also the
day he was due to be released from
imprisonment. Though there is little
evidence to support it, some
conspiracy theorists in Nigeria
allege that his death (and possibly
Abacha's) was masterminded by the
American CIA.
Brilliant, witty, and endowed
with a large heart, Abiola was in a
class of his own in matters of
using proverbs, parables and native
intelligence to deal with issues of
social significance.
Unfortunately, those who profited
from the Abiola/Democracy struggles
destroyed the system further than
they met it.
materials from the web
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The
Man, Ayodele Awojobi
In
Nigeria’s history, one man who
unarguably epitomises the interface
between science and technology on
the one hand, and Nigeria’s
political economy on the other is
late Professor Ayodele Olutuminu
Awojobi, a professor of
Mechanical Engineering who died at
the University of Lagos, Nigeria on
Sunday, September 23rd
1984 at the age of forty-seven (47)
and was buried at Ikorodu, his home
town on Friday, October 12th
1984.
Born
in Lagos on March 12th
1937, Professor Ayodele Awojobi
attended St. Peter’s Faji Primary
School, Ajele, Lagos (1943- 1948),
C.M.S. Grammar School, Lagos
(1948-1955), Nigerian College of
Arts, Science and Technology, Ibadan
(1956-1958), and Nigerian College of
Arts, Science and Technology, Zaira
(1958-1962) where he obtained First
Class B.Sc. Degree in Mechanical
Engineering. In 1962, he proceeded
to the prestigious Imperial College
of Science and Technology of
University of London where
after obtaining a Diploma of
Imperial College (D.I.C.) same year,
he bagged a Ph.D. in Mechanical
Engineering in a record period of
two years in 1964.
While studying
to obtain his doctorate degree, he
assisted Professor Peter Grootenhuis
as a lecturer in the Department of
Mechanical Engineering in the
College. Between 1964 and 1966, he
worked as an Automobile Engineer at
CAV, an automobile company in
London. Later in 1966, in response
to the invitation of Professor
Saburi Oladeni Biobaku, Vice
Chancellor, University of Lagos
(1965-1972), Professor Awojobi came
back to Nigeria and was appointed a
Lecturer Grade 1 in the Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty
of Engineering, University of Lagos.
He became a Senior Lecturer in 1969,
Associate Professor in 1971, and
Professor and Head of Department in
1974, setting a record of being the
first lecturer in the University to
become a professor at the age of
thirty-seven (37) and within a nine
(9) year period of lectureship.
Before he became a professor, he
had, in the same year, set another
record when he became the first
African to be awarded a Doctor of
Science Degree in the field of
Vibration in Applied Mechanics by
the College of Science and
Technology, University of London.
Professor Ayodele Awojobi was one of
the world’s foremost scientists and
technological giants. He made an
immense contribution to Analytical
Methods in Geo-Mechanics, and
published several engineering works,
including his seminal masterpiece on
Mechanical Vibration, which he
contributed to the Royal Society in
London. At the level of practical
mechanical engineering, he was,
within Nigeria’s territorial space,
an unrivalled genius. He designed
many machines, equipment and a very
popular automobile - Autonov 1,
the bi-directional automobile he
designed in 1971 which has the
capability to move in opposite
directions without making a u-turn
or engaging a reverse gear.
However, the enigma of Professor
Ayodele Awojobi lay in his
dedicated, selfless and tireless
engagement in the process and
politics of socio-economic
engineering of the Nigerian State.
His uncanny multi-disciplinary
approach to social-discourses and
political reform issues makes his
contribution to the struggle of the
Nigerian people for a better society
invaluable. Fired by unalloyed
patriotism, Ayodele Awojobi fought
very courageously to strengthen
democratic rule, constitutionalism,
good governance, rule of law,
accountability and transparency in
government in Nigeria, just as he
crusaded against corruption in
Nigeria’s public life, mismanagement
of the economy and nepotism.
Unfortunately, the Nigeria of
Awojobi’s dream is yet to be
established years after his demise.
Courtesy: Kunle Awobodu |
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'I learnt that a
newspaper published a disinformation
about my meeting with Kofi Annan and
Chief Anyaoku. Yes, they asked me
for a signed statement that I will
not declare myself President again
after my release. They believe such
a signed statement will enable the
FMG to give me an UNCONDITIONAL
release.
Firstly, the release, I said, ceases
to be unconditional if it can only
be brought about by the type of
statement they demanded......'
.........MKO Abiola
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"I became attracted to Ayodele Awojobi. And
believe me, it is for this reason that I
went to the faculty of Engineering and
studied mechanical engineering. You see, I would not survive a day without
reading all the newspapers. I met Awojobi in
the journal... and I became attracted to
him. And so I decided that I was going to
study whatever course this man read..."
......Justus Olugbenga Daniel
(a.k.a OGD)
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Nigeria: Eminent Citizens
Pay Tribute to Awojobi at
Book Launch
This Day (Lagos),
25 September 2007
Fond memories of Professor
Ayodele Awojobi, the gifted
scientist and social critic
who died 23 years ago, were
rekindled at a book launch
organised in his honour,
weekend.
Among the speakers were Mr
Odia Ofeimun, who served as
Private Secretary to
frontline politician, Chief
Obafemi Awolowo in the late
70s and early 80s; Mr Femi
Falana, President of the
West African Bar
Association; Dr Reuben Abati, Chairman of the
Editorial Board at The
Guardian, and Mr Kunle
Awobodu, author of Visan
Tragedy, a novel dedicated
to Awojobi's memory.
Ofeimun, former president
of the Association of
Nigerian Authors (ANA), who
was chairman of the event,
described Awojobi as one of
the best scientists in the
world. Indeed, he was "a
very special scientist,"
Ofeimun said.
Recalling the formative
years of Awolowo's Unity
Party of Nigeria (UPN),
Ofeimun said Awojobi was one
of the few Nigerians who
visited the UPN leader
without seeking political
appointment.
Said Ofeimun: "Awojobi came
to Park Lane (where
Awolowo's residence was
located in Apapa, Lagos ) to
argue with the leader. He
would pick on any topic and
argue with Awolowo as if
they were colleagues. He
started buying books on Law
and was planning to do a
degree in Law, so as to
match Awolowo on points of
Law."
He described the book, Visan
Tragedy as a "befitting
tribute to Awojobi," adding:
"It is a book somebody
needed to write for Nigeria
."
Falana and Abati, who
reviewed the book, said
Visan Tragedy is a
remarkable tribute to a
great man.
In his comments, Awobodu,
the author who has organised
post-humus programmes for
Awojobi over the years, said
he was inspired to sustain
the late engineer's memory
in the minds of Nigerians
because of Awojobi's tragedy
circumstance even in death.
During Awojobi's burial in
Ikorodu, comments that
denigrated his name were
made to the effect that he
wasted his life and the
future of his children for a
"worthless cause." Awobodu
recalled that several
orators concluded that
Nigeria was not worth dying
for. "At that moment, I
sympathised with Awojobi's
soul. He had suffered
attacks from the enemies of
the people and from the
people themselves," the
author lamented. |
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Nigeria: Book Launched in Honour of Awojobi
This Day (Lagos),
29 September 2007
by
Idowu Sowunmi
Fond memories of Prof. Ayodele Awojobi, the
gifted scientist and social critic who died
23 years ago, were rekindled at the book
launch ofVisan Tragedy, organised in his
honour recently.
Former President of the Association of
Nigerian Authors (ANA), who was the Chairman
of the occasion, Mr. Odia Ofeimun, described
late Awojobi as one of the best scientists
in the world, saying he was indeed "a very
special scientist."
Recalling the formative years of Awolowo's
Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Ofeimun said
Awojobi was one of the few Nigerians who
visited the UPN leader without seeking
political appointment. "Awojobi came to Park
Lane (where Awolowo's residence was located
in Apapa, Lagos) to argue with the leader.
He would pick on any topic and argue with
Chief Awolowo as if they were colleagues. He
started buying books on law and was planning
to do a degree in law so as to match Awolowo
on points of law," he said.
Describing the book, Visan Tragedy as a
"befitting tribute to the man Awojobi," the
chairman added, "it is a book somebody
needed to write for Nigeria."
President of the West African Bar
Association, Mr. Femi Falana and the
Chairman of the Editorial Board of The
Guardian, Dr. Reuben Abati, shared similar
views about the book. Abati, who reviewed
the book, said "it is essentially a social
novel, with a political and scientific
theme, a little anthropology and the
familiar themes about the contrast between
city and rural life, poverty and wealth,
conscience and duty, progress and decadence,
loyalty and treachery, science and morality,
voodoo and science, love and responsibility,
convention and rebellion, fear and
confidence, courage and cowardice, and
perhaps more strikingly, appearance and
reality. |
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Nigeria’s Unsung Heroes - Part 8
Political Intellectualism Or Intellectual
Academicism:
The Brand of Professor Ayodele
Awojobi and Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman
by
Paul Mamza,
October 19, 2005
In civilized societies, the universities are
the models for fashioning out and churning
out the ideals for the leadership and the
society. The universities being the epitome
for intellectual acquisition and the
veritable source for the search for
education had been the interventionist
rescue in the determination of the image of
the nation be it developing or developed. It
is in this light that a nation that ignored
the development of its educational sector
stand the risk of ignoring its future. The
Nigerian experience had been a strong state
of lack of appreciation of the impact of
globalisation in a search for new concepts
of approach towards power and the
applications of power. Professor Ayodele
Awojobi, a renowned educationist and
mechanical engineer and the first Head of
Department of Engineering, University of
Lagos and Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman, a renowned
historian and social critic had some
semblance of the concepts of their mission’s
holistic conceptions. Both were University
lecturers that carried their consciousness
to germane realms. Both were authorities in
their fields and interfaces in the general
concept of education and its applications.
Both had shown that education, and knowledge
like science is borderless and seamless in
the emerging paradigm of world dynamics.
When Professor Awojobi died at an unripe age
of 47 in 1984 about 21 years ago I was a
young man grubbing to capture the national
image and its existent correlation but
Professor Awojobi’s name had rent the air as
a fighter against social dislocations and
political dis-conditions. I could remember,
me in company of some folks murmuring his
name in delight and in anticipation for
curious legacy. At few occasions I had
argued that a magic wand of change was
raising issues in a far away Lagos and those
of us at the extreme end of the pole in
Maiduguri are missing the piece of action.
My friends had cause to disbelief me with a
notion that hardly could a man like Prof
essor Awojobi mindful of his profession
march the teething guts of the military. The
essence of his struggle had resurfaced when
I met three about 29 years after at a social
function in Maiduguri and had subjected
Awojobi’s past life to an inspirational
model. I have never met professor Awojobi
during his lifetime but is not same with Dr.
Yusufu Bala Usman. I spent the greater part
of my life in the Ahmadu Bello University
both as a student and later as a lecturer.
Even before coming to the university to
study, Dr. Bala Usman’s name was causing and
stirring some remarkable attention.
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS)
of the University in the early days of my
studies was vibrant with historic engagement
in discourses anchored on intellectual
activism that is exceptionally evident of
pro-ups of the search for ideas in political
and social engineering. The most radical
popular figures then were Dr. Yusufu Bala
Usman of History, Dr. Ibrahim Tahir and Dr.
Patrick Wilmot of Sociology. Mammoth of
knowledge-seekers force their bearings at
Abdullahi Smith lecture hall to gather in
waiting honour of the power of knowledge as
exhibited by Dr. Bala Usman, Dr. Ibrahim
Tahir and Dr. Patrick Wilmot. Dr. Usman was
exceptional for his versatile understanding
of History, Sociology, Political Science and
even Natural Sciences. Many have argued
before his death and after that he was not a
Historian but a Political Scientist. Dr.
Yusufu Bala Usman would, for instance, while
discussing the history of oil formation
by-pass the basic rudiments of Ar cheology
and carryout an in-depth analysis of the
Petrology, Paleontology and Sedimentology -
a pure aspect of Geology-to drive home his
points. His many serials had proved that he
has vast knowledge that cut across the
various disciplines. More importantly, his
firm belief not to be indifferent to begging
questions made him an intellectual with a
difference.
Both Dr. Yusufu Bala Usman and
Professor Ayodele Awojobi share a striking
feature. Professor Awojobi -a Mechanical
Engineer was to be a reckoning voice in
Social Engineering and Nigeria’s political
economy. One was a bridge between Science
and Technology and political economy, the
other was a bridge between Humanities and
Science. Both were dogged fighters based on
their noble professions and beliefs. My
first encounter with Dr. Yusufu Bala Usman
was at the premises of the Senate Building
(ABU) when the government of General Sani
Abacha appointed a Sole Administrator
Major-General Mamman Tsoho Kontagora for ABU
at a period the University was embroiled in
a crisis of confidence during the tenure of
Professor Daniel Saror as the Vice -
chancellor. He wanted to know my view; "The
inevitable has no option, sir" was my quick
response. There was kind of contempt then,
forcing some segment of the University to
coil at the choice of a retired General to
head a University. But as was revealed
later, General Kontagora performed high
above the expectations with massive
structural developments and ensuring peace-
building. Dr. Yusufu Bala Usman had to
convince some of us later that the position
of a Vice Chancellor is nothing more than a
Coordinator of academic activities.
Both
Prof. Ayodele and Dr. Bala had nurtured the
new dynamism of intellectual participation
in Nigeria politics. One had the firebrand
of an academic and other the fire-works of
an intellectual. Hard work and truth had
summarized their collective struggle from
ignorance and misrule of power. By breaking
the cocoon of the four-walls of the
University both had reached out to
experiment their ideas and knowledge at the
national scene, a feat that is rare and
hardly surmountable. The replenishing
approach of the duo had ignited the
old-concept of invention/discoveries and the
new wave of liberal struggle for a
humanistic society. At the University of
Lagos in the late 70’s and early 80’s
Professor Awojobi had held sway the
University’s community with his seminal
lectures like ‘Nigeria in search of a social
order’, ‘where our oil money has gone’, "In
search of a political order" and "Nigeria
Today" amongst others which had made Awojobi
an emerging participant of a literary
insights of those days. Dr. Bala Usman had
tendered a masterpiece unparalleled ‘For the
liberation of Africa’ amongst his many
prodigies’ publications when the African
continent was becoming a maraudering
coloniziable zone by a kind of a logical
scandal through revolutionary anarchy.
Professor Awojobi and Dr. Bala Yusufu
Usman’s works are perfec t examples of
transformations in progressive exploitations
by scientific and historic prescriptions.
One a scientific politician, the other a
political scientist.
Both are querying the degenerating
characteristic of societal norms and callous
leadership. No one should question the will,
intellect and geniuses of the two as far as
fundamentals of optimism is concerned. The
great enthusiasm that they have exhibited
while in life is credible intellectual magic
that would for some time characterize the
reshaping of the perpetual ailing system our
present deformities conditions in Nigeria
and Africa. The two intellectual and
political giants are credible alternatives
to the lost hope of the forcibly resilient
stratum of the Nigerian society that are in
the majority. Their imaginative capacities
for pursuit of profound scholarship and
humane commitment to the survival of mankind
in the increasingly endangered human fiasco
will remain evergreen in the memories of
ideal political establishments. Professor
Ayodele was born in 1937 to Pa Daniel
Awojobi, a native of Ikorodu in Lagos while
Dr. Yusufu Bala Usman was born in 1944 in
Musawa, Katsina,
The fiery personalities that brightened the
academic horizons with excellence,
commitment and truth are gone. Let us not
ignore the spirits they lived and died for.
- Mamza, A Political Columnist with
Leadership Newspapers writes from Ahmadu
Bello University Zaria.
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Book on Awojobi provokes fond memories
by FEMI SALAWU,
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
THE SUN PUBLISHING
Fond memories of Professor Ayodele Awojobi,
Nigeria’s foremost Professor of Mechanical
Engineering, University of Lagos, who passed
on 23 years ago, were triggered, when a book
entitled Vizan Tragedy, written by Kunle
Awobodu was launched in his honour. The
launch, which held penultimate Sunday, at
the Eko FM/LTV 8 Multipurpose Hall,
Agidingbi, Lagos, coincided with the 23rd
anniversary of the death of the scholar.
The influence wielded by the late scholar in
his lifetime, was underscored in the calibre
of personalities that graced the occasion.
They included Mr Femi Falana, human rights
activist and President of the West African
Bar Association; Mr Odia Ofeimun, former
President, Association of Nigerian Authors
and secretary to the late Chief Obafemi
Awolowo, and Dr Reuben Abati, Chairman
Editorial Board,The Guardian, who was the
book reviewer.
Ofeimun, who also chaired the event, in his
remarks, described Awojobi as one of the
best scientists in the world. He recalled: "
Awojobi was a special scientist who excelled
in Vibrations, a very special field of
Mechanical Engineering."
Recalling how he met Awojobi during the
formative years of Awolowo’s Unity Party of
Nigeria (UPN), Ofeimun disclosed that the
late scholar was one of the few Nigerians
who visited the UPN leader without seeking
political office.
Said he:"Awojobi came to Park Lane, Apapa,
Lagos, (Awolowo’s residence) for a debate
with the party leader. He, alongside Prof
Sam Aluko, would pick on any topic and argue
with Chief Awolowo as if they were
colleagues. They would argue like
contemporaries, and at the end of the day,
exchange books on the topic of discussion."
At that point, Ofeimun reminisced further,
he (Awojobi) started buying law books,
preparatory to his intention to study law
and possibly match Awolowo on legal matters.
Commending the author, Ofeimun described his
effort as long overdue." It is a book
someone should have written." He blamed the
delay on Nigeria’s inclement socio-political
climate which, according to him, beclouds
intellectuals like Awojobi. However, the
writer commended NIPOST for recently listing
him (Awojobi) as one of the greatest
creative people in the country.
Speaking in a similar vein, Mr. Femi Falana
described the late professor as a man who
dedicated his life to challenging
illegalities. For instance, Falana recalled
an instance, when Awojobi wept in the court
because the seven judges of the high court
descended on him for wasting their time. At
that time, Awojobi had challenged Shagari
regime for manipulating the 1983 polls.
Dr. Reuben Abati, in his review, stated that
although the author may not have written the
greatest Nigerian novel in Vizan Tragedy,
Awobodu has advertised his talents and
potentials for the attention of the literati
and the general reading public. The
reviewer’s assertion was based on the
author’s technical depth, gift of narration
and characterization.
Situating the 449-page book, he said: " It
is essentially a social norm with a
political and scientific theme… Awobodu
demonstrates capacity for sustained and
unflagging narration, an eye for details, a
capacity for hardwork as well as tons of
phrases and understanding of human
motivation."
Abati painted the late professor as someone
who" established a sound and worthy
reputation as a gifted scientist but one
with a social conscience as evident in his
revolutionary interrogation of the Nigerian
State in the media."
The author who had organised post-humous
programmes for Awojobi in the past, said
that he was inspired by the need to sustain
the late engineer’s memory in the minds of
Nigerians because of circumstance that
surrounded his death.
He painted an ironic picture of Awojobi’s
burial in Ikorodu, during which comments
that denigrated his name were made to the
effect that he wasted his life and the
future of his children for a " worthless
cause."
The author disclosed that during the
graveside oration, some even concluded that
Nigeria was not worth dying for. " At that
moment, I felt for Awojobi’s soul. He had
suffered scornful attacks from the enemies
of the people and from the people
themselves."
The writer who is a building engineer but
with affinity for literature and history,
narrated the influence, which the late
scholar had on the book. " That sad say," he
recalled " I thought if by chance I found
myself in the position of power, I would
honour this man who, even in death, endured
verbal attacks from those he fought for.
That was what fired my zeal to champion the
campaign for the immortalisation of
Professor Awojobi’s name." |
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ULEC@69.72
Press Release
A DAY TO COMMEMORATE
LIFE AND TIMES OF LATE PROF. AYODELE
AWOJOBI ON JULY 9, 2008
University of Lagos Engineering
Class 1969 – 72 has chosen to share a day for the Life
and Times of late Prof. Ayodele
Olutuminu Awojobi [1937 –
1984], a beloved teacher,
distinguished scholar, and great
patriot, with Nigerians on July 9,
2008.
Prof. Ayo Awojobi, in his life-time, was a rare Nigerian,
part of a special breed whose major
interest was the welfare of others
and indeed, of the Nigerian nation
at large. He was truly respected and
highly revered by his students for
his uncommon brilliance and uncanny
ability to reduce the rigours of
engineering science to simple logic
and easy vocation. At another plane,
he fought relentlessly for the
institution of probity and
accountability in government and
transparency and focus in
governance.
An early death has however almost erased this iconic figure
from the nation's consciousness - a
crying shame if that is allowed to
be.
Even in death, he now looms even larger, and his former
students and beloved admirers
fervently believe that the qualities
and attributes of this special man
must be constantly upheld and
projected as a shining model for
present and future generations.
That day, a Lecture on Excellence, Service and
Patriotism will be delivered by
Prof. Akin Oyebode, Professor
of Law, himself a very distinguished
scholar and someone who knows Prof.
Awojobi very well.
Time is 2pm and Venue is the Julius Berger
Lecture Theatre, Faculty of
Engineering, University of Lagos.
There will also be the Unveiling of a Bust of the late
Prof. Ayodele Awojobi immediately
after the lecture.
The late Professor’s works will be on display at the
Faculty quadrangle.
Chairman of the Ceremony Prince Julius
Adelusi-Adeluyi, OFR, mni
Special Guest of Honour
Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Governor,
Ogun State.
Engr. (Gen.) Tunde Adebanjo (rtd.)
Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu
President
Secretary
0803 474
1789
0802 322 4572
iaadebanjo@yahoo.com
titiomoettu@yahoo.co.uk |
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please click to view your invitation card |
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INFORMATION RELEASE
MKO's LETTER TO CHIEF ABRAHAM ADESANYA
Release Date
:
July 12, 1998
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The National Democratic Coalition, NADECO,
wishes to disprove the baseless insinuation
that Chief M.K.O. Abiola ever signed off his
electoral mandate in his 1st and 2nd July
1998 meetings with with Dr. Kofi Annan and
Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Secretary-Generals of
United Nations Organisation, UNO and
Commonwealth.
NADECO now wants to concretely inform
members of the public and the international
community that Chief MKO Abiola dispelled
the rumor of his alleged trade-off of his
mandate in a letter he personally wrote to
the Deputy Chairman of NADECO, Senator
Abraham Adesanya on July 5, 1998. In order
to finally erase any doubt as to whether or
not Chief Abiola made any concerssion on his
mandate, Senator Adesanya has consented to
makinking this attached letter available for
publication to the media
ABIOLA'S LETTER
Papa, Please make photocopies for others at
your discretion I ask you to greet them
well.
My dear Senator Abraham Adesanya, 5-7-98
My eternal thanks for your steadfastness in
the face of overwhelming odds, may God crown
our efforts with unqualified success.
I have just heard, yesterday that our Papa
Ajasin died sometimes ago. May his soul rest
in peace. I will write a separate letter to
Mama.
I learnt that a newspaper published a
disinformation about my meeting with Kofi
Annan and Chief Anyaoku. Yes, they asked me
for a signed statement that I will not
declare myself President again after my
release. They believe such a signed
statement will enable the FMG to give me an
UNCONDITIONAL release.
Firstly, the release, I said, ceases to be
unconditional if it can only be brought
about by the type of statement they
demanded. Secondly, any statement will be
worthless, being obtained by duress.
Thirdly, my declaration, of 11/6/94 was made
at a big rally with thousands present. A
private statement of the type they demand
will do a discredit to me and to FMG. No
withdrawal of the earlier declaration can be
valid if not made in the same way as the one
it wants to negate. Fourthly, I do not need
to make another declaration since the
11/6/94 one still subsists and has served
and is still serving the purpose for which
it was made. It is this last point that must
have been twisted as a withdrawal.
Tell me, sir, if I was told to withdraw, was
it to the two diplomats that I would
withdraw? Something seriously must have been
wrong with them.
The second major point they made was that
after five years, the mandate has lapsed.
Anyaoku said he sought a legal opinion which
I said in my replies that
(1) the lapse was caused by a series of
illegalities and criminalities perpetrated
by IBB and Abacha. IBB's purported
cancellation and Abacha's determination to
usurp my legitimate position by locking me
in one room until I pass away. Can a
criminal profit from his criminality? They
had no answer to that.
(2) On legal advice, I told the diplomats
that no political crises is ever settled by
"legal advice". I told them confidently that
the logic of events will disprove their
theoretic diplomatic fancies. "God willing,
(and by the way I learnt the "London Times"
asked for my recognition in its last Friday
edition.) Enough for their "time-lag"
arguments.
Both of them behaved as diplomatic advisers
to the FMG.. God willing, they will have no
effect on our progress.
Thank you, My love to Chief Ajayi and your
whole family. How is our Mama HID? Please,
give my love. I love you.
MKO"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We believe that this letter has finally put
paid to the wicked allegation of any
trade-off by the departed symbol of the
current democratic struggle, Chief Moshood
Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
PUBLICITY COMMITTEE,
July 10, 1998 |
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Chief MKO
Abiola: The Complicity Of Silence
by
Clarius
Ugwuoha
Clarius.Ugwuoha@shell.com
Basking in
the euphoria of our nascent democracy, there is the tendency
to forget the dreary days of military dictatorship and the
heroes of our present emancipation. It is, however,
inexcusable that Nigerians have so easily consigned Chief
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola to the trashcan. It is more
awful that successive Governments, since his demise in
questionable circumstances, have refused to absolve
themselves of moral complicity, by according Chief Abiola
his rightful place in the historical development of Nigeria.
Not a single national monument has been raised in honour of
the man who only a few years ago bestrode this terrain like
a colossus, the man whose blood watered the path to
bourgeoning democracy in Nigeria. It is quite predictable
that without Abiola’s struggle the military would still hold
the forte. It is a sad and tearful reality that the African
pillar of sports, the forerunner of our present democratic
experience, the man who clothed the naked, airlifted
pilgrims and sportsmen alike, the philanthropist
extraordinaire whose eventful life touched off on every nook
and cranny of Nigeria, remains forgotten and deserted in
death.
The June 12
1993 presidential election was signalized. It remains a
historical watershed in our polity. For the very first time,
Nigerians voted massively in a threat-free atmosphere, not
only choosing a Southerner, but also endorsing a
Muslim-Muslim ticket. This in itself was proof of the reach
and penetration of the Abiola personality. Prior to the
elections, Nigeria was in the grasps of iron-cast
dictatorship. Through mind-blowing prevarication, and
foot-dragging we finally arrived at an election that must
remain a national standpoint. But the very proponents
tactically stymied the actualization of the June 12 mandate.
They deserted Abiola and embraced a placatory, counterfeit
mandate. The beneficiary of that largesse with only the
military oligarch as his constituency ran riot. The rest is
history.
Upon
Abiola’s demise, an insensate country was for once
scandalized. The national hysterics, however, quickly
whittled down to isolated protests, then to complete
quiescence. The spontaneous outrage was real, the ensuing
blackout inexplicable. Abiola went under, into the catacombs
of our forgotten heroes, as swiftly as our collective
volatility, only reappearing yearly as an appendage of the
June 12 memorial. Chief MKO Abiola is a hero forgotten,
sadly, by even those levered up the heady heights of power
by his historic struggle. Was Abiola an accident of history,
a parenthesis, a sad reminder of our circuitous path through
time? Was Abiola a meteor whose tempestuous flash through
our stygian polity was just a brief interpose? History will
not forgive our complicity of silence in refusing to accord
Chief Abiola his rightful place in the history of our great
country.
Chief Abiola
died betrayed and forsaken by his very cheerleaders, who
quickly re-embraced his detractors and consigned him to the
archives. Have Nigerian players, in the elation of their
current enhanced conditions, for once stopped to ponder over
the gory fate of that great man to whom they cried for
succour in the dreary days of yore? Where are the virulent
national critics who stampeded Chief Abiola against
nefarious military juntas? It is disgraceful that these
critics are not leading protests for recognition and
immortalization of the late industrialist and politician. It
is shameful that these critics who knew from Abacha’s
antecedents the ordeal that awaited Abiola in his gulag, yet
goaded him on, are today unperturbed at the scruffy
treatment of their erstwhile hero. Not even the lead, from a
USA court, of probable complicity of the government then in
his death could spark that storm of outrage of before. Our
collective reflex as a nation is so unexcitable as to be on
the edge of catalepsy. In a more responsible polity, Abiola
would have assumed the toga of a national metaphor. His
birthday would have been in celebration as a national
holiday and his tomb would have been recast as a national
monument. Mr. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela of South Africa,
whose ordeal in Robben Island drew the attention of the
entire world to the apartheid cataclysm in South Africa,
remains immortalized while alive. Steve Bantu Biko of the
same country, who, as a young black consciousness student
activist, was wasted in prison by the agents of racial
segregation, lives through the years. Dr. Martin Luther King
junior, felled in his prime for fiery civil rights activism,
remains canonized in the USA with motley of awards most of
them posthumous, honorary degrees and, according to some
sources, with over seven hundred cities naming streets after
him!
Our loss of
collective values is the crux of the matter. Streets are
named after looters of the economy. Monuments are raised in
honour of those who caused us so much pain and losses, who,
by their omissions and commissions, led to marked
reconfiguration of our collective psyche, spurning militants
and criminals alike – for, yes, these are creations of our
very system. How else do you justify the defeated proposal
by the Ekiti State Government to immortalize the late Gen.
Sani Abacha, not even on the more obvious ground that he
looted the economy and caused us so much pain, but that he
(sic) created Ekiti State! This incomprehensible proposition
was coming at a time the lesions of his autocratic reign
were still fresh, some of them subject of court proceedings
in nearby Lagos. Who do we forgive this gaffe? Where are the
monuments raised in honour of Chief Obafemi Oyeniyi Awolowo,
whose free education in then old Western Nigeria gave Ekiti
State her first crop of intellectuals? Where are the lofty
headstones for Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, who presided
over Ekiti as part of old Ondo state and who, at the
military tribunals of 1983, was about the only civilian
found not to have corruptly enriched himself? That is not a
virtue actually, not a sign of emulative good breeding. It
belonged to the same trashcan as Abiola’s martyrdom and the
death of his wife, Mrs. Kudirat Abiola for our political
liberation from the military oligarch. Smarting from his
irreparable losses and taking thought for the demerits of
intransigence, it is this incongruous logic of ours that
made Kolawole Abiola, the eldest son of the late sage, to
wisely shun untoward controversies. He did not want to be
buoyed up and deserted mid-air, to be applauded to
self-destruct in broad day and laughed to scorn in the
confines of darkness.
Abiola’s
sudden loss of caste, if not, total eclipse from our scheme
of things begs urgent rectification. The late sage should
be accorded the full privileges, even in death, of an
ex-head of government. This is not asking too much against
the backdrop of his uncommon sacrifices at the altar of our
nascent democracy.
Chief
Clarius Ugwuoha writes from the Ezeali Palace in Egbema
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MKO Abiola: Things Past and Present
by
Reuben Abati
On Thursday, June 12, less than a week from
today, it will be exactly ten years since
Nigerians took part in a Presidential
election, which confronted them with certain
complex facts about their co-existence as a
people and a nation. In that election, Chief
MKO Abiola, businessman, philanthropist and
international man of influence contesting on
the platform of the Social Democratic Party
(SDP) was widely acknowledged as winner. He
was by general consensus the people's
President. But the military government led
by a power-drunk General Ibrahim Babangida
chose to annul the results of the election.
Babangida has tried over the years to
explain away this decision as a case of his
hands being tied behind his back by other
interested forces.
But the truth is that Babangida was the
demon of that crisis. He was the crooked
twig in the fireplace. He had allowed a
character called Bashir Tofa as Abiola's
opponent. If Tofa had won, Babangida would
have succeeded with his script. Only God
knows where Tofa is these days. Babangida
did not want to let go. He craved power.
Between him and MKO Abiola, there was also
something personal that stood in the way of
the public process. For five years, the
Nigerian people under various umbrellas
provided by human rights groups, the media
and pro-democracy coalitions, and with the
active support of international bodies,
resisted the military and insisted that the
will and choice of the people should be
respected. MKO Abiola became the arrow-head,
the symbol and eventually the martyr of this
collective resolution played for the most
time in form of a journey to the barricades
and confrontations with the military
autocrats.
It is now ten years since then. In July, it
will also be five years since Chief MKO
Abiola died in state custody in the presence
of international observers (!). We have
since then had two presidential elections;
the Fourth Republic is despite fits and
starts, in its second leg. What I find so
instructive about human nature, and the
movement of time and events, is how
conveniently Nigerians have moved on with
their lives.
The former six AD Governors in the early
hours of the Fourth Republic continually
paid due tribute to the memory of Chief MKO
Abiola. In Lagos, Governor Tinubu honoured
both Abiola and Kudirat, his wife. An Abiola
daughter was also elected to the House of
Representatives by an appreciative Lagos
constituency. Now, only one of the six AD
Governors survived the recent PDP onslaught
in the South-West. We now have in power
persons who do not owe Abiola anything and
were never part of the June 12 process. What
this means is that the Abiola space in
public consciousness is bound to be further
eroded.
For four years, the PDP government at the
centre has refused to acknowledge Abiola as
the principal sacrificial lamb of our recent
history. President Olusegun Obasanjo who is
part-victim and chief beneficiary of the
June 12 process had once proclaimed that
Abiola was not the messiah that Nigerians
were looking for. Ironically, he is faced
with his own paradox: as President, not many
Nigerians consider him the messiah that the
people deserve. Nearly everyone who once
stood resolutely on June 12 has moved on;
they have used June 12 as a platform for
personal gains. Even those who were opposed
to democracy are now principal actors in the
democratic dispensation. Many would remember
Uche Chukwumerije. He was Abacha's spokesman
and a thorn in the flesh of the National
Democratic Coalition. Today, Chukwumerije
(derisively referred to by his critics as
Chukwumerenge) is now an elected Senator of
the Federal Republic. At what point did
Chukwumerije discover democracy? Ask me
again, and I wouldn't be able to answer,
except to say that - that is life. Jonathan
Zwingina, Anthony Anenih, Baba Gana Kingibe
were all Abiola's men. They now serve other
gods and men. General Babangida whose evil
genius and folly caused the June 12 debacle
is even being proposed as a possible
Presidential candidate and eventual
President in 2007. And there are many
Nigerians already peddling the idiocy that
Babangida is the best post-Obasanjo choice.
It is perhaps a fact of life that a dead man
is necessarily a loser in a contest for
living spaces. But in other societies where
human beings also represent symbols and
values, history is constructed around the
heroism of individuals as a means of
educating and raising the consciousness of
the people. The seeming "death" of the
Abiola symbol says more not about facts of
life, but about the nature of our society,
locked as it in the present- without memory
and with little care about the lessons of
history. The Abiola drama is even more
disturbing at the home front. His 50-odd
wives have since become ordinary people. One
of them had a set of twins for another lover
not too long ago. The family wealth, which
Abiola once boasted cannot be affected by
"agba a na" (financial ill-luck), has since
fell on troubled times. His house in Ikeja,
which used to be a theatre of events, is now
comparatively desolate.
The Abiola legacy in the public arena stands
on shaky grounds perhaps because what the
people are relating to is not a body of
ideas, but a symbol and an idea. The late
Chief MKO Abiola did not live long enough to
codify and operationalise his ideas about
development and good governance. He did not
write books in which he articulated his
beliefs about the Nigerians state and its
central concerns. Books were written about
him but these were mainly pieces of
hagiography. Perhaps if Abiola had ruled
Nigeria, even for a day. His story would
have been different. What remains in the
circumstance is his heroism in the course of
the struggle. He was a determined man driven
by faith in the possibilities of justice and
retribution. He invested his faith also, in
the Nigerian people; in their capacity to
relate to ideals and stand by the truth. In
the struggle over June 12, he underestimated
the treachery in the hearts of men and the
opportunism of the Nigerian professional
political class.
He was blessed with an exceedingly
charismatic personality. He was a dramatic
exemplar for all underprivileged persons
seeking to achieve real meaning in their
lives. It was an accident of fate that he
became the rallying point for the country's
democratic struggles. He was friend of the
military over the years, but he was also one
of the first person to see and appreciate
the need for Nigeria to be built on a
different foundation in which the people,
and not the rulers, wielding excessive
powers, are the focus of state engineering
and development inputs. He was a compulsive
bridge-builder with a generous spirit. No
other human being in Nigerian history has
acquired as many chieftaincy titles from all
parts of the country. He was a natural
polygamist, but polygamy was part of his
philanthropy: he married many of the women
in order to bring them closer to the
promises of wealth.
MKO Abiola's value lies even more
critically, in the benefits that his country
has gained form his sacrifice. It is a debt
and burden that is hardly appreciated and
which is in danger of being forgotten. The
June 12 process is to be located squarely
where it belongs in the trajectory of our
country's historical evolution. The point is
worth restating that the annulment of the
June 12 Presidential election was the
nemesis of the Nigerian military. For years,
the military had imposed itself on the
people as an alternative system of
governance. The soldiers were reckless and
brutal, and in due course, they positioned
themselves against the Nigerian people
causing so much pain and frustration. The
public treasury was not spared: they looted
as they wished and built for themselves,
palatial mansions at home and abroad and fat
bank accounts wherever they could. There
were soldiers who were not privileged to be
part of this rape of democracy, but they
were all tarred in public consideration with
the same ugly brush.
Between 1966 and 1999, the military produced
the likes of Generals Buhari, Babangida and
Abacha - three terrible products of a crazy
system. With the annulment of the June 12,
1993 Presidential election, the Nigerian
resolved that they had had enough. They
turned against military rule. By May 29,
1999 when civilian rule was restored, one of
the highlights was the people's resolution
that never again would military rule be
allowed in this land. This achievement is
part of the Abiola legacy. The military is
today, thoroughly discredited. Soldiers are
no longer in a position to impose themselves
on the people. Nigerians have succeeded in
insisting that soldiers should learnt o
behave as professionals and as citizens.
The gain is that even with all the problems
of the recent elections, nobody has ventured
to suggest that soldiers constitute an
alternative. This is a major gain for
tenIgerian people, and it ought to be
remembered that it took the death of Chief
MKO Abiola and others - Ken Saro Wiwa and
the Ogoni Nine, Alfred Rewane, Kudirat
Abiola, Rear Admiral Omotehinwa, Elegbede,
Omatshola, and those whom Dare Babarinsa
says "are not names but numbers... the
little drops of water that make up our sea
of humanity". There are others still who are
still living to whom Joe Igbokwe pays ample
tribute in his useful book entitled Heroes
of Democracy (1999). These other heroes are
also gradually being forgotten, no thanks to
our collective present-mindedness.
The opposition to military rule was anchored
on a yearning for good governance. The
people had thought and felt that if MKO
Abiola became President, he would have been
in a position to transform their lives. It
is to be noted that whereas the people now
have democracy, there is still in the land
an expressed hunger for good governance.
This is encapsulated in the popular
insistence of "democracy dividends". The
people want democratic rule to be measurable
in terms of the impact of emergent processes
on their lives. This has not happened. The
new leaders have not been too significantly
different form the soldiers in terms of
their gestures towards the people, but the
demand for good governance is alive and well
and can be read into the people's request
for stability and continuity in the
expectation that the longer democracy is
allowed to consolidate, the easier it would
be for the politicians to learn appropriate
lessons and adapt to new realities.
On June 12, 2003, we would all go about our
different businesses; the day may well even
pass without notice or incident. Governor
Tinubu's government is in transition; it
might not be in a position to celebrate June
12 as it did in the past. But on June 12, it
might help to remember that June 12 is not
just about treachery but also about the
power of the people, that is the strength of
their collective resolve. With MKO Abiola as
symbol, the Nigerian people between 1993 and
1999 expressed their deepest wishes for a
reconstruction of the Nigerian state. They
asked questions about the complications of
the Nigerian federation and identified
issues, which needed to be resolved to
guarantee national unity and stability.
Ten years later, the same issues remain
unresolved because the government in power
is afraid that doing so may negate its
survival and political fortunes. The fact
that former military officers dominate the
various offices has not been helpful either.
The people continue to ask the same
questions all the same. They want for
example, a national Conference, where the
nationalities can re-negotiate the basis of
our union. The paradox that we face is that
the power of the people is a dynamic
construct, bound by the exigencies of time
and situation. In 1993, in the face of
aborted electoral process, the Nigerian
people were willing and ready and determined
to make sacrifices in order to defend their
stated choices. In 2003, confronted with a
flawed electoral process, the same people
are willing to succumb to blackmail and make
compromises.
The residue, I suppose, ought to be the
prodding of public memory. We cannot achieve
the objective of our collective resolve
unless the communal unconscious is active
and progressive. To build a just society,
icons have to be kept alive; values have to
be remembered, and an appropriate current of
thought should be encouraged. MKO Abiola is
central to this at a national level of
needful deification; additional dramatic
personae will include all the other martyrs
of the unraveling of the Nigerian state and
nation.
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June
12: A Revisit
by
Dayo
Benson, (Vanguard, 10 June 2001)
Chief MKO Abiola... Symbol of June 12
In
another two days, the lingering memory of that epic
will flood the consciousness of faithfuls
particularly those who fought the moral battle for
political emancipation of the downtrodden. In the
next fourty-eight hours, the fourteen million
Nigerians will recollect the events of that day they
trooped to polling booths to cast their votes for
change. A change from military rule to democratic
governance, from conservative to progressive
ideology and from the old order to a new order. But
it was a change that never was.
On
June 12, Nigerians will remember the day that would
have been a watershed in the political annals of the
country. That historic date eight years that the
teeming population of the country resolved in unison
to enthrone democracy after a decade of military
misrule.
Beyond this, the date will also invoke a mixed
memories of the political travails and tribulations
the country had been subjected to.
Almost a decade after, the date is gradually
receding into a distance in the nation's political
lane but its essence is constant. Aside from voting
for change, June 12 bears a deeper symbolism. One of
its political significance is situated in the fact
that for the first time the voting pattern shifted
the political paradigm.
Until that day, Nigerians had been used to voting
along ethnic divide. The politics of the first and
second republics witnessed the traditional voting
pattern. But June 12 marked a radical departure from
pandering to primedial ethnic sentiment. It was a
day the voting populace forgot their individual
identities for a common cause. The long sustained
myth that only Northerners can rule Nigeria was
shattered when the conservative North rejected one
of their own in preference for a Southern. It was
indeed the first time a Southern would win
presidential election in the country, albeit he was
never allowed to actualise the mandate.
Two
previous attempts by Southerners in the first and
second republics came to nought. The late Chief
Obafemi Awolowo's bid to become the
post-independence prime minister was not realised in
the first republic when the nation practised
parliamentary system. it was the same story during
the presidential system in the second republic.
Twice he tried, twice he did not succeed. But June
12 changed all that.
Another dimension of the date is that for the first
time, Nigerians came out of their religious cocoons
to elect leaders of their choice. That the banner
that brought about the victory was muslim/muslim
illustrated a new feeling among Nigerians. But that
feeling was later fouled via a whimsical military
fiat after a nocturnal court judgement that
purported stopped the election from holding. The
rest in new history. It was that singular unpopular
act that sparked off the sour side of June 12. For
those who believed and still believe in its
sanctity, the struggle to actualise the mandate soon
became the struggle for truth and justice. The
restive civil populace took over where the political
elite stopped. Bouyed by the sheer ruggedness of
pro-democracy groups, Nigerian youths took to the
streets to protest the unpopular annulment. In the
process many lives were wasted by the armed soldiers
set against harmless and defenceless populace. In
the few years that followed 1993, many more
prominent lives were lost on account of the June 12
struggle. Pa. Alfred Rewane, Rear Admiral
Omotehinwa, Alhaja Suliat Adedeji, Dr. Sola Omosola,
Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. Eventually, the custodian of
the mandate itself, Chief MKO Abiola died in the
gulag of his incarcerator over his insistence on
actualising his mandate. It is indeed in the memory
of those who laid down their lives for the struggle
that the date will endure.
Over
the past few years, there have been efforts to
deflate the importance of the date. From the
international appeal it enjoyed initially, the
essence of June 12 was reduced to a zonal affair. In
fact, at a point, it was only a handful of NADECO
chieftains that kept the memory alive. It was the
development that earned it a South-West affair. This
is probably understandable. It was the contrivance
of those who had attempted to obliterate the spirit
from the consciousness of most Nigerians.
Indeed, June 12 has been reduced to a South-West
affairs. Its memory had been kept alive with rallies
and lectures by pro-democracy activist prior to the
enthronement of democracy.
However, in the last two years, the spirit has been
rekindled since the return of democracy. Governments
of the six South-West states have been naming
monuments, highways and streets after the late
custodian of the voided mandate and his slain wife
regarded as the heroine of democracy. The duo, and
several other who were killed in the struggle are
martys of democracy. They have written their names
in the pantheon of Nigeria political history.
Revisionists have often claimed that the June 12
1993 presidential poll was inconclusive hence Abiola
had no claim to any mandate. This may well be a
technical argument as the outcome of the election
was predictable even without official announcement
of the result. But more importantly, there are
several questions begging answers: is this the kind
of democracy that hundreds of Nigerians laid down
their lives for? Have they died in vain? Would
things have been different if the mandate of June 12
was actualised?
According to Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, if those who
actively participated in the struggle for democracy
were in the saddle, things wouldn't have been this
bad because they would have appreciated what they
struggled for. For Governor Bola Tinubu, his regret
is that the dividends of democracy he and others
fought tenaciously for have not been felt by the
people. This he blames on the skewed structure of
Nigeria nation that does not allow for the practise
of true federalism. But will things change for the
better?
Will
Nigerians enjoy the fruits of democracy that the
blood of their heroes and heroines watered? The
months ahead will tell.
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How
they killed Abiola,by Zadok
His
security officer in custody (Friday, 20th July,
2001)
by
Kayode Matthew & Lemmy Ughegbe, Vanguard
ABUJA — THE last moments of the late Chief M.K.O.
Abiola were relived publicly for the first time
yesterday by the man who should know: Assistant
Superintendent of Police (ASP) Theodore Bethnel
Zadok, who for the two years preceding the chief’s
death was in charge of his security and welfare in
government custody.
He
was testifying at the Oputa panel sitting in Abuja
where former DMI boss, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo also
alleged massive looting of public funds by top
officials of the Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Zadok in his evidence-in-chief at the hearing of the
petition by Abiola’s first son, Kola and physician,
Dr. Ore Falomo, related how he was apparently handed
away from Chief Abiola, and by the time he returned
to him, he had been offered tea, only to be a few
minutes thereafter.
Reading from a prepared text, the police officer
said: "I was posted to head the detention base of
Chief M. K. O. Abiola with about thirteen (13) body
guards under me. and since the day I took over the
duties of the detention camp of Chief M. K. O.
Abiola I was responsible for collecting the sum of
N800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) quarterly
from Major Hamza Al-Mustapha to the commissioner of
police FCT command Abuja for his feeding. That is
three times a day subject to what the wanted to eat.
I also took care of his health by seeing the Doctor
any time he complained of any illness. In view of
this he never ate any food or drink any thing
without me tasting it first before giving it to him
to eat or drink.
"I
always collected some money from the Chief Security
Officer Major Hamza Al-Mustapha to buy toiletry
fruit drinks, bedding and water.
"The
Chief Security Officer Major hamza Al-Mustapha
ordered me to give Chief MKO Abiola Koran and Bible
for reading and I used to collect some money from
the Chief Security Officer to buy some newspapers
and magazines for the chief to read, and also give
the chief some plain sheets for anything he might
wish to write. My lord, Chief MKO Abiola never
believed that I was a Security man who came to guide
him but a son who came to take care of his father. I
will like to support this statement with a written
note written to me by Chief MKO Abiola.
"Before General Oladipo Diya’s coup attempt, Major
Hamza Al-Mustapha, on the 10th of December, 1997
ordered me to take Chief MKO Abiola to any safe
place, preferably the commissioner of police guest
house at Wuse. And after the said failed coup
attempt Major hamza Al-Mustapha ordered me to move
Chief MKO Abiola from the commissioner’s guest house
to Kado Housing Estate popularly known as Jeremiah
Useni Housing Estate Kado.
"On
the 8th day of June 1998 the day the Head of State
General Sani Abacha died the chief Security Officer
Major Hamza Al-Mustapha ordered me along with Lt.
Ikilama to move Chief MKO Abiola from Kado Housing
Estate to Gado Nasko Barracks and from there all the
13 body guards attached to me were withdrawn except
the driver and leaving the soldiers of the Guards
Brigade to take over the guard.
But
I was still left behind to be bringing food to Chief
MKO Abiola as usual from the police officers mess
Wuse Zone 7. Chief MKO Abiola was informed of the
death of General Sani Abacha and the appointment of
General Abdulsalami Abubakar as the Head of State
and Commander-in-Chief. he wrote letters to general
Abdulsalami Abubakar and the service Chiefs gave
them to me to Photostat them for him. He gave me
some copies to give to Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and
passed the rest to the rest to the respective
owners. After the expiration of the second quarter
allocation of N800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand
naira) I approached Major A. S. Aliyu Chief Security
Officer to general Abdulsalami Abubakar to collect
the money for the next quarter he only told me he
had heard me.
"On
the day in question, the 7th Day of July 1998 at
about 11.30hrs, the Chief Security Officer to
general Abdulsalami Abubakar Major A. S. Aliyu
called me on the radio set, asking me to see him his
office. I then proceeded in his office and he
instructed me to bring Chief MKO Abiola to Aguda
House for an interview to be hold by 1300 hrs.
"I
then went back to the base and informed Chief MKO
Abiola of the interview and he asked me whether
Major Hamza Al- Mustapha was aware of the said
interview, I told him didn’t know because Major
Hamza Al-Mustapha was busy handing and taking over
but I would see if I could locate him to inform him.
"He
asked me to bring his dresses which he would wear
and also asked me to give him 30 minutes to enable
him get dressed. At about 1230hrs the Chief Security
Officer to general Abdulsalami Abubakar Major A. S.
Aliyu came to the base. To the best of my knowledge,
that was the first time he knew that place, wanting
to know if we were ready and I replied him almost
ready. As we opened the door the Chief was already
waiting for us. Together we went out and headed to
Aguda House, venue of the Interview.
"Before we all left the base, chief MKO Abiola was
in sound and healthy condition. He did not complain
to me of any illness. About 100 metres from the door
stand of the Aguda House, the controller from the
control room called me on the radio set and said, I
quote, "30 BRAVO your LOG I answered ALFA GOLFF
UNIFORM DELTA ALFA, HOTEL. And he said MAIG SERIA
GOLFF from the OSCAR FOSTRO FOSTRO OF CHALIE OSCA
GOLFF SERIA you should ROMEO PAPA TANGO to see the
subject INDIA MIKE MIKE I answered RECEIVED."
Meaning 2i/c Prescort your present location. I
answered Aguda House and he gave the message from
the office of the Chief of General Staff and that
you should see the Chief of general Staff Admiral
Mike Akhigbhe immediately please and I answered
noted please.
"As
we arrived at the Aguda House door step, I led Chief
MKO Abiola inside the house and I took permission
from the Chief Security Officer to General
Abdulsalami Abubakar, Major A. S. Aliyu in whose
custody I left Chief MKO Abiola.
"He
asked me to use his vehicle, leaving my vehicle at
the door step where it was packed. I then took his
vehicle as entrusted and left to see the Chief of
General Staff Admiral Mike Akhigbe at about 1310hrs
and I came back from seeing Admiral Mike Akhigbe at
about 1350hrs, only to discover that my vehicle was
not there at the packing spot. On arrival, I saw one
of my Body Guards Sunday Pada standing by the side
of the door. I asked him where they had gone. He
replied me they were inside and that the Chief
Security Office only sent my vehicle to Aso-Clinic
and as I was about to enter the room, I met with the
Chief Security Officer, Major A. S. Aliyu who told
me that Chief MKO Abiola was not feeling fine and
after taking a cup of tea he coughed and feel down.
"I
quickly went inside and I saw Chief MKO Abiola lying
on the floor facing down. I called him. for the
first time he answered, and I lifted him up and
turned him upside and called him again for the
second time he did not answer. At that time doctor
Sadiq Sani Wali from Aso Clinic arrived and about
examining the chief. I told him we should rush the
Chief to the clinic for proper treatment. Myself,
the Chief Security Officer, Major A. S. Aliyu,
Doctor Sadiq Sani Wali and the two white men
standing lifted Chief MKO Abiola into my vehicle
outside for onward movement to Aso-clinic.
Before getting to Aso-Clinic I saw Dr. Sadiq Sani
Wali pressing his (Abiola’s) stomach up and down a
kind of resuscitating him. As we arrived the clinic,
Chief M.K.O. Abiola was rushed to the Emergency Room
where I stood by with the doctors including the two
white men and the Chief Security Officer Major Aliyu
until when Dr. Sadiq Sani Wali later confirmed to us
that Chief M.K.O Abiola was dead.
"We
came out of the Emergency Room and the Chief
Security Officer Major A. S. Aliyu phoned the villa,
I heard him saying to the ADC please, connect me to
the Head of State I have an important message for
him. For about three minutes they continued the
discussion with the Head of State while he was
moving towards his vehicle outside. So I didn’t hear
what he was discussing with the Head of State after
the phone we both left for villa,
"The
questions to ask are:
Who
gave Chief M.K.O. Abiola tea in my absence?
Who
tasted the tea before giving it to him?
And
in whose presence was the tea tested?
"The
questions are for the Chief Security Officer to
General Abdulsalam Abubakar; Major Aliyu to answer.
And I want to testify before this Honourable
Commission that on the 6th day of July 1998 at about
2200hrs Kola Abiola the son to late Chief M.K.O.
Abiola his step mother; and about three of his
sisters were with their father at Aguda House until
0130hrs of 7th July, 1998. I want to say
categorically here that his father Chief M.K.O.
Abiola was in a sound and healthy condition.
"Based on the statement made to the Commission by
Femi Falana on the 5th day of July 2001 that Chief
M.K.O Abiola was driven from Kano State to Abuja
where he said that the Chief fell inside the Black
Maria four times before arriving Abuja is totally
false, because to the best of my knowledge Chief
M.K.O Abiola was never detained out of Abuja.
"On
the 28th day of July 1998, I collected from the
Commander Brigade of Guard Gado Nasko Barracks the
late Chief M.K.O Abiola’s property and handed them
over to Alhaji Babagana Kingibe on the 31st day of
July, 1998 who ordered his orderly Sergeant Mustapha
Gana to check, sign and collect the property from me
and he Babagana Kingibe made a contact call to the
family of Chief M.K.O. Abiola to come forward and
collect the said property.
After his evidence-in-chief, he was then cross
examined by Mr. Femi Falana.
Falana: You said you were not retired, you were not
posted and yet you have been on salaries. Since when
have you been receiving salary without rendering
services to this station.
Zadok: Since August 1 1998 on the day the personal
assistant the former Inspector General of Police
Superintendent Udi informed me in the villa that two
officers from force CID Lagos were in the villa and
that I should submit their names at the gate for
them to see my OC. I submitted their names. When
they entered, they told us they were taking over
from us, without any written letter. I did not know
that Major Aliu was aware of it. We were moved out
of the villa without any document. Since August 1
1998 I have not worked in any police formation.
Falana: Were you close to Abiola in detention.
Zadok: Yes I was close to him.
Falana: What ailment did Abiola complained to your
about?
Zadok: He complained of his high blood pressure.
Falana: You said on June 8 1998 your bodyguards were
withdrawn and soldiers took over the protection of
Abiola.
Zadok: Yes.
Falana: Did he write letters that you knew of while
in detention?
Zadok: Yes, he wrote condolence letters to Mrs.
Yar’Adua when General Yar’Adua died. Also when
General Abacha died, he wrote condolence letter to
Mrs. Abacha to be forwarded to General Abdulsalami
Abubakar for vetting as he said two heads are better
than one.
Falana: Do you know the contents of the letter?
Zadok: No, the letters were always sealed.
Falana: Is Major A.S. Aliu still in the army?
Zadok: Yes.
Falana: Were you with him when Commonwealth Sec.
Gen. Emeka Anyaoku held a meeting with him?
Zadok: Yes I was there. They all took photograph
together.
Falana: Had this ever happened before?
Zadok: No, it never happened before during his
detention.
Falana: the photograph was to let everybody know
that he was hale and hearty.
Zadok: Yes.
Falana: Was it to your knowledge that a foreigner
was allowed to give food or drink to a detainee in
Nigeria? (Find Out You Will Not Believe Your
Eyes!!<=Story Link by NMW)
Zadok: To the best of my knowledge no foreigner had
ever done this.
It
was my duty to taste any food or drink before giving
it to Abiola.
Falana: When Abiola was given tea to drink was the
first time you never tasted anything given to Abiola
to take?
Zadok: Yes it was the first time.
Falana: You normally tasted food or drink before you
gave it to Abiola to prevent any harm done to your
subject?
Zadok: Yes.
Falana: So, you were tricked to go and see Admiral
Akhigbe?
Zadok: Maybe.
Falana: When you left Abiola with Major A.S. Aliu,
you were confident that you were leaving him in the
care of a competent person.
Zadok: Yes.
Falana: After his death what happened to his
property he left in detention?
Zadok: I have a copy of the list of his property. I
handed over his property to Ambassador Baba Gana
Kingigbe who immediately called Abiola’s family to
inform them that Abiola’s property were with him and
they should come for them.
Falana: US official Dickering later addressed a
press conference to say Abiola died of national
cause.
Zadok: Yes.
Falana: Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo said the day Abacha
died, Bamaiyi said Abiola must also be killed is a
similar way to balance equation.
Zadok: Yes, I heard it.
He
was asked why he did not inquire from Major Aliu who
gave tea to Abiola and he replied, "Major Aliu was
the overall security office in charge of Abiola’s
detention. I did not have the gut to ask him. Who
gave Abiola tea and whether it was tasted before
giving it to him.
"Chief Abiola need to keep photocopies of his
letters in his Bible and Koran. I did not have the
time to go through them. But if the commission
requests for them it will assist this commission
greatly.
At
the end of Zadok’s testimony, Mr. Falana requested
the commission to order the IG to give full
protection to Zadok.
Gen
Sabo also testified yesterday in respect of Chief
Abiola’s death.
Led
by his counsel, Mr. Umar Shinthien,
Brigadier-General Ibrahim Sabo’s evidence ran thus:
Shinttien: Brigadier-General Sabo, you told this
commission in Lagos that apart from what you said
then on Chief Abiola’s death, you have more to say.
Sabo: Yes I still have a lot more facts on Abiola’s
death. I will also tender some documents here before
this commission, while I will take the rest
documents to Akanbi’s anti-corruption commission.
Shinttien: Tell this commission other facts you
know.
Sabo: I said earlier that on June 8 1998 many things
happened from the sublime to the ridiculous. The
sublime has to do with the death of former head of
state, General Sani Abacha while the ridiculous was
on the threat to Abiola’ | | |
