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| MKO Abiola the Enigma |
Epetedo, an area with
historic value from colonial days, was located in the center of Lagos.
It had a big community comprised of a diverse mix of people through which the
pulse of average Lagosians could be
felt. That was why Moshood chose it as the place for his presidential declaration.
The venue was a club in Epetedo. Moshood loved Epetedo
because it was close to the masses on whom he had spent the bulk of his time
and wealth and from whom he had received the most support and loyalty. He knew
that the military government was aware of his plans to declare himself as
president-the whole of Nigeria knew. But he had made sure that the venue
remained a mystery.
historic value from colonial days, was located in the center of Lagos.
It had a big community comprised of a diverse mix of people through which the
pulse of average Lagosians could be
felt. That was why Moshood chose it as the place for his presidential declaration.
The venue was a club in Epetedo. Moshood loved Epetedo
because it was close to the masses on whom he had spent the bulk of his time
and wealth and from whom he had received the most support and loyalty. He knew
that the military government was aware of his plans to declare himself as
president-the whole of Nigeria knew. But he had made sure that the venue
remained a mystery.
He had
deliberately spread false information that the declaration would take place in
another part of town. He had also instructed his loyalists to falsely announce
that the date of his declaration was the thirteenth
of June, instead of the actual date, the eleventh of June. Initially he had wanted the declaration to take
place on the twelfth of June, the
exact date of his presidential elections, but dropped the idea in respect for
Christians, because that date fell on a Sunday. It was raining by the time Moshood
arrived at Epetedo around 5 p.m.
The ceremony was less than two hours away and, for security reasons, no one in
the community had any idea of what was about to happen. Even the workers in the
venue did not have a clue. Moshood sat in the car quietly. He
did not want to be noticed. More of his aides soon joined him and as the
appointed time drew nearer, he sent all of them to move around and to inform
people of the area that an Important guest was in their midst to deliver a very
important message to them.
deliberately spread false information that the declaration would take place in
another part of town. He had also instructed his loyalists to falsely announce
that the date of his declaration was the thirteenth
of June, instead of the actual date, the eleventh of June. Initially he had wanted the declaration to take
place on the twelfth of June, the
exact date of his presidential elections, but dropped the idea in respect for
Christians, because that date fell on a Sunday. It was raining by the time Moshood
arrived at Epetedo around 5 p.m.
The ceremony was less than two hours away and, for security reasons, no one in
the community had any idea of what was about to happen. Even the workers in the
venue did not have a clue. Moshood sat in the car quietly. He
did not want to be noticed. More of his aides soon joined him and as the
appointed time drew nearer, he sent all of them to move around and to inform
people of the area that an Important guest was in their midst to deliver a very
important message to them.
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An excited crowd
began gathering after half an hour. People were curious to know who this
mystery guest was. It had never crossed their minds that it could be Moshood
Abiola, the president they had elected a year ago, because they had
heard, just like other Nigerians that Moshood was under house arrest.
began gathering after half an hour. People were curious to know who this
mystery guest was. It had never crossed their minds that it could be Moshood
Abiola, the president they had elected a year ago, because they had
heard, just like other Nigerians that Moshood was under house arrest.
“People were curious to know who this mystery guest
was. It had never crossed their minds that it could be Moshood Abiola, the president they had elected a year ago, because
they had heard, just like other Nigerians that Moshood was under house arrest”.
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| The Author Jamiu Abiola tells the GDA more story of how his father fell for Abacha’s dirty deal |
Aside from that,
they would never have imagined a day would come in which Moshood Abiola could
arrive somewhere without being noticed because, despite all the humiliation
that he had undergone in the last year, he had remained larger than life in the
eyes of the masses.
they would never have imagined a day would come in which Moshood Abiola could
arrive somewhere without being noticed because, despite all the humiliation
that he had undergone in the last year, he had remained larger than life in the
eyes of the masses.
The crowd moved
into the club. By then Moshood, who had changed into fresh
clothes, was ready for them. After giving them time to settle down, he suddenly
appeared. The crowd went wild. People began screaming and shouting his name.
The noise was deafening. Moshood became excited and
motivated.
into the club. By then Moshood, who had changed into fresh
clothes, was ready for them. After giving them time to settle down, he suddenly
appeared. The crowd went wild. People began screaming and shouting his name.
The noise was deafening. Moshood became excited and
motivated.
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All his fears
vanished. All his concerns disappeared. All his doubts diminished. He smiled at
the crowd. This was the first time he had felt truly happy since his election
had been annulled. He waited for the noise to die down then he began his speech
as calmly as he could.
vanished. All his concerns disappeared. All his doubts diminished. He smiled at
the crowd. This was the first time he had felt truly happy since his election
had been annulled. He waited for the noise to die down then he began his speech
as calmly as he could.
He started by
thanking the audience for turning out in millions to vote for him a year ago.
Then he openly expressed his regrets that their wish was not fulfilled because
of the actions of “devious politicians in uniform” After this initial summary of the
genesis of the crisis, he described himself as someone who was “mindful of the need to ensure that peace
continues to reign”, and stated that this was the reason that he had tried
to bargain with the military government in the hope that he would revive the “remnants
of patriotism” in the hearts of the military leaders whom he described
to the crowd as “thieves of your mandate”
thanking the audience for turning out in millions to vote for him a year ago.
Then he openly expressed his regrets that their wish was not fulfilled because
of the actions of “devious politicians in uniform” After this initial summary of the
genesis of the crisis, he described himself as someone who was “mindful of the need to ensure that peace
continues to reign”, and stated that this was the reason that he had tried
to bargain with the military government in the hope that he would revive the “remnants
of patriotism” in the hearts of the military leaders whom he described
to the crowd as “thieves of your mandate”
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He later
declared that his negotiations with the military had reached a dead end because
its leaders remained unmoved, like “stones.” He pointed out that the people,
including the audience, had been witnesses to his efforts 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”
declared that his negotiations with the military had reached a dead end because
its leaders remained unmoved, like “stones.” He pointed out that the people,
including the audience, had been witnesses to his efforts 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”
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It was at that
point that he got agitated. His words became harsher as he targeted the
military for its actions throughout the history of Nigeria, and not just the annulment of his election. He emphasized
that the military had ruled Nigeria
for twenty- four years out of the country’s thirty-four year history, and “enough
is enough” He added that under military rule the country had undergone
countless woes such as a civil war, the introduction of the drug trade, and the
association of Nigerians with credit card scams. He also criticized the
military for its unpredictable economic policies that had caused inflation and
every kind of financial disaster. He spoke about many other issues, and as he
poured out his heart, he became more emotional.
point that he got agitated. His words became harsher as he targeted the
military for its actions throughout the history of Nigeria, and not just the annulment of his election. He emphasized
that the military had ruled Nigeria
for twenty- four years out of the country’s thirty-four year history, and “enough
is enough” He added that under military rule the country had undergone
countless woes such as a civil war, the introduction of the drug trade, and the
association of Nigerians with credit card scams. He also criticized the
military for its unpredictable economic policies that had caused inflation and
every kind of financial disaster. He spoke about many other issues, and as he
poured out his heart, he became more emotional.
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After reminding
the audience of the campaign promises in which he had pledged to address all
the problems caused by the military, he concluded his speech by declaring
himself the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “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 Nigeria, led by me” He gave army personnel orders to
listen to him and no one else and he instructed all ministers and military
administrators to resign immediately.
the audience of the campaign promises in which he had pledged to address all
the problems caused by the military, he concluded his speech by declaring
himself the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “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 Nigeria, led by me” He gave army personnel orders to
listen to him and no one else and he instructed all ministers and military
administrators to resign immediately.
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He walked away
from the club feeling relieved. It was as if a burden had been lifted from him.
He was happy that through that speech he had officially ended his friendship
with the military, an institution that he now realized had always been an
albatross in his life, a taint on his image and a dark spot on his clean record
as a businessman and politician. This was despite the financial gains that had
come his way from contracts from military governments, a lot of which he had
given away in his bid to repair a country that he felt the military had
destroyed.
from the club feeling relieved. It was as if a burden had been lifted from him.
He was happy that through that speech he had officially ended his friendship
with the military, an institution that he now realized had always been an
albatross in his life, a taint on his image and a dark spot on his clean record
as a businessman and politician. This was despite the financial gains that had
come his way from contracts from military governments, a lot of which he had
given away in his bid to repair a country that he felt the military had
destroyed.
With that speech
Moshood
had destroyed any possibility of reconciliation with the military. He was
certain about that but he was not bothered by it at all. It was at this point
that he realized that his struggle would most likely have only one of two
outcomes—his victory or his assassination.
Moshood
had destroyed any possibility of reconciliation with the military. He was
certain about that but he was not bothered by it at all. It was at this point
that he realized that his struggle would most likely have only one of two
outcomes—his victory or his assassination.
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| Dignatories @ the Launching of ‘The President who Never Ruled’ |
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| Jamiu Abiola wants the World to read about the true story of his dad |
(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 MKO was sold out by foes at midnight to
Abacha’s goons 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 MKO was sold out by foes at midnight to
Abacha’s goons in
our next post on this blog)
