The
famous speech by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (M.K.O.) who
was adjudged to have won the 1993 Presidential election before he was
arrested and killed in detention has been brought to the fore.
Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola
Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola adjudged to have
won the June 12, 1993 election, described till date as Nigeria’s “freest
and fairest” election ever, died on July 7, 1998, on the day when he
was to be released after four years in detention. His mandate was denied
him first by then military ruler, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida who called
for another election after annulling the one that produced Abiola.
However, Sani Abacha came in the way after Babaginda left the
government. Abacha declared himself military ruler. He then arrested
Abiola for declaring himself “President and Commander-in-Chef of the Federal republic of Nigeria” and proclaimed “a new Government of National Unity”.
Abacha threw Abiola into prison for four years where he later died on the day he was about to be released.
Below is the full speech, delivered on June 11, 1994, and dubbed
the ‘Epetedo Proclamation’, having been made in the Epetedo area of
Lagos Island.
Read below:
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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