 |
| Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola |
The plane landed
in Abuja that evening. It had rained
briefly during the day. The weather was dull and cold. But Moshood had other things
on his mind. He had heard before his flight had taken off that some members of
his party, who wanted to trade his presidential mandate away, were having
meetings behind his back. Moshood had never expected loyalty
from politicians during tough times but he had also never expected their
treachery to come so soon. This trip was very important, he told himself, in
order to confront the military president, whom he held solely responsible for
the crisis. He wanted to stop things from getting completely out of hand by
negotiating with him and assuring him that his incoming government had no plans
to investigate him.
in Abuja that evening. It had rained
briefly during the day. The weather was dull and cold. But Moshood had other things
on his mind. He had heard before his flight had taken off that some members of
his party, who wanted to trade his presidential mandate away, were having
meetings behind his back. Moshood had never expected loyalty
from politicians during tough times but he had also never expected their
treachery to come so soon. This trip was very important, he told himself, in
order to confront the military president, whom he held solely responsible for
the crisis. He wanted to stop things from getting completely out of hand by
negotiating with him and assuring him that his incoming government had no plans
to investigate him.
 |
| Babangida and Abiola |
The drive from
the airport to Aso Rock, Nigeria’s presidential villa was very long. It took Moshood
and his entourage more than two hours to reach their destination. They were not
boring hours, though, because Moshood was deep in thought. He was
analyzing the personality of his future host, Nigeria’s charismatic military
leader whom many admired and many despised. His nickname was Maradona
because, just like the legendary Argentinian soccer player on the
field, the military president possessed great skills in twisting people around.
the airport to Aso Rock, Nigeria’s presidential villa was very long. It took Moshood
and his entourage more than two hours to reach their destination. They were not
boring hours, though, because Moshood was deep in thought. He was
analyzing the personality of his future host, Nigeria’s charismatic military
leader whom many admired and many despised. His nickname was Maradona
because, just like the legendary Argentinian soccer player on the
field, the military president possessed great skills in twisting people around.
 |
| IBB |
“The military government had sent some of its
loyalists in Northern Nigeria to spread tales that Moshood was going to divide Nigeria because he hated the North.
Among the Christians, rumors were also spread about how Moshood had intercepted a ship that was carrying bibles to Nigeria
and caused it to sink”.
Moshood was now
convinced that his foray into the presidential race was a big mistake. He had
made up his mind to pursue his mandate but he was still afraid of the
consequences. He dreaded the possibility of another miscalculated move, and
since this was the first time that a presidential election had been annulled in
Nigeria or any other African country, he had nothing to compare to his
predicament or to learn from.
convinced that his foray into the presidential race was a big mistake. He had
made up his mind to pursue his mandate but he was still afraid of the
consequences. He dreaded the possibility of another miscalculated move, and
since this was the first time that a presidential election had been annulled in
Nigeria or any other African country, he had nothing to compare to his
predicament or to learn from.
 |
| The Author Jamiu Abiola & The GDA |
So many things
had happened since the election was annulled. The military government had sent
some of its loyalists in Northern Nigeria to spread tales that Moshood
was going to divide Nigeria because he hated the North. Among the Christians,
rumors were also spread about how Moshood had intercepted a ship that
was carrying bibles to Nigeria and caused it to sink. The
plot against him was thickening by the day and its aim was to give people the
impression that he had deceived them into voting for him, and that the
government’s action against his victory was necessary and justifiable.
had happened since the election was annulled. The military government had sent
some of its loyalists in Northern Nigeria to spread tales that Moshood
was going to divide Nigeria because he hated the North. Among the Christians,
rumors were also spread about how Moshood had intercepted a ship that
was carrying bibles to Nigeria and caused it to sink. The
plot against him was thickening by the day and its aim was to give people the
impression that he had deceived them into voting for him, and that the
government’s action against his victory was necessary and justifiable.
By the time
Moshood finally arrived at the presidential villa, all those thoughts
had geared him up. He was agitated and ready to be confrontational. His cars
were given immediate access into the compound and after a few minutes, he and
his entourage were at the president’s personal residence. The place was practically
empty. But that was not the only surprise awaiting them. The military president
suddenly appeared to receive him by himself. After greeting Moshood
and referred to him as “Sir,” he led him one way while Maryam, his wife, led Kudirat
in another direction.
Moshood finally arrived at the presidential villa, all those thoughts
had geared him up. He was agitated and ready to be confrontational. His cars
were given immediate access into the compound and after a few minutes, he and
his entourage were at the president’s personal residence. The place was practically
empty. But that was not the only surprise awaiting them. The military president
suddenly appeared to receive him by himself. After greeting Moshood
and referred to him as “Sir,” he led him one way while Maryam, his wife, led Kudirat
in another direction.
 |
| Jamiu Abiola with the GDA |
Kudirat walked behind her
reluctantly because she had wanted to be with her husband.
reluctantly because she had wanted to be with her husband.
In the midst of
warm gestures, there was anger and bitterness in the air from the onset. Kudirat
had known Maryam, the first lady, for a long time. She had always admired
her for her efforts on behalf of rural women in Nigeria through her Better
Life initiative. But since the crisis had broken out, the first lady
had come in for some of her own share of image-bashing. Many people had alleged
that she had acquired controlling stakes in the Nigerian subsidiary of a
multinational oil company, among other damaging accusations.
warm gestures, there was anger and bitterness in the air from the onset. Kudirat
had known Maryam, the first lady, for a long time. She had always admired
her for her efforts on behalf of rural women in Nigeria through her Better
Life initiative. But since the crisis had broken out, the first lady
had come in for some of her own share of image-bashing. Many people had alleged
that she had acquired controlling stakes in the Nigerian subsidiary of a
multinational oil company, among other damaging accusations.
Kudirat, for her own
part, never listened to rumors but her anger with the first lady stemmed from
her belief that she was supportive of her husband’s actions. During their
discussions, she watched and listened in disbelief as her hostess told her that
it was the military as an institution, and not her husband as a person, that
stood in the way of Moshood’s presidency.
part, never listened to rumors but her anger with the first lady stemmed from
her belief that she was supportive of her husband’s actions. During their
discussions, she watched and listened in disbelief as her hostess told her that
it was the military as an institution, and not her husband as a person, that
stood in the way of Moshood’s presidency.
 |
| Jamiu Abiola; The Author of the book, ‘The President Who Never Ruled’ |
Coincidentally
that was the same point adopted by her husband during his talks with Moshood.
But to his dismay, Moshood dismissed it. He even explained to his host that the
army, according to the election results at his disposal, voted overwhelmingly
for him. After that, their meeting hit a stumbling block. Suddenly there were
no more grounds for a truce. After a while the meeting ended and Moshood
returned to Lagos. Nothing was achieved.
that was the same point adopted by her husband during his talks with Moshood.
But to his dismay, Moshood dismissed it. He even explained to his host that the
army, according to the election results at his disposal, voted overwhelmingly
for him. After that, their meeting hit a stumbling block. Suddenly there were
no more grounds for a truce. After a while the meeting ended and Moshood
returned to Lagos. Nothing was achieved.
 |
| MKO Abiola; The Star Boy |
Some political
stakeholders became aware of the meeting and the deadlock and swung into
action. Some of them told Moshood not to give up, and at the
same time encouraged the military president not to give in. They played both
sides and caused the crisis to escalate in order to exploit both men. The SDP,
Moshood’s
political party, stood firmly by him at first. It rejected pressure from the
government to either accept new elections or an interim government. But the
resistance was short-lived because the SDP eventually abandoned Moshood
and accepted the idea of an interim government.
stakeholders became aware of the meeting and the deadlock and swung into
action. Some of them told Moshood not to give up, and at the
same time encouraged the military president not to give in. They played both
sides and caused the crisis to escalate in order to exploit both men. The SDP,
Moshood’s
political party, stood firmly by him at first. It rejected pressure from the
government to either accept new elections or an interim government. But the
resistance was short-lived because the SDP eventually abandoned Moshood
and accepted the idea of an interim government.
 |
| The Book that Cleaned the Band, MKO |
There were tales
of how some of its influential members were promised ministerial appointments.
There was a strong rumor that the military government had paid the foreign
debts of one of the party’s big shots. Then there was also talk of how one of
the party’s influential members was helped by the government to repurchase a
castle that he had lost in the United Kingdom after he had
fallen on hard times. The two political parties, SDP and NRC,
accepted an interim government. Moshood spoke against it and in a
bid to stop it he traveled to Europe and the United States in search
of support. It was during his absence that the Nigerian military president
handed over power to an interim government.
of how some of its influential members were promised ministerial appointments.
There was a strong rumor that the military government had paid the foreign
debts of one of the party’s big shots. Then there was also talk of how one of
the party’s influential members was helped by the government to repurchase a
castle that he had lost in the United Kingdom after he had
fallen on hard times. The two political parties, SDP and NRC,
accepted an interim government. Moshood spoke against it and in a
bid to stop it he traveled to Europe and the United States in search
of support. It was during his absence that the Nigerian military president
handed over power to an interim government.
(Excerpts from
the book, The President Who Never Ruled by Jamiu Abiola; get copies
in any book shop across the world or write Jamiu Abiola through jamiulinguist@yahoo.com. Read Reason why MKO Abiola loves women in our next post
on this blog)
the book, The President Who Never Ruled by Jamiu Abiola; get copies
in any book shop across the world or write Jamiu Abiola through jamiulinguist@yahoo.com. Read Reason why MKO Abiola loves women in our next post
on this blog)
