On this day 24 years ago,
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential
election, delivered the speech that ultimately led to his arrest, incarceration
and death.
Frustrated by one full year
(less just a day) of futile attempts to reclaim his mandate that was
invalidated by military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, Abiola proclaimed himself the
“President and Commander-in-Chief” of the Federal republic of Nigeria and
proclaimed “a new Government of National Unity”.
He also “reconvened” the
National Assembly, “reinstated” all dismissed governors, and “reconstituted”
the state assemblies and local government councils.
After the speech, Sani
Abacha, the military head of state, declared him wanted for treason and ordered
his arrest. He was incarcerated for four years and died on July 7, 1998 — the
day he was to be freed.
Fondly described as the
‘Epetedo Proclamation’ — having been delivered in Epetedo, Lagos Island — the
speech is reproduced below to offer the younger generation an insight into the
thoughts of a man described by one of his sons as “the President who never
ruled”.
THE SPEECH IN FULL
People of Nigeria, exactly
one year ago, you turned out in your millions to vote for me, Chief M.K.O.
Abiola, as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But politicians in
uniform, who call themselves soldiers but are more devious than any civilian
would want to be, deprived you of your God-given right to be ruled by the
President you had yourselves elected.
These soldier-politicians
introduced into our body politic, a concept hitherto unknown to our political
lexicography, something strangely called the “annulment” of an election
perceived by all to have been the fairest, cleanest and most peaceful ever held
in our nation.
Since that abominable act
of naked political armed robbery occurred, I have been constantly urged by people
of goodwill, both in Nigeria and abroad, to put the matter back into the
people’s hands and get them to actualise the mandate they gave me at the polls.
But mindful of the need to ensure that peace continues to reign in our fragile
federation, I have so far tried to pursue sweet reason and negotiation.
My hope has always been to
arouse whatever remnants of patriotism are left in the hearts of these thieves
of your mandate, and to persuade them that they should not allow their personal
desire to rule to usher our beloved country into an era of political instability
and economic ruin.
All I have sought to do, in
seeking dialogue with them, has been to try and get them to realise that only
real democracy can move our nation forward towards progress, and earn her the
respect she deserves from the international community.
However, although this
peaceful approach has exposed me to severe censure by some who have mistaken it
for weakness on my part, those with whom I have sought to dialogue have
remained like stones, neither stirred to show loyalty to the collective
decision of the people of their own country, nor to observe Allah’s injunction
that they should exhibit justice and fair-play in all their dealings with their
fellowmen.
Appeals to their honour as
officers and gentlemen of the gallant Nigerian Armed Forces, have fallen on
deaf ears. Instead, they have resorted to the tactics of divide and rule,
bribery and political perfidy, misinformation and (vile) propaganda. They
arrest everyone who disagrees with them. Even the 71-year old hero of our
nation, Chief Anthony Enahoro, was not spared. How much longer can we tolerate
all this? People of Nigeria, you are all witnesses that I have tried to climb
the highest mountain, cross the deepest river and walk the longest mile, in
order to get these men to obey the will of our people.
There is no humiliation I
have not endured, no snare that has not been put in my path, no “setup” that
has not been designed for me in my endeavour to use the path of peace to
enforce the mandate that you bestowed on me one year ago. It has been a long
night. But the dawn is here.
Today, people of Nigeria, I
join you all in saying, “Enough is Enough!” We have endured 24 years of
military rule in our 34 years of independence.
Military rule has led to
our nation fighting a civil war with itself. Military rule has destabilised our
nation today as not before in its history. Military rule has impoverished our
people and introduced a dreadful trade in drugs which has made our country’s
name an anathema in many parts of the world. Even soccer fans going to watch
the Green Eagles display in America are being made to suffer there needlessly
because Nigeria’s name is linked with credit card and fraud and “419.”
Politically, military rule has torn to shreds the prestige due to our country because
of its size and population.
The permanent seat at the
United Nations Security Council that should be rightfully ours, is all but
lost. For who will vote for Nigeria to get the seat if Nigerian military rulers
do not respect the votes of their own people?
Enough of military rule. We
are sickened to see people who have shown little or no personal achievement,
either in building up private businesses, or making success of any tangible
thing, being placed in charge of the management of our nation’s economy, by
rulers who are not accountable to anyone.
Enough of square pegs in
round holes. We are tired of then military repetitive tendency to experiment
with our economy: Today, they say “no controls.” Tomorrow; they say “Full
controls”. The day after, they say “Fine tuning”.
The next day, they say
“Devaluation.” A few days later, they say “Revalue the same naira upwards again
Abi?” All we can see are the consequences of this permanent game of military
“about turns;” high inflation, a huge budget deficit and an enormous foreign
debt repayment burden, dying industries, high unemployment and a demoralised
populace.
Our youths, in particular,
can see no hope on the horizon, and many can only dream of escaping from our
shores to join the brain drain. Is this the Nigeria we want? We are plagued
also by periodic balance of payments crises, which have led to a perennial
shortage of essential drugs, that has turned our hospitals and clinics into
mortuaries.
A scarcity of books and
equipment has rendered our schools into desolate deserts of ignorance. Our
factories are crying for machinery, spare parts and raw materials. But each day
that passes, instead of these economic diseases being cured, they are rather strengthened
as an irrational allocation of foreign exchange based on favouritism and
corruption becomes the order of the day.
Enough is enough of
economic mismanagement! People of Nigeria, during the election campaign last
year, I presented you with a programme entitled “HOPE ’93. This programme was
aimed precisely at solving these economic (problems) that have demoralised us
all. I toured every part of Nigeria to present this programme to you the
electorate. I was questioned on it at public rallies and press conferences and
I had the privilege of incorporating into it much of the feedback that I
obtained from the people.
Because you knew I would
not only listen to you but deliver superb results from the programme, you voted
for me in your millions and gave me an overwhelming majority over my opponent.
To be precise, you gave me 58.4 per cent of the popular vote and a majority in
20 out of 30 states plus the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Not only that,
you also enabled me to fulfil the constitutional requirement that the winner
should obtain one-third of the votes in two-thirds of the states.
I am sure that when you
cast an eye on the moribund state of Nigeria today, you ask yourselves: “What
have we done to deserve this, when we have a president-elect who can lead a
government that can change things for the better? Our patience has come to an
end.
As of now, from this
moment, a new Government of National Unity is in power throughout the length
and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, led by me, Bashorun M.K.O.
Abiola, as President and Commander-in-Chief. The National Assembly is hereby
reconvened. All dismissed governors are reinstated.
The State Assemblies are
reconstituted, as are all local government councils. I urge them to adopt a
bi-partisan approach to all the issues that come before them. At the national
level, a bi-partisan approach will be our guiding principle. I call upon the
usurper, General Sani Abacha, to announce his resignation forthwith, together
with the rest of his illegal ruling council. We are prepared to enter into
negotiations with them to work out the mechanics for a smooth transfer of
power.
I pledge that if they hand
over quietly, they will be retired with all their entitlements, and their
positions will be accorded all the respect due to them. For our objective is
neither recrimination nor witch-hunting, but an enforcement of the will of the
Nigerian people, as expressed in free elections conducted by the duly
constituted authority of the time.
I hereby invoke the mandate
bestowed upon me by my victory in the said election, to call on all members of
the Armed Forces and the Police, the Civil and Public Services throughout the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, to obey only the Government of National Unity that
is headed by me, your only elected President.
My Government of National
Unity is the only legitimate, constituted authority in the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, as of now. People of Nigeria, these are challenging times in the
history of our continent, Africa, and we in Nigeria must not allow ourselves to
be left behind. Our struggle is the same as that waged by the people of South
Africa, which has been successfully concluded, with the inauguration of Mr.
Nelson Mandela as the first African President of that country.
Nelson Mandela fought to
replace MINORITY rule with MAJORITY rule. We in Nigeria are also fighting to
replace MINORITY rule, for we are ruled by only a tiny section of our armed
forces. Like the South Africans, we want MAJORITY rule today, that is rule only
by those chosen by all the people of Nigeria as a whole in free and fair
elections.
The only difference between
South Africa and Nigeria is that those who imposed minority rule on the
majority rule whether it is by black or white, remains minority rule, and must
be booted out. I call on you, heroic people of Nigeria, to emulate the actions
of your brothers and sisters in South Africa and stand up as one person to
throw away the yoke of minority rule for ever.
The antics of every
minority that oppresses the majority are always the same. They will try to
intimidate you with threats of police action. But do not let us fear arrest. In
South Africa, so many people were arrested, during the campaign against the
Pass Laws, for instance, that the jails could not hold all of them. Today,
apartheid is gone forever.
So, let it be with Nigeria.
Let us say goodbye forever to minority rule by the military. They talk of
treason. But haven’t they heard of the Rivonia treason trial in South Africa?
Did those treason trials halt the march of history? People of Nigeria, our time
is now. You are the repository of power in the land.
No one can give you power.
It is yours. Take it! From this day, show to the world that anyone who takes
the people of Nigeria for fools is deceiving himself and will have the people
to answer to. God bless you all. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Long live the Government of National Unity.
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