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| MKO Abiola the Enigma |
By the beginning
of 1997, I had fully settled back in the United States. Months had passed
since I left Nigeria during which I had completed my undergraduate studies in
political science at New York University. I became
fully immersed in a self-learning Japanese program. I was indeed far
away from Nigeria but my mind
remained there, learning of events as soon as they happened and hoping to hear
good news about my father. Good news that was sadly never forthcoming.
of 1997, I had fully settled back in the United States. Months had passed
since I left Nigeria during which I had completed my undergraduate studies in
political science at New York University. I became
fully immersed in a self-learning Japanese program. I was indeed far
away from Nigeria but my mind
remained there, learning of events as soon as they happened and hoping to hear
good news about my father. Good news that was sadly never forthcoming.
I realized as
time passed that General Abacha was
truly unstoppable, as I had concluded when I was in Nigeria. His growing power,
which coincided with Nigeria’s rising poverty, meant that his plan to transform
himself into a civilian president was something that would be easier than even
he had envisaged. The ball was in his court for too many reasons. All five
political parties in Nigeria had adopted him as their sole candidate. Aside
from that, only General Abacha, members of his family and junta and their
business cronies had access to real money in Nigeria. Another initiative that
had further made General Abacha invincible was the failed bank tribunal, a
scheme through which General Abacha had locked up
influential bankers and debtors, and by so doing, put a large segment of
Nigeria’s elite on its knees. He also investigated failed contracts with the
intention, according to a widespread belief, of finding anything that would
incriminate my father, but there was nothing. Not even with the drug
enforcement agency. My father’s record was clean. The general could only rely
on treason charges to justify his detention. In the meantime President
Museveni and President Mandela continued to mount
pressure on the Nigerian government to release my father as they had always
done since his incarceration.
time passed that General Abacha was
truly unstoppable, as I had concluded when I was in Nigeria. His growing power,
which coincided with Nigeria’s rising poverty, meant that his plan to transform
himself into a civilian president was something that would be easier than even
he had envisaged. The ball was in his court for too many reasons. All five
political parties in Nigeria had adopted him as their sole candidate. Aside
from that, only General Abacha, members of his family and junta and their
business cronies had access to real money in Nigeria. Another initiative that
had further made General Abacha invincible was the failed bank tribunal, a
scheme through which General Abacha had locked up
influential bankers and debtors, and by so doing, put a large segment of
Nigeria’s elite on its knees. He also investigated failed contracts with the
intention, according to a widespread belief, of finding anything that would
incriminate my father, but there was nothing. Not even with the drug
enforcement agency. My father’s record was clean. The general could only rely
on treason charges to justify his detention. In the meantime President
Museveni and President Mandela continued to mount
pressure on the Nigerian government to release my father as they had always
done since his incarceration.
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| The Author, Jamiu Abiola with brother, Lekan (r) in a presidential encounter with President Yoweri Musoveni of Uganda |
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One day the
general had a plan to do something that was unprecedented in Nigerian history.
He made up his mind to sponsor a million-man march in which Nigerian youths
would urge him to stay in power. The general would have the march televised so
that it would serve as a moral justification to the international community for
his planned transformation into a civilian president. The march was very
controversial and poorly planned but that did not stop General Abacha
from using it for his political propaganda.
general had a plan to do something that was unprecedented in Nigerian history.
He made up his mind to sponsor a million-man march in which Nigerian youths
would urge him to stay in power. The general would have the march televised so
that it would serve as a moral justification to the international community for
his planned transformation into a civilian president. The march was very
controversial and poorly planned but that did not stop General Abacha
from using it for his political propaganda.
“Nigerians
had no way of finding out because General
Abacha, who had mostly been absent from the public, had now completely
disappeared. Some even joked that seeing a ghost was easier than laying eyes on
the general. From the rumors, tales came to life of how a bedridden General Abacha had begged religious
clerics to come to his aide and of how those clerics had told him to do a
number of bizarre things if he was serious about staying healthy enough to rule
Nigeria for many more years”
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| The Author; ‘The President Who Never Ruled’ Jamiu Abiola says ‘The Best legacy i owe my father is to write this book’ |
Then in 1998,
from out of the middle of nowhere, rumors that General Abacha was sick
began gaining ground. Was there any truth behind them? Nigerians had no way of
finding out because General Abacha, who had mostly been absent from the public, had
now completely disappeared. Some even joked that seeing a ghost was easier than
laying eyes on the general. From the rumors, tales came to life of how a
bedridden General Abacha had begged religious clerics to come to his aide
and of how those clerics had told him to do a number of bizarre things if he
was serious about staying healthy enough to rule Nigeria for many more years.
from out of the middle of nowhere, rumors that General Abacha was sick
began gaining ground. Was there any truth behind them? Nigerians had no way of
finding out because General Abacha, who had mostly been absent from the public, had
now completely disappeared. Some even joked that seeing a ghost was easier than
laying eyes on the general. From the rumors, tales came to life of how a
bedridden General Abacha had begged religious clerics to come to his aide
and of how those clerics had told him to do a number of bizarre things if he
was serious about staying healthy enough to rule Nigeria for many more years.
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| MKO Abiola…The Star Boy from Egba Land |
They had
supposedly told him how he had to begin eating wild animals like lions to gain
strength and that he also had to bury the uneaten parts of those animals around
the presidential palace. They had also allegedly instructed him to find a
virgin above twenty-eight years of age and to sleep with her only once. The
list of their demands on the frail Abacha was endless and the fact that
many people believed that he had complied with all their directives turned him
into a laughingstock.
supposedly told him how he had to begin eating wild animals like lions to gain
strength and that he also had to bury the uneaten parts of those animals around
the presidential palace. They had also allegedly instructed him to find a
virgin above twenty-eight years of age and to sleep with her only once. The
list of their demands on the frail Abacha was endless and the fact that
many people believed that he had complied with all their directives turned him
into a laughingstock.
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| MKO & Kudirat Abiola; First Nigerian Couple to die for Democracy on a joint fate |
As General
Abacha’s health worsened, one thing became clear. He was not in control
of power but power was in control of him. If not, how else could he have
explained his unwillingness to travel abroad to attend to his failing health?
He was afraid of a coup and once he placed power over his health his days were
numbered. They finally came to an abrupt end on the eighth of June, 1998,
four days after the anniversary of the death
of Kudirat Abiola and four days before the anniversary of the election of Moshood Abiola. General
Abacha, they say, died on that day in the hands of Indian prostitutes after eating a poisonous apple and taking a Viagra overdose.
Abacha’s health worsened, one thing became clear. He was not in control
of power but power was in control of him. If not, how else could he have
explained his unwillingness to travel abroad to attend to his failing health?
He was afraid of a coup and once he placed power over his health his days were
numbered. They finally came to an abrupt end on the eighth of June, 1998,
four days after the anniversary of the death
of Kudirat Abiola and four days before the anniversary of the election of Moshood Abiola. General
Abacha, they say, died on that day in the hands of Indian prostitutes after eating a poisonous apple and taking a Viagra overdose.
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| Kudirat Abiola; The Woman who died for her husband in a Political Struggle |
Some say it was
the other way around. No one knows exactly how it happened and most people
never bothered to find out. All they said was good riddance to bad rubbish.
Once General
Abacha
was out of the way, another General named Abdulsalam took his place. Nigeria’s
new ruler, who had been General Abacha’s defense chief,
gained some instant credibility once rumors began spreading that General
Abacha was about to sack him before his death. This rumor gave people
the impression that he was different from the late despot. I believed he was as
well, but after a short while I knew he was exactly the same kind of person as General
Abacha.
the other way around. No one knows exactly how it happened and most people
never bothered to find out. All they said was good riddance to bad rubbish.
Once General
Abacha
was out of the way, another General named Abdulsalam took his place. Nigeria’s
new ruler, who had been General Abacha’s defense chief,
gained some instant credibility once rumors began spreading that General
Abacha was about to sack him before his death. This rumor gave people
the impression that he was different from the late despot. I believed he was as
well, but after a short while I knew he was exactly the same kind of person as General
Abacha.
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| General Sani Abacha…Played 419 on MKO Abiola |
A few days into
his rule, General Abdulsalam released all political prisoners except for
my father. That was not all. He did not allow my family members to see him or
for him to receive proper medical attention even though as a former defense
chief of the late General Abacha, he must have been aware of my father’s numerous
health problems.
his rule, General Abdulsalam released all political prisoners except for
my father. That was not all. He did not allow my family members to see him or
for him to receive proper medical attention even though as a former defense
chief of the late General Abacha, he must have been aware of my father’s numerous
health problems.
As if that was
not enough, General Abdulsalam exposed my father, a sick man, to an
emotionally rigorous political exercise by inviting global luminaries like Kofi
Annan the then secretary general
of the United Nations, and Emeka
Anyaoku, the then secretary general of the Commonwealth, to have meetings with him. My father, who had been
very isolated for such a long time, believed that Boutros Ghali was still
the secretary general of the United
Nations.
not enough, General Abdulsalam exposed my father, a sick man, to an
emotionally rigorous political exercise by inviting global luminaries like Kofi
Annan the then secretary general
of the United Nations, and Emeka
Anyaoku, the then secretary general of the Commonwealth, to have meetings with him. My father, who had been
very isolated for such a long time, believed that Boutros Ghali was still
the secretary general of the United
Nations.
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| General Abacha’s 2nd in command, Genere Oladipupo Diya (His Hands were tight on MKO Abiola’s Case) |
These meetings
must have overwhelmed my father. The government portrayed them as a means of
finding a way out of the crisis between him and the
Nigerian military government, although the government had refused to make any
concessions. My father made it clear that he would not give up his presidential
mandate, which must have jolted General Abdulsalam.
must have overwhelmed my father. The government portrayed them as a means of
finding a way out of the crisis between him and the
Nigerian military government, although the government had refused to make any
concessions. My father made it clear that he would not give up his presidential
mandate, which must have jolted General Abdulsalam.
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| MKO’s Scion, Lekan Abiola joined his brother and Author of the book, Jamiu Abiola to serch for Dad inside Abacha’s gulag |
Then
all of a sudden, thirty-three days
after the death of General Abacha, Nigeria’s new military ruler gave clearance for
members of my family to see my father. I was still in the United States
but my stepmothers, Mrs. Adebisi Abiola and Mrs. Doyin Abiola, and my father’s
eldest child, Lola Abiola, were able to see him. They spent a long time with
him and at long last our family knew that my father was still alive.
all of a sudden, thirty-three days
after the death of General Abacha, Nigeria’s new military ruler gave clearance for
members of my family to see my father. I was still in the United States
but my stepmothers, Mrs. Adebisi Abiola and Mrs. Doyin Abiola, and my father’s
eldest child, Lola Abiola, were able to see him. They spent a long time with
him and at long last our family knew that my father was still alive.
A few hours
after that historic meeting, Moshood Abiola was summoned to
another one. This time he was to meet Thomas Pickering, the United States Undersecretary of State, Susan
Rice, and some American diplomats. The meeting started well then Moshood
began complaining of pains and breathing problems. He went to the toilet then
came out and moved restlessly around. He eventually collapsed and was rushed to
the presidential hospital where doctors battled to save his life. He died
ninety minutes later.
after that historic meeting, Moshood Abiola was summoned to
another one. This time he was to meet Thomas Pickering, the United States Undersecretary of State, Susan
Rice, and some American diplomats. The meeting started well then Moshood
began complaining of pains and breathing problems. He went to the toilet then
came out and moved restlessly around. He eventually collapsed and was rushed to
the presidential hospital where doctors battled to save his life. He died
ninety minutes later.
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| The Book of MKO according to Jamiu Abiola |
Shortly after
his death President Bill Clinton announced that he was certain that there
was no foul play, and his statement was confirmed by an autopsy. It stated that
the cause of my father’s death was most likely his heart that was described as
diseased by the autopsy report. Many people had doubts about this report and
said that my father had drunk a cup of tea that contained poison and that it
was given to him by the Americans. I disregarded such claims, which I believe
were sponsored by the military government to divert attention from General
Abdulsalam. After all it was he who had refused to release my father
for over a month after the death of General Abacha. He had even
prevented his family from seeing him until hours before his death, which I
suspect was designed to be a sort of cover-up for his assassination plan that
was about to unfold.
his death President Bill Clinton announced that he was certain that there
was no foul play, and his statement was confirmed by an autopsy. It stated that
the cause of my father’s death was most likely his heart that was described as
diseased by the autopsy report. Many people had doubts about this report and
said that my father had drunk a cup of tea that contained poison and that it
was given to him by the Americans. I disregarded such claims, which I believe
were sponsored by the military government to divert attention from General
Abdulsalam. After all it was he who had refused to release my father
for over a month after the death of General Abacha. He had even
prevented his family from seeing him until hours before his death, which I
suspect was designed to be a sort of cover-up for his assassination plan that
was about to unfold.
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| The Author Jamiu Abiodun Abiola & Sister, Hafsat during Launching of ‘The President Who Never Ruled’ |
Even if I want
to be less dramatic, the mere fact that General Abdulsalam denied him
medical attention made him liable for his death. Moshood was buried in his
house after his body was transported back to Lagos. Once again, just like when my mother died, I was still in
the United
States
when it happened. I could not attend his burial and had to watch the news of
his death on CNN.
to be less dramatic, the mere fact that General Abdulsalam denied him
medical attention made him liable for his death. Moshood was buried in his
house after his body was transported back to Lagos. Once again, just like when my mother died, I was still in
the United
States
when it happened. I could not attend his burial and had to watch the news of
his death on CNN.
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| Jamiu Abiola wants the World to read about the true story of his dad |
Once Moshood
Abiola was out of the way, General Abdulsalam, who had been
evasive about his government’s transition to civilian rule, finally announced
that he would quit power in less than a year and hand the government over to a
democratically elected president. He also praised my father, saying that he was
just about to release him. Then he prayed for his gentle soul to rest in peace,
which reminded me of how General Abacha had done the same
thing when my mother had died even though he had sent his agents to kill her.
The Nigerian military finally left power on the 29th of May, 1999.
Abiola was out of the way, General Abdulsalam, who had been
evasive about his government’s transition to civilian rule, finally announced
that he would quit power in less than a year and hand the government over to a
democratically elected president. He also praised my father, saying that he was
just about to release him. Then he prayed for his gentle soul to rest in peace,
which reminded me of how General Abacha had done the same
thing when my mother had died even though he had sent his agents to kill her.
The Nigerian military finally left power on the 29th of May, 1999.
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| Dignatories @ the Launching of ‘The President who Never Ruled’ |
In honor of Moshood
Abiola, they chose their preferred presidential candidate from Ogun State, his state of origin. Since
then the military has stayed away from governance and democracy has flourished
in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. That was how President Moshood Abiola, my father and the president who never
ruled, and Kudirat Abiola, my mother
and his most loyal supporter, won in death the battle that claimed both their
lives.
Abiola, they chose their preferred presidential candidate from Ogun State, his state of origin. Since
then the military has stayed away from governance and democracy has flourished
in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. That was how President Moshood Abiola, my father and the president who never
ruled, and Kudirat Abiola, my mother
and his most loyal supporter, won in death the battle that claimed both their
lives.
