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| MKO Abiola on NTA Life Style Show with Late Livy Ajunuma and a lady presenter during his Hope 93 Campaign |
“Why are you so worried? You knew all along that the
association would end up in court. Or why else did you think that they claimed
to be gathering signatures?”
association would end up in court. Or why else did you think that they claimed
to be gathering signatures?”
Kudirat was talking to Moshood,
who had decided to stay home after receiving the alarming news that The
Association for a Better Nigeria had gone to court to stop the
elections. Although she had rightfully said that he knew that this was the
organization’s aim from the onset, it was now obvious that he had been holding
on to a tiny ray of hope that the group might have jettisoned the idea since
the elections were so close at hand. He did not respond to her question. So, Kudirat
was quick to add, “But there is a
military decree that you once told me about, the one that stops even the courts
from halting the election. Have you forgotten about it? If it does exist, we
have nothing to fear, right?”
who had decided to stay home after receiving the alarming news that The
Association for a Better Nigeria had gone to court to stop the
elections. Although she had rightfully said that he knew that this was the
organization’s aim from the onset, it was now obvious that he had been holding
on to a tiny ray of hope that the group might have jettisoned the idea since
the elections were so close at hand. He did not respond to her question. So, Kudirat
was quick to add, “But there is a
military decree that you once told me about, the one that stops even the courts
from halting the election. Have you forgotten about it? If it does exist, we
have nothing to fear, right?”
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| MKO Abiola launches his HOPE 93 Campaign amidst pomp and promises |
Moshood nodded his head
reluctantly, and after a long while, he answered. “That decree does exist but that’s not the problem”. He paused as if he was trying to arrange
his thoughts. “Laws and decrees only
carry weight in countries governed by law and order. Nigeria today is sadly not
one of them. How can it be, with the sort of leadership it has?” His
bitterness was obvious and frightening. She had never heard him sound that way. “That is why I have to make sure that even
if I don’t become president, I succeed in putting an end to this regime”.
reluctantly, and after a long while, he answered. “That decree does exist but that’s not the problem”. He paused as if he was trying to arrange
his thoughts. “Laws and decrees only
carry weight in countries governed by law and order. Nigeria today is sadly not
one of them. How can it be, with the sort of leadership it has?” His
bitterness was obvious and frightening. She had never heard him sound that way. “That is why I have to make sure that even
if I don’t become president, I succeed in putting an end to this regime”.
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| MKO Abiola; The Star boy from Abeokuta |
His words stung.
All along she had believed that she and her husband were on a political mission
but all of a sudden, she realized that it might soon turn into a crusade. She
had made enormous sacrifices for his political ambition. She had deployed her
knowledge of the language and culture of northern Nigeria, the place of her
birth and childhood, to his campaign efforts in that region and had spent
millions of naira, Nigeria’s local currency, of her own money to fund
some of his activities in the north. She took these actions against the stem
advice of many of her close friends who believed she was making too many sacrifices
for a husband who had other wives. But their remarks never had any impact on
her.
All along she had believed that she and her husband were on a political mission
but all of a sudden, she realized that it might soon turn into a crusade. She
had made enormous sacrifices for his political ambition. She had deployed her
knowledge of the language and culture of northern Nigeria, the place of her
birth and childhood, to his campaign efforts in that region and had spent
millions of naira, Nigeria’s local currency, of her own money to fund
some of his activities in the north. She took these actions against the stem
advice of many of her close friends who believed she was making too many sacrifices
for a husband who had other wives. But their remarks never had any impact on
her.
Finding her
voice, she asked, “So what is the
worst-case scenario? And is there anything we can do to stop it from turning
into a reality?”
voice, she asked, “So what is the
worst-case scenario? And is there anything we can do to stop it from turning
into a reality?”
She sounded
different. Her tone was bold, confident, and defiant. He had never heard her
sound like that before. He glanced at her in astonishment for a few seconds. “The answer to your second question is nothing. The
government remains the alpha and the omega till the elections are held. There
is absolutely nothing we can do for now”. He began to frown as an
analytical look crept up his face. “But
as for the worst-case scenario, there are many possibilities, the most awful of
which is that the military will induce the court to rule against the holding of
the elections then set up a panel to interpret the court’s ruling and decide
whether the court erred in issuing it. Of course the findings of that panel
will not be concluded and disclosed until after the election date has passed.
Once again, this is just one example of a possible worst-case scenario. All we
can at this stage is to think less and pray more”
different. Her tone was bold, confident, and defiant. He had never heard her
sound like that before. He glanced at her in astonishment for a few seconds. “The answer to your second question is nothing. The
government remains the alpha and the omega till the elections are held. There
is absolutely nothing we can do for now”. He began to frown as an
analytical look crept up his face. “But
as for the worst-case scenario, there are many possibilities, the most awful of
which is that the military will induce the court to rule against the holding of
the elections then set up a panel to interpret the court’s ruling and decide
whether the court erred in issuing it. Of course the findings of that panel
will not be concluded and disclosed until after the election date has passed.
Once again, this is just one example of a possible worst-case scenario. All we
can at this stage is to think less and pray more”
 |
| The Author, Abdul Jamiu Abiodun Abiol |
Kudirat did not like
the sound of that. “Why are we so
helpless? I am sure we can do more than just pray. After all, God helps those
who help themselves”
the sound of that. “Why are we so
helpless? I am sure we can do more than just pray. After all, God helps those
who help themselves”
Once again her
defiant tone stunned Moshood. Although it gave him
courage, he regretted telling her so much. He knew that she was a very
sensitive woman. Holding her hands, he ended the conversation by saying, “God
is in control. If it is my destiny to rule, no one can stop me. I hope and pray
that it is my destiny, don’t worry … Let me take a short nap”.
defiant tone stunned Moshood. Although it gave him
courage, he regretted telling her so much. He knew that she was a very
sensitive woman. Holding her hands, he ended the conversation by saying, “God
is in control. If it is my destiny to rule, no one can stop me. I hope and pray
that it is my destiny, don’t worry … Let me take a short nap”.
“Our biggest mistake has always been that we don’t
connect corruption to armed robbery and other social ills. We have still not
realized that corruption is the father and all these ills are merely its
offspring … Well, I recognize this link and will break and destroy it so that
we can be liberated from poverty and backwardness”
They never spoke
about the matter again. In the days ahead, Moshood shifted his focus to his campaign
once more, focusing on issues to which he felt that he had previously not given
enough attention. Some recent economic statistics had made him realize the
daunting task ahead of him if he were to become Nigeria’s president. At that
time in the nation’s history, Nigeria had become one of the fifteen poorest
countries in the world. It also had a foreign debt that exceeded thirty
billion dollars. Servicing this debt was costing too much and it made
it difficult for the government to maintain the country’s basic infrastructure.
The road network, electricity, state hospitals, and almost every other public
amenity were falling apart. “To succeed,
I will need the support of every single Nigerian,” Moshood once said to a
gathering with an emotion-laden tone that sounded like a plea. “And when I say every Nigerian, I mean it
literally”.
about the matter again. In the days ahead, Moshood shifted his focus to his campaign
once more, focusing on issues to which he felt that he had previously not given
enough attention. Some recent economic statistics had made him realize the
daunting task ahead of him if he were to become Nigeria’s president. At that
time in the nation’s history, Nigeria had become one of the fifteen poorest
countries in the world. It also had a foreign debt that exceeded thirty
billion dollars. Servicing this debt was costing too much and it made
it difficult for the government to maintain the country’s basic infrastructure.
The road network, electricity, state hospitals, and almost every other public
amenity were falling apart. “To succeed,
I will need the support of every single Nigerian,” Moshood once said to a
gathering with an emotion-laden tone that sounded like a plea. “And when I say every Nigerian, I mean it
literally”.
 |
| The Author, Abdul Jamiu Abiodun Abiola tells the GDA the Story of Dad’s rise from nothing to something |
In an effort to
reach out to ordinary Nigerians, he began speaking less about general issues
like inflation and agriculture and put most of his attention toward topics that
touched the daily lives of many people such as armed robbery and corruption. “A Nigeria free of armed robbery and
corruption is not a dream or mirage, make no mistake about that” he once
said to a crowd. “Such societies exist
and are the norm and not the exception. Our biggest mistake has always been
that we don’t connect corruption to armed robbery and other social ills. We
have still not realized that corruption is the father and all these ills are
merely its offspring … Well, I recognize this link and will break and destroy
it so that we can be liberated from poverty and backwardness”
reach out to ordinary Nigerians, he began speaking less about general issues
like inflation and agriculture and put most of his attention toward topics that
touched the daily lives of many people such as armed robbery and corruption. “A Nigeria free of armed robbery and
corruption is not a dream or mirage, make no mistake about that” he once
said to a crowd. “Such societies exist
and are the norm and not the exception. Our biggest mistake has always been
that we don’t connect corruption to armed robbery and other social ills. We
have still not realized that corruption is the father and all these ills are
merely its offspring … Well, I recognize this link and will break and destroy
it so that we can be liberated from poverty and backwardness”
 |
| MKO Abiola; The Enigma |
Speaking further
about corruption, he once said, “Even the
recruitment of incompetent people into the police, simply because they were
recommended by prominent personalities, is another ugly face of corruption. No
background checks are conducted on these people who are meant to maintain law
and order as if it is possible to create order from disorder… I will see to
it that such practices are discontinued” After a loud applause he said, “Once again, ladies and gentlemen, this is
not a dream or mirage. As I have said before, societies with such realities
exist and abound all over the world. It is ours that is a sad exception.”
about corruption, he once said, “Even the
recruitment of incompetent people into the police, simply because they were
recommended by prominent personalities, is another ugly face of corruption. No
background checks are conducted on these people who are meant to maintain law
and order as if it is possible to create order from disorder… I will see to
it that such practices are discontinued” After a loud applause he said, “Once again, ladies and gentlemen, this is
not a dream or mirage. As I have said before, societies with such realities
exist and abound all over the world. It is ours that is a sad exception.”
He also
announced that extensive reform of the police was a vital necessity. He once
said, “The police have to be
decentralized to tackle crime effectively. Knowing that the local police boss
in a community calls the shots will make its inhabitants feel safer and that is
when you will see them sharing crucial information with the police. The absence
of this type of cooperation has made it virtually impossible for us to battle
crime” He paused briefly before adding, “A
centralized police force only serves the selfish interests of despotic regimes”
announced that extensive reform of the police was a vital necessity. He once
said, “The police have to be
decentralized to tackle crime effectively. Knowing that the local police boss
in a community calls the shots will make its inhabitants feel safer and that is
when you will see them sharing crucial information with the police. The absence
of this type of cooperation has made it virtually impossible for us to battle
crime” He paused briefly before adding, “A
centralized police force only serves the selfish interests of despotic regimes”
 |
| The Book of MKO Abiola by Jamiu Abiola |
Some of his
close associates did not like what he had said. One of them confronted him. “How can you be a powerful leader if you
give the police that level of autonomy? What if you initiate a policy that is
not in favor of a particular community and its people go against you? How will
you bring about law and order without having full control of the police?”
close associates did not like what he had said. One of them confronted him. “How can you be a powerful leader if you
give the police that level of autonomy? What if you initiate a policy that is
not in favor of a particular community and its people go against you? How will
you bring about law and order without having full control of the police?”
Moshood smiled then
replied gently. “Democracy must be
totally embraced to make it prosper. Power must spread out and be distributed.
The decentralization of the police, division of power between the executive,
legislative, and judiciary are all a part of that process, just like we see in
the United States. The line between
military and civilian dictatorships is much thinner than you think and I would
hate to be the head of either of them”
replied gently. “Democracy must be
totally embraced to make it prosper. Power must spread out and be distributed.
The decentralization of the police, division of power between the executive,
legislative, and judiciary are all a part of that process, just like we see in
the United States. The line between
military and civilian dictatorships is much thinner than you think and I would
hate to be the head of either of them”
 |
| Dignatories @ the Launching of ‘The President who Never Ruled’ |
With time his
message became clearer. More people began believing in him. They saw his
program as a vehicle for positive change. That was when issues like religion
and tribe became inconsequential. The fact that he and his vice presidential
candidate were both Muslims did not stop Christians from hoping that he would
win. This was the first time that Nigerians had made up their mind to use
competence.’ and not tribe and religion, as the only yardstick for picking
their leader.
message became clearer. More people began believing in him. They saw his
program as a vehicle for positive change. That was when issues like religion
and tribe became inconsequential. The fact that he and his vice presidential
candidate were both Muslims did not stop Christians from hoping that he would
win. This was the first time that Nigerians had made up their mind to use
competence.’ and not tribe and religion, as the only yardstick for picking
their leader.
(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 MKO: HowBassey Ikpeme & Dahiru Saleh
Killed Democracy on the eve of Hope 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 MKO: HowBassey Ikpeme & Dahiru Saleh
Killed Democracy on the eve of Hope in our next post on this blog)
