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MKO Abiola the Enigma |
Moshood had begun
getting over the trauma of his annulled election. He was becoming his old self
and his life was gradually taking shape once again. His focus had now shifted
toward rebuilding his businesses. He traveled widely to achieve that. He had an
oil block and was keen on developing it. He would start regaining the fortune
that he had spent on the elections. A part of him was determined to put the
elections behind him. But all that changed on the tenth of May 1994.
getting over the trauma of his annulled election. He was becoming his old self
and his life was gradually taking shape once again. His focus had now shifted
toward rebuilding his businesses. He traveled widely to achieve that. He had an
oil block and was keen on developing it. He would start regaining the fortune
that he had spent on the elections. A part of him was determined to put the
elections behind him. But all that changed on the tenth of May 1994.
On that day Nelson
Mandela was sworn in as the president of South Africa. Moshood,
who had been invited to the ceremony, was not treated as a regular guest; he
was received as a president. Moshood said that he met with Nelson
Mandela after the ceremony and that the new South African leader advised
him to learn from his own experience and never give up on his mandate. Moshood
returned to Nigeria a different man. He became much bolder. He wanted to
reclaim his mandate. This shift was evident in the new sharpness of his
criticisms of Abacha. His remarks became harsher and more personal. Sometimes
he even called the military ruler an illiterate whom he would make to realize
how unimportant he was.
Mandela was sworn in as the president of South Africa. Moshood,
who had been invited to the ceremony, was not treated as a regular guest; he
was received as a president. Moshood said that he met with Nelson
Mandela after the ceremony and that the new South African leader advised
him to learn from his own experience and never give up on his mandate. Moshood
returned to Nigeria a different man. He became much bolder. He wanted to
reclaim his mandate. This shift was evident in the new sharpness of his
criticisms of Abacha. His remarks became harsher and more personal. Sometimes
he even called the military ruler an illiterate whom he would make to realize
how unimportant he was.
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MKO & Kudirat Abiola; First Nigerian Couple to die for Democracy |
Another
development that strengthened Moshood’s resolve during that period
was the emergence of NADECO, a new and broad group whose members cut across
different tribes and professions. The group was comprised of retired army
personnel, businessmen, activists, and many other types of prominent Nigerians.
The primary objective of this group was to put and end to military rule by
helping Moshood to become the president. Aside from this group, labor
and petroleum unions gave Moshood’s course a major boost when they warned the government that they
would bring the country to a standstill unless Moshood was sworn in as
the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
development that strengthened Moshood’s resolve during that period
was the emergence of NADECO, a new and broad group whose members cut across
different tribes and professions. The group was comprised of retired army
personnel, businessmen, activists, and many other types of prominent Nigerians.
The primary objective of this group was to put and end to military rule by
helping Moshood to become the president. Aside from this group, labor
and petroleum unions gave Moshood’s course a major boost when they warned the government that they
would bring the country to a standstill unless Moshood was sworn in as
the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Realizing how
vulnerable the government was Moshood decided to launch his
strike. He made up his mind to declare himself the Nigerian president on the
eve of his election’s anniversary. Contrary to a lot of advice, he insisted
that he would make the declaration on Nigerian soil, and not abroad.
vulnerable the government was Moshood decided to launch his
strike. He made up his mind to declare himself the Nigerian president on the
eve of his election’s anniversary. Contrary to a lot of advice, he insisted
that he would make the declaration on Nigerian soil, and not abroad.
“On that day Nelson
Mandela was sworn in as the president of South Africa. Moshood,
who had been invited to the ceremony, was not treated as a regular guest; he
was received as a president. Moshood
said that he met with Nelson Mandela
after the ceremony and that the new South African leader advised him to learn
from his own experience and never give up on his mandate”
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Jamiu Abiola wants the World to read about the true story of his dad |
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MKO Abiola…The Star Boy from Egba Land |
Kudirat knowing that
his action would be a treasonable offense, strongly objected to it. “I think you should be patient. This is
not the right time, and if you insist on doing it, do it from abroad and set up
a government from there”
his action would be a treasonable offense, strongly objected to it. “I think you should be patient. This is
not the right time, and if you insist on doing it, do it from abroad and set up
a government from there”
That suggestion
did not please Moshood at all. “That is
not an option. If Mandela was scared
and set up his movement from abroad, it would not have had any impact. People
would have labeled him a coward as they labeled me a coward when I traveled
after the annulment. Have you forgotten?”
did not please Moshood at all. “That is
not an option. If Mandela was scared
and set up his movement from abroad, it would not have had any impact. People
would have labeled him a coward as they labeled me a coward when I traveled
after the annulment. Have you forgotten?”
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The Author Jamiu Abiola tells the GDA more story of how his father fell for Abacha’s dirty deal |
She knew he was
right but she was now afraid and did not know what else to say or do. Things
were escalating too fast and they could suddenly get out of hand. “But what if something goes wrong? What if
you are arrested or killed?” By then she was sobbing. Moshood looked
disappointed. “I am already a dead man
and you know that more than anyone else. How many times do you enter my room
and see me staring at the ceiling?” He paused to look at the ceiling then
pointed at it. “Is there anything
spectacular about this ceiling? Of course not! But I always look at it because
I plead with God to end my life and free me from the bondage of this misery. I
am going to search for my presidential mandate, with or without your support”
right but she was now afraid and did not know what else to say or do. Things
were escalating too fast and they could suddenly get out of hand. “But what if something goes wrong? What if
you are arrested or killed?” By then she was sobbing. Moshood looked
disappointed. “I am already a dead man
and you know that more than anyone else. How many times do you enter my room
and see me staring at the ceiling?” He paused to look at the ceiling then
pointed at it. “Is there anything
spectacular about this ceiling? Of course not! But I always look at it because
I plead with God to end my life and free me from the bondage of this misery. I
am going to search for my presidential mandate, with or without your support”
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General Sani Abacha…Played 419 on MKO Abiola |
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General Abacha’s 2nd in command, Genere Oladipupo Diya (His Hands were tight on MKO Abiola’s Case) |
She became
defensive. “Why will I not want to help
you? All I said was that the timing might not be right. There is rising
opposition against the military government, I know, but how serious are these
people? I don’t want you to be used and dumped by opportunists who might want
to use you as leverage to strike a deal with the government; that is what I am
…”
defensive. “Why will I not want to help
you? All I said was that the timing might not be right. There is rising
opposition against the military government, I know, but how serious are these
people? I don’t want you to be used and dumped by opportunists who might want
to use you as leverage to strike a deal with the government; that is what I am
…”
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Sani & Maryam Abacha in their younger years before power came calling |
She stopped
talking because someone had entered Moshood’s room. She dried her tears
and excused herself. She went downstairs toward her own quarters. She wanted to
see her aged mother to ask her for advice. She quickened her pace as she came
closer to her mother’s room. She knew that she and her husband were about to
embark on a tough journey. Tears began falling again but this time she did not
bother drying them.
talking because someone had entered Moshood’s room. She dried her tears
and excused herself. She went downstairs toward her own quarters. She wanted to
see her aged mother to ask her for advice. She quickened her pace as she came
closer to her mother’s room. She knew that she and her husband were about to
embark on a tough journey. Tears began falling again but this time she did not
bother drying them.
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Dignatories @ the Launching of ‘The President who Never Ruled’ |
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The Book of MKO according to Jamiu Abiola |
(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 Fred Eno helped MKO to jump fence to
escape Abacha’s killer squad 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 Fred Eno helped MKO to jump fence to
escape Abacha’s killer squad in our next post on this blog)