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| The Author Jamiu Abiola tells the GDA more story of how his father fell for Abacha’s dirty deal |
Moshood finally
returned to Nigeria in September of
1993. By then, he was convinced that he could only cause a revolution from
inside Nigeria. His struggle must start and end there. He no longer cared about
the consequences and often repeated that a thief, and not a victim, should be
the one to be scared.
returned to Nigeria in September of
1993. By then, he was convinced that he could only cause a revolution from
inside Nigeria. His struggle must start and end there. He no longer cared about
the consequences and often repeated that a thief, and not a victim, should be
the one to be scared.
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Going back to
Nigeria was a tough decision for him. Many saw it as a careless one because
they knew that he was going to claim his mandate and to them, no one can ever
fight against government and win. But Moshood disagreed. He knew that the
new government was vulnerable for a number of reasons.
Nigeria was a tough decision for him. Many saw it as a careless one because
they knew that he was going to claim his mandate and to them, no one can ever
fight against government and win. But Moshood disagreed. He knew that the
new government was vulnerable for a number of reasons.
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| MKO Abiola the Enigma |
The government
was bankrupt. It had inherited an empty treasury from the previous government.
To make matters worse, the interim government had increased the price of
petroleum products because it was desperate to raise funds. Public disaffection
rose sharply and the new government’s unpopularity reached new heights.
was bankrupt. It had inherited an empty treasury from the previous government.
To make matters worse, the interim government had increased the price of
petroleum products because it was desperate to raise funds. Public disaffection
rose sharply and the new government’s unpopularity reached new heights.
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| General Sani Abacha …Played 419 on MKO Abiola |
Riots broke out.
This was actually the best time for Moshood to declare himself the
legitimate president of Nigeria, and he was advised to do so. But he chose not
to. He wanted to avoid bloodshed so he felt that waiting for the outcome of the
court ruling in a case on the legitimacy of the interim government was the best
option. He would form his own government once the court hopefully ruled against
the present one.
This was actually the best time for Moshood to declare himself the
legitimate president of Nigeria, and he was advised to do so. But he chose not
to. He wanted to avoid bloodshed so he felt that waiting for the outcome of the
court ruling in a case on the legitimacy of the interim government was the best
option. He would form his own government once the court hopefully ruled against
the present one.
 |
| MKO Abiola…The Star Boy from Egba Land |
“Immediately after he had settled down, General Abacha invited Moshood to a meeting. In the course of
their conversation, he asked Moshood
why he had not delivered the strategy he had requested from him. Moshood, who had given it to the
designated person, told him that he had handed it over as they had agreed”
Moshood had never
considered Shonekan as the head of that government. To him, and many other
keen observers, the man was just a tool used by the former military leader to
deceive the Yorubas, the people of Moshood’s tribe, and make them
believe that political power had shifted to their region, as it would have if
Moshood’s election had not been annulled. The real leader of that
government, Moshood knew, was General Abacha, the secretary of
defense. But sensing that the tide might turn in favor of Moshood, in the event of a court ruling against
the government, General Abacha reached out to him to set a trap for him.
considered Shonekan as the head of that government. To him, and many other
keen observers, the man was just a tool used by the former military leader to
deceive the Yorubas, the people of Moshood’s tribe, and make them
believe that political power had shifted to their region, as it would have if
Moshood’s election had not been annulled. The real leader of that
government, Moshood knew, was General Abacha, the secretary of
defense. But sensing that the tide might turn in favor of Moshood, in the event of a court ruling against
the government, General Abacha reached out to him to set a trap for him.
 |
| MKO & Kudirat Abiola; First Nigerian Couple to die for Democracy |
At first,
through emissaries, General Abacha assured Moshood of his sympathy. He made it
clear that his hope was for both of them to work together. He even pleaded that
Moshood
should consider retaining him as the defense chief once he helped him to become
president. Moshood did not want to have anything to do with him. He
believed that Abacha was corrupt but he eventually agreed to team up with
him. He did not have a choice because Abacha was in control of the army
and the army would still be capable of standing in the way of his presidential
ambition even if the court ruled against the interim government’s legitimacy.
through emissaries, General Abacha assured Moshood of his sympathy. He made it
clear that his hope was for both of them to work together. He even pleaded that
Moshood
should consider retaining him as the defense chief once he helped him to become
president. Moshood did not want to have anything to do with him. He
believed that Abacha was corrupt but he eventually agreed to team up with
him. He did not have a choice because Abacha was in control of the army
and the army would still be capable of standing in the way of his presidential
ambition even if the court ruled against the interim government’s legitimacy.
 |
| General Abacha’s 2nd in command, Genere Oladipupo Diya (His Hands were tight on MKO Abiola’s Case) |
As everyone had
expected, on the tenth of November 1993
the courts ruled that the interim government was illegal. Abacha began talking to Moshood
directly. He asked him for a written strategy on how the military could assist
him to become president. Moshood saw his request as absurd
because he knew that Abacha was aware that all the military had to do was to
recognize him, Moshood, as the president. That was all.
expected, on the tenth of November 1993
the courts ruled that the interim government was illegal. Abacha began talking to Moshood
directly. He asked him for a written strategy on how the military could assist
him to become president. Moshood saw his request as absurd
because he knew that Abacha was aware that all the military had to do was to
recognize him, Moshood, as the president. That was all.
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| Sani & Maryam Abacha in their younger years before power came calling |
Despite the
oddness of Abacha’s request, Moshood complied. He presented a
written strategy to Abacha but the latter, instead of taking it from him, requested
that Moshood
hand it over to one of his right-hand men. Once again, Moshood complied.
oddness of Abacha’s request, Moshood complied. He presented a
written strategy to Abacha but the latter, instead of taking it from him, requested
that Moshood
hand it over to one of his right-hand men. Once again, Moshood complied.
A few days
later, on the 17th of November 1993,
General
Abacha took over power from the interim government. There was no
violence. No arrests were made. The head of the interim government resigned
publicly. He was allowed to go home peacefully. General Abacha addressed
the nation afterward and to everyone’s surprise he put an end to the entire
political process. He ordered elected governors to hand over to senior military
personnel and he banned all political parties and rallies.
later, on the 17th of November 1993,
General
Abacha took over power from the interim government. There was no
violence. No arrests were made. The head of the interim government resigned
publicly. He was allowed to go home peacefully. General Abacha addressed
the nation afterward and to everyone’s surprise he put an end to the entire
political process. He ordered elected governors to hand over to senior military
personnel and he banned all political parties and rallies.
Nigeria
was back to full military rule.
was back to full military rule.
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| Jamiu Abiola wants the World to read about the true story of his dad |
Immediately
after he had settled down, General Abacha invited Moshood
to a meeting. In the course of their conversation, he asked Moshood
why he had not delivered the strategy he had requested from him. Moshood,
who had given it to the designated person, told him that he had handed it over
as they had agreed. The general avoided looking him in the eyes and denied
receiving it. Moshood, realizing that his host was taking him for a ride,
asked him for permission to meet his supporters so that they could tell him
what his next line of action should be. The general instantly granted his
request.
after he had settled down, General Abacha invited Moshood
to a meeting. In the course of their conversation, he asked Moshood
why he had not delivered the strategy he had requested from him. Moshood,
who had given it to the designated person, told him that he had handed it over
as they had agreed. The general avoided looking him in the eyes and denied
receiving it. Moshood, realizing that his host was taking him for a ride,
asked him for permission to meet his supporters so that they could tell him
what his next line of action should be. The general instantly granted his
request.
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| The Book of MKO according to Jamiu Abiola |
Moshood did not know
that Abacha
only heeded his request because he had already reached an understanding
with some of his key supporters, including Kingibe, his vice presidential
candidate, who was going to be a minister in the new military government. The
meeting came to an abrupt end. Abacha escorted Moshood outside. Then all
of a sudden journalists swarmed around both men, taking pictures that Abacha
later used for a new set of lies.
that Abacha
only heeded his request because he had already reached an understanding
with some of his key supporters, including Kingibe, his vice presidential
candidate, who was going to be a minister in the new military government. The
meeting came to an abrupt end. Abacha escorted Moshood outside. Then all
of a sudden journalists swarmed around both men, taking pictures that Abacha
later used for a new set of lies.
 |
| Dignatories @ the Launching of ‘The President who Never Ruled’ |
(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 How Babagana Kingibe, Politicians broke
MKO’s heart 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 How Babagana Kingibe, Politicians broke
MKO’s heart in
our next post on this blog)
