Sahara Reporters Latest News Thursday 13th June 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Thursday 13th June 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 13/06/19

target=_blank>For Four Years, I Respected INEC’s Independence, Says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari said he respected the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and gave it a pass mark for conducting what he described as free and fair elections in Nigeria.
The elections which were marred by widespread rigging and violence has been described as the worse elections conducted in Nigeria since its return to democratic rule in 1999.
The President made the commendation while delivering his address to commemorate Nigeria’s democracy day.
He said, “Today, we are privileged to mark the longest period of unbroken democratic leadership and 5th peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another in Nigeria.
“Throughout the last four years, I respected the independence of INEC. I ensured that INEC got all the resources it needed for independent and impartial management of elections in the country.
“All interested parties are agreed that the recent elections, which except for pockets of unrest, were free, fair and peaceful.
“I thank all the people who worked for our party, who campaigned and who voted for us. I thank my fellow Nigerians, who, since 2003 have consistently voted for me.
“Victory is your greatest reward; peace, unity and greater prosperity will be our collective leg.”

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target=_blank>I’ll Dedicate Rest Of My To Keep Nigeria United – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he was part of the struggle to keep Nigeria as one indivisible entity.
He made the claim in his democracy day speech on Wednesday in Abuja.
The statement is coming at a time when the president is accused of nepotistic and tribal appointments which favour the northern part of the country.
It is also coming at a time when he is accused of being silent in 1993 when the June 12 general elections were annulled.
Buhari said, “I was involved at close quarters in the struggle to keep Nigeria one. I can, therefore, do no more than dedicating the rest of my life to work for the unity of Nigeria and upliftment of Nigerians.
“In 2002-2003 campaigns and elections, I travelled by road to 34 of the 36 states of the Federation. This year I travelled by air to all 36 states of the Federation.
“Before and during my time in the Armed Forces and in government, I have interacted with Nigerians of all ages and persuasions and different shades of opinion over a period of more than fifty years. And my firm belief is that our people above all want to live in peace and harmony with their fellow Nigerians. They desire an opportunity to better themselves in a safe environment.
“Most of the instances of inter-communal and inter-religious strife and violence were and are still as a result of sponsorship or incitements by ethnic, political or religious leaders hoping to benefit by exploiting our divisions and fault lines, thereby weakening our country.”

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target=_blank>I’ll Dedicate Rest Of My To Keep Nigeria United – Buhari

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target=_blank>Methodist Church Pastor Fakes Own Kidnap, Demands N3 Million Ransom

Adegoke and his accomplice, Sunday at the police custody

Adewuyi Adegoke, a cleric with the Methodist Church, in Ado Ekiti, has been apprehended by the police for allegedly faking his own kidnap.
Rev’d Adegoke, who was nabbed by a crack of detective, was reported missing on the Esa Oke-Aramoko road while travelling to Ado Ekiti on Sunday.
After his disappearance, the social media was awash with claims that he was abducted by herdsmen while travelling.
Days after his kidnap, SaharaReporters learned that his purported ‘abductors’ contacted the Methodist church to demand for a ransom of three million while also threatening to murder the cleric if the ransom was not paid by Thursday.
A source within the Police Command in Ado Ekiti told SaharaReporters that Rev’d Adegoke was tracked through the mobile phone that he was using to contact his family.
“The police have intercepted and arrested the holder of the phone with GSM no 09078589516 being used to demand for a ransom of N3 million from the families and church members of the kidnapped Methodist Reverend at First Bank area, Okeyinmi, Ado-Ekiti where he went to pick the ransom.
“Incidentally, the arrested suspect is the same Rev. Adewuyi Adegoke Peter. In interrogation, he confessed to have planned the kidnap of himself and demanded the N3 million ransom.
“He also stated that he lodged at an hotel within the metro and mentioned one Adewole Oluwadare Sunday, 25 years old, as his accomplice who helped in making the ransom demand calls.
“The two suspects have confessed to the crime and are detained at the Police state headquarters, Ado-Ekiti” the source said.
Mr Amba Asuquo, Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State also confirmed to SaharaReporters that both suspects are now in the Police custody.

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target=_blank>June 12: Buhari Trying To Reap Where He Didn’t Sow, Says Reno Omokri

A former presidential aide under the Goodluck Jonathan regime, Reno Omokri, has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for trying to reap where he did not so, explaining why he was embarrassed by the absence of Nigeria’s former heads of state and a prominent June 12 advocate, like Prof. Wole Soyinka.
Omokri said: “It has come to my attention that the Buhari Presidency, embarrassed that not a single former President or ex-head of state attended Muhammadu Buhari’s June 12 celebration, is spreading tales, through faceless groups and expected to grace the headlines of tomorrow’s papers, to the effect that former President Goodluck Jonathan refused to rename the National Stadium Abuja despite advice to do so, because he was afraid of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and lacked the courage to do so.”
According to the ex-presidential aide, such an assertion that Jonathan did not honour Abiola is “ridiculous assertion”.
It would be recalled, Omokri stated, that on the first anniversary of his inauguration as president on May 29, 2012, former President Jonathan honoured Chief MKO Abiola by renaming the University of Lagos, Akoka, after the politician which Unilag students revolted against.
Omokri then wondered: “Between the national stadium and the University of Lagos, which is more prestigious and which would require more courage to rename?”
Arguing further, Omokri stated: “It would also be recalled that former President Jonathan took several other courageous decisions during his presidency, including firing two ministers when questions of impropriety were raised against them.
“There have been a number of serious and proven cases of impropriety involving Muhammadu Buhari’s ministers, including two incidents of clearly established cases of certificate forgery. Did Mr. Buhari have the courage to move against them?”
He added that Buhari had failed in his bid to gain “undeserved goodwill” from the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day.
“But after he was snubbed by all living former Nigerian leaders and Nigeria’s only Nobel Laureate, he had to cook up a story to satisfy his guests, some of whom, like President Paul Kagame, have castigated him to his face.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let me state here that the slogan for chief MKO Abiola’s Hope 93 campaign was ‘Farewell to Poverty’. Today, Buhari, a man who made Nigeria the world’s headquarters for extreme poverty, wants to reap Abiola’s goodwill,” he pointed out.
Therefore, Omokri argued that it was not possible that Buhari could gain any goodwill by making Jonathan, a man who made Nigeria the world’s third fastest-growing economy, his scapegoat.
Omokri said further: “It is,therefore, not a surprise that those who really knew and loved Chief Abiola, chose to stay away from such a farce.

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target=_blank>June 12th, Democracy Day And Nigeria’s Dance Of Death By Femi Fani-Kayode

Today is June 12th, our nation’s Democracy Day and I have some home truths to tell.
The struggle for June 12th was indeed a noble, worthy, cataclysmic and monumental one. It was also something of a nightmare which littered our fields with many corpses and soaked the very foundation of our nation with blood, sweat and tears.
I can confirm that because I was deeply involved in it and for many years I, along with many others, fought for it’s actualisation.
Many were martyred, many were jailed, many were tortured and many were compelled to flee into exile.
Great essayists, keen minds and profound writers and thinkers like Professor Adebayo Williams, Professor Wole Soyinka, Mr. Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, Justice Adewale Thompson and the great Chinwezu kept us going, fuelled our courage, stirred our passion, inspired our spirits and ignited souls with their powerful essays which we read eagerly and voraciously wherever we found ourselves in the world.
This was an intellectual, spiritual, physical, emotional and psychological conflict and struggle and we threw everything that we had into it.
Chief MKO Abiola was our hero and leader. He was the symbol and rallying point of the struggle and both he and his wife Kudirat sacrificed their lives for it.
I commend the Buhari administration for naming June 12th as our nation’s Democracy Day and I believe that Abiola deserves it. Yet this noble gesture, as commendable as it is, may well be too little and too late.
I say this because the Nigeria of today is the Nigeria of Buhari and not the Nigeria of Abiola. And this presents us with a very different set of challenges which have resulted in a far greater existential threat to our country than the annulment of Abiola’s June 12th presidential mandate and his subsequent murder ever did.
Consider the following. In Buhari’s Nigeria the President is from the core Muslim north. The Senate President is from the core Muslim north. The Chief Justice of the Federation is from the core Muslim north.
Again in Buhari’s Nigeria every single security, intelligence, investigative, military and para-military agency in the country except for the Navy is headed by a northern Muslim.
This begs the question: do the southerners and indeed the Christians have any place or any meaningful stake in Buhari’s Nigeria?
Yet it does not stop there. In Buhari’s Nigeria the core north says “no” when we say stop the genocide. They say “no” when we say restructure. They say “no” when we say establish a federation. They say “no” when we say establish a confederation. They say “no” when we say stop the hegemony.
They say “no” when we say Nigeria is a secular state. They say “no” when we say stop the Fulanisation. They say “no” when we say stop the Islamisation. They say “no” when we say Nigeria belongs to us all.
They say “no” when we say the northern minorities can lead the nation. They say “no” when we say there are many in the south that can govern the country.
They say “no” when we say Nigeria is not an appendage of Saudi Arabia. They say “no” when we say we are equal regardless of tribe or faith.
They say “no” when we say free Leah Sharibu. They say “no” when we say we are not their slaves.
They say “no” when we say we demand a referendum.
They say “no” when we say we want to leave the marriage and break the union.
They say “no” when we say stop playing this dangerous music. They say “no” when we say stop indulging in this dance of death.
They say “no” to everything and to everyone that seeks to resolve our differences in a reasonable and peaceful manner.
And so it has been for the last 59 long and turbulent years of our existence as an independent state and sovereign nation.
Little did we know that in 1960 we had merely replaced our external British colonial masters with a new set of internal ones.
We locked ourselves into a strange and deceitful web and became enmeshed and entangled in a complex catalogue of self-induced and self-inflicted woes.
Today we are a people under occupation and our land has been desecrated by the precence of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of extremly violent, dangerous, well-armed, blood-lusting, blood-crazed and blood-frenzied terrorists and killer herdsmen who are just waiting for the signal from their masters before they unleash unimaginable horror, terror and hell on our people.
Must we wait until we are slaughtered like flies and buried in mass graves, like the Biafrans, the Bosnians, the Tutsis, the Jews, the Congolese, the Armenians, the Red Indians of North America, the Aborigines of Australia, the Incas and Aztecs of South America, the Ouigas of Mynmar, the Yazidis of Syria and Iraq and countless others, before our eyes open and we demand to leave this tinderbox?
Can anyone blame Prince Adekunle Odunmorayo when he said,
“The demand for restructuring is cowardly, useless and unachievable. Damn any restructuring. We want out of this charade. We want a new nation: we want Oduduwa”.
The Prince, who is my kinsman and a proud son of Ile-Ife, has spoken the minds of millions.
Yet it does not stop there. Permit me to add the words of one of the greatest, most moderate, most conservative and most respected leaders of our nation who fought to keep Nigeria together during the civil war, who has dedicated his entire life to that cause and who has had the privilage of leading the country on at least two separate occassions.
On 11th June 2019 former President Olusegun Obasanjo said the following to Premium Times:
“Now you have a situation where three top officials of Government will be from only two northern zones. Ahmed Lawan (who has been pencilled down as Senate President) is from the North-East, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria is from the north-east and the President of the country is from the north-west. They are all from what we call the core north. How can you have that kind of arrangement and then be absolutely insensitive to it?”
For a modeate and conservative man like Obasanjo to express his legitimate concerns in this way and for him, at an earlier date, to have confirmed the existence of the Fulanisation and Islamisation agenda, is noteworthy, significant and telling.
Given this only a compound fool, a village idiot or a delusional simpleton will dispute the fact that Nigeria is in trouble and that we are sitting on a time-bomb.
Frankly in my view the time for long debates and discussions about our sorry plight and deep afflictions are long over. And neither do I believe that our debilitating problems can still be fixed or rectified.
To those that still share the erroneous belief that we ought to remain in Nigeria I urge and challenge you to consider the following and reflect on our trying predicament.
Those that believe that they own this nation and that they were born to rule it have been insensitive, savage and unrelenting in their quest to conquer our space and they have boxed us in a suffocating and murderous corner.
Every attempt to build bridges with them and reach out to them in love and friendship has failed due to their insufferable arrogance, rappacious thirst for power and unquenchable desire to dominate every sphere of our existence and aspect of our lives. And this applies to every single ethnic nationality in Nigeria who they believe must bow and tremble before them.
What more do we need to see? What more do we need to hear? What more do we need to say?
From a great nation that was once blessed with so much potential, hope and promise we are now nothing but a blood-soaked and demon-infested enclave of sociopaths, meglomaniacs, power-crazed savages, godless barbarians, callous cow-worshippers and bestial cow-lovers. It is only in Nigeria that the life of a cow is more important than the life of a human being
This begs the question: are we under some strange, inexplicable, mysterious, ancient and binding Luciferean spell?
Is this the work of satan? Have the conjurers of the dark path been at work? Has the Queen of the Coast done her worse? Have they tsken us to the forest in the dark caves of the village?
Are voodoo and magic at play here? Have we been enchanted by the Army of the Dead? Have we been bound by the Whitewalkers that reside beyond the great icy northern wall?
Have we been cursed by the wizards, witches, goblins and orcs of Mordor? Have we been jinxed and hexed by the dark winter forces of the evil Nightking?
Yet spell or no spell, what exactly are we still waiting for in this land of blood, carnage and shattered dreams that is known as Nigeria?
Will inspirational words of faith and hope about a better tomorrow and the gentle expression of lofty ideals about the beauty and power of national unity stop the southern march of the terrorists, herdsmen and hegemonists?
They have already conquered, occupied, pacified and enslaved the entire Middle Belt and the rest of the north. They are now well on their way to “dipping the Koran in the Atlantic ocean” whist flying the flag of their great patriach and forefather Usman Dan Fodio and galloping with fury on his ancient white war horse. Must we wait for them to arrive before taking our leave?
The solution to our problem is to chart one of two courses: to either roll over in submission and let them sodomise and enslave us until kingdom come or to dig deep, find our courage, stand up boldly, hold our heads up high, say “no more” and break out of this godforsaken gilded golden cage.
There is absolutely nothing sacrosanct about this godless and inequitable union and entity. The truth is that time is running out for Nigeria and there may no longer be any alternative to a break up.
They say where there is no justice, there can be no peace. How can there be peace and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria when there is no justice or equity?
What we have is the peace of the graveyard where everyone speaks in whispered tones or is too scared to speak at all.
What we have is the silence of two mighty armies facing and sizing up one another in the field of battle minutes before the onslaught begins and the chaos, turmoil, carnage, madness, savagery, butchery and barbarity unfolds.
What we have is the awkward and eerie silence, fuelled by years of latent hate and resentment, that reigns when brother is about to slaughter brother. These are indeed truly dangerous times as the clock silently ticks and d-day approaches.
Unless there is a divine intervention, at some point the break up that everybody fears is inevitable. And sadly, because no-one is ready to be reasonable and to talk, it is likely to be a very bloody one indeed. May God grant us peace and may He guide and help us all.
Happy Democracy Day!
By FFK

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target=_blank>June 12 And The Way Forward By Raymond Oise-Oghaede

Now that 12th of June has been officially signed into law as the country’s `Democracy Day` and a public holiday, I am of the opinion that it will be pertinent to do a thorough review of its nitty-gritty for clarity and better understanding because there is more to `that date` in the history of our existence than meets the eye.
June 12, 1993 was a day Nigerians came out in droves to exercise their one of their civic responsibilities. But, unlike what transpired in previous elections where tribal ethnocentrism and religion played dominant roles in shaping the patterns of voting; the people were united in shunning sentiments by freely voting for the candidates of their choice and conscience in an atmosphere devoid of violence and other malpractices.
The history of this feat cannot be completed without accordance of appropriate accolades to some important events that preceded it.
One of such was the abolition of multiparty arrangement; and, the introduction of two-party system. By this action, the regional style of politics which was hitherto in vogue was eliminated.
The Social Democratic Party and the National Republican Convention had national outlook and their presence could be seen and felt in every corners of the country. As a result, national interest began to replace regional and tribal interests in all political calculations and permutations. The fact that the parties were fully funded by the government also made it very difficult for regional politicians and money bags to hijack their nucleus. To this extent it will not be a misplaced statement to say that the government in power at that period was sensitive to the dangers inherent in the regional and tribal politicking in place; hence, they came up with two-party structure to neutralize the dangers and forged a common front for the electorates. Also, in the run-up to the main elections the parties held their presidential primaries.
Interestingly, I was privileged to be serving (NYSC) in Jos where I witnessed the SDP`s primaries at the Jos Township Stadium (now Rwang Pam Stadium) as a Protocol Officer in the then Plateau State Deputy Governor`s Office. At that event, delegates from all the states of the federation converged at the arena to elect the party`s presidential candidate amongst some of the finest in the country`s political and business circles. The frontrunners were Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, Mrs Sarah Jubril, and Otunba Reuben Famuyibo, to mention but a few.
For the two days the event lasted, the atmosphere was engulfed with melodious music from various traditional troupes and other musicians which included the likes of late Sunny Okosun. That venue could be better described as a mini Nigeria because despite the rivalry amongst the candidates and their supporters it was obvious that `the people` were unanimous in their quests for a better Nigeria. Aside from some skirmishes (which were normal and expected in such huge gathering); there were no signs of hatred or tribal bigotry.
The serenity of Jos town coupled with the beautiful weather and the `then second to none peacefulness and hospitality` of the people made the occasion to be a worthwhile and memorable one. (at this juncture, it will be an exciting bonus for me to quickly use this opportunity to call on the governor of Plateau State not to rest on his laurels towards ensuring that total `peace and security` are restored and sustained in the state; because, that is the only way to make all his other achievements count. Though the problem has been in existence before you came on board; that does not really matter because you can make the difference.
The herders/farmers clashes which have been degenerating into ethnic killings are majorly caused by destruction of farmers’ crops and farmland, and the rustling of cattle by unscrupulous elements. So, if the herders can restrain or prevent their cattle from trespassing; and, the people can also mobilize to keep the activities of rustlers in check; peace will definitely return to `our Plateau`. The misconception that the indigens do not like the Hausa/Fulanis and vice versa is a ruse that has been planted in the minds and imaginations of the people by mischief makers and enemies of our nation.
Going back to the major review, I can comfortably say that the show of love and patriotic zeal/commitments which pervaded the conducts of those presidential primaries (reports also confirmed that NRC`s was also orderly and peaceful) contributed largely to laying a solid foundation for what eventually became the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections in the history of our country. Therefore, during the electioneering campaign, the leaders of the two political parties did not create any atmosphere of warmongering for their supporters and the generality of the citizenry.
They went about their campaigns peaceably, orderly and in mature manners; and, every corners of the polity were flooded with posters and souvenirs without harassment and intimidation from any quarter. There were no bickering and name calling; no pulling down of rival`s billboards and tearing or defacement of posters; no campaigns of damaging propaganda; and, no any form of hate speech etc.Expectedly, `enemies of the nation` made spirited efforts before the elections to cause animosity and disaffection amongst the people.
They began by spreading dangerous rumours (amongst several other antics) about plans by northerners to attack southerners and southern interests in the northern parts of the country (and vice versa) during the elections. This made a lot of people to embark on panicky emergency journeys across the states. Many people (including corps members) lost their lives in road accidents in the process; and, this impelled me to embark on a `one-man demonstration` (with my service uniform) as a way of contributing my little quota to dissuade people from buying into the destructive antics of the enemies of progress.
On the day of elections, Nigerians from all works of life came out in their large numbers to cast their votes freely, fairly and peacefully for their preferred candidates without fear or favour. This feat was achieved because the candidates and the leaders of their parties were disposed to free and fair elections. In addition to these, the Professor Humphrey Nwosu led National Electoral Commission (NEC) did a great job by ensuring that the umpires were professional in their handling of the exercise.
There were no incidence of `inconclusiveness`; no thuggery; no disruption of voting in opponent`s areas of strength; no over voting; no vote buying; no box snatching; no abduction of Returning Officers and declaration of results under duress; and, no alteration of results, etc.
From the aforementioned, you will agree with me that the concept of June 12th is not all about an individual; it is not all about the north, west or south; it is not about a particular party or their ideologies; it is not about rotation or zoning; and, it is not about just the date.
The truth is that June 12, 1993 represented the beauty of a united people; it represented the proactiveness and sensibility of government to eliminating the major problems of tribal politicization and political monetization; it represented the political sagacity and consciousness of the Nigerian electorates; it represented unity in diversity; it represented willingness to sacrifice personal ambitions for national interests; it attested to the fact that we can assemble men/women of honour and integrity as umpires to conduct elections in this part of the divide; and, it proved that the people can play by the rules under an atmosphere without mutual suspicions.
Today, it is a thing of joy that the date has been made our `Democracy Day` and a public holiday; but, the pertinent question that needs urgent answer is: are we truly making conscious, genuine, and deliberate efforts towards replicating the numerous attributes that the `real June 12, 1993` encompassed?
Sincere answer to that question will go a long way to determining our next line of action as a nation.
Please note that this write-up is without prejudice to anyone or any of the subsisting suits at the various election petitions tribunals and courts.RAYMOND OISE-OGHAEDE,PUBLIC POLICY ANALYST/COMMENTATOR

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target=_blank>Desist From Making Comments Capable Of Causing Ethnic Clashes, DSS Warns

The Department of State Services (DSS) has warned Nigerians, especially public figures and community leaders against making comments capable of causing ethnic crises.
Peter Afunaya, Public Relations Officer of the DSS said this in a statement, adding that individuals who make use of the social media do so to instill fear in the minds of the citizens.
Afunaya said, “Findings revealed that these unpatriotic actors make unguarded public statements and/or use the social media platforms to instill fear in the minds of citizens. These are reflected in the misleading statements and articles being circulated among unsuspecting members of the public. Such inciting materials oftentimes are designed to make or convey false accusations by one group against the other.
“They also resort to skewing historical narratives to suit their objective of masterminding ethnic violence in the nation. So far, some of the culprits have been arrested.”
He added that the security agency would continue to protect democracy and sustain its position on positively and gainfully engaging stakeholders while undertaking appropriate security measures against the undesirable characters whose preoccupation is planning to cause a breakdown of law and order in the country.
Afunaya warned individuals and organizations to immediately desist from making unguarded comments while urging aggrieved persons to engage in dialogue rather than engage in violence.
He said: “The service hereby warns individuals or groups involved in these divisive acts and tendencies to desist forthwith. While it is determined to ensure that the tribal chauvinists and mischief makers do not continue to exploit socio-political differences and the internet platforms to threaten the peace and stability of the country, it will, however, sustain the apprehension and prosecution of defaulters.
“Community leaders and persons of influence are, therefore, enjoined to be most responsible in their utterances as well as rein in (their) people for national cohesion and peaceful co-existence.
“Aggrieved persons and groups are encouraged to use dialogue as a true means of non violent resolution of disputes or any misgivings. It is believed that only when the country is united that she can achieve her greatness. It is also instructive to know that no country develops in an environment of chaos.”

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target=_blank>REVEALED: MKO Abiola Borrowed My Phone To Do The Famous BBC Interview -Bolaji Akinyemi

Video of EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: MKO Abiola Borrowed My Phone To Do The Famous BBC Interview -Bolaji Akinyemi

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: MKO Abiola Borrowed My Phone To Do The Famous BBC Interview -Bolaji Akinyemi

In this interview with SaharaReporters, former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, talks about his time with Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993, presidential election – what he thinks about the late politician and what he thinks June 12 stands for. Excerpts:
There is no way we’ll talk about June 12 without mentioning your boss(IBB). Without the annulment what do you think could have changed?
I’m not dodging your question. But I’ve often found it unhelpful to deal with ‘if’. Because it becomes speculative. We don’t know Abiola could have turned Nigeria into a Switzerland, a paradise, on the other hand, the system could have consumed him. We just don’t know. It’s more productive for us not to go through that speculative path.
June 12 will continue to be the beacon by which the present and the future of Nigeria will be judged. What do I mean by that? June 12 is no longer about the actualization of the mandate. It cannot be actualized in any way, the man is dead. And by giving him the highest award reserved for presidents and giving his deputy the number two award reserved for vice-president I think indirectly Buhari has recognized the election of June 12. He can do more than that. Is June now all about the actualization of the mandate? My answer is ‘no’. June 12 has come to symbolize if I can borrow the title of Chinua Achebe’s book– A time when there was a country. Or If I could modify that a time when there was a nation. If we voted across the religious line; we voted across tribal lines. Abiola, an Egba man went to Kano defeated Tofa who is from Kano. Who then turned around and defeated Abiola in Port-Harcourt in the South. So we voted against tribal lines. We voted against social cleavages. Both the poor and the rich voted for or against two multi-millionaires.
Now, what has happened since then. All the indices we thought we had overcome in June 12, 1993, are now only still with us but they are even worse now. So we have to reclaim June 12 by addressing these cleavages. Again, infrastructures, youth unemployment, health, education, religious antagonism. We need to address them. Every United Nations or IMF reports we’ve had since 1999 has shown us regressing. We’ve got to stop that regression. We’ve got to – not only put on the brake—but turn it around and start coming back. That to me is what June 12 means and not some debate about whether we should decline him (to be) president. We’ve given him the honour. One plus two equals three. I don’t need it to spell it out for you to know that. Buhari has already done that. Not only giving us June 12 now has democracy day. You know what that means? Why don’t we focus on the symbolism of things than rather go in for all these elementary interpretation of things, you know? For me, we’ll never finish actualizing June 12.
What manner of man was the late MKO Abiola? Why did you throw yourself into the thick of democratic struggle? Was it because he was a Yoruba man or because you believed in democracy?
What manner of man was Abiola?
Cuts in… Yes for the sake of posterity.
A badly misunderstood man. Even those who are embracing June 12 still cough whenever they want to talk about him. To me, Abiola was a great hero. He was not a reckless man. He was a brave man. What do I mean by bravery and heroism? Somebody who sees a problem confronts the problem and is prepared to pay for the consequences of confronting the problems. Look, Abiola was not a stupid man. It is not possible for a stupid man to become a billionaire. You have a military government and yet he decides to go and declare himself a president. He knew that the military has one way of reacting to challenge: They shoot. they don’t negotiate. That’s what is happening in Sudan now. They shoot. He knew that was going to be a pushback from the Abacha regime. And that was going to threaten his life. NADECO did not advise him to declare himself. In fact, we tried to stop him. But when we realized we couldn’t stop him we laid on that NADECO route. He refused. He would declare himself and stay in the country. So he knew he was risking his life.
Plan B if you have to declare yourself then you would go to an embassy for asylum. The United States embassy offered him asylum. I know all these things because I was involved in some of these negotiations. He refused. He was going to stay and confront this issue of reclaiming his mandate. Then he went into a safe apartment but after a while, he got fed up. And his last triumphant trip down Ikorodu road to his house. And he knew they would arrest him. If this is not bravery if this is not the hallmark of a hero then what is? And he went home and his house was surrounded by the security forces and he was arrested that night.
Let me tell you something which a lot of people don’t know. He is still alive… thank God. Chief Doyin Okupe and I were the last two people with Abiola that night. It was even my phone he used to have that BBC interview. I even teased him that the richest man in Nigeria you don’t have credit on your phone and you have to use the phone of a poor professor like me to do the interview. And then when he finished and I heard everything he said. Then he said, ” Professor you had better go” And asked him why. And he said, ‘Well, you don’t look like the type who can tolerate force and roughness. We don’t know what these people would do when they burst in here’.
Then I left Doyin there. But when I got out I ran into the hands of the police. They treated me well. Their commander was even surprised. He said, ‘Prof. what are you doing here?’ I said, ‘Well, I’ve come to greet Abiola’. Then he said let them check the boot of your car. I said, ‘But it’s a Renault, even I cannot fit into the boot not to talk of Abiola who is twice my size. He said let them open the boot because if Abiola disappears they will say you are the one who carried him.
All these I’m saying, are these the characteristics of a coward, of a reckless man? No! Abiola made himself a sacrificial lamb for democracy. And I’m saying this in a positive tone. He was a man to the very end. He wrote a letter to Gani Fawehinmi two days before he died. He was offered Freedom by Emeka Anyaoku and Kofi Ana in exchange for surrendering his mandate. And he said Never! And this is a man that had been imprisoned for 4years and lost his wife. And he still said NO! Oh, the world should stand up for him and recognize him as a man. That is my image and that would forever remain my image of Abiola.
So talking about Kofi Anan and Emeka Anyaoku: it is on record that Abiola died in the presence of Condoleeza Rice and other American delegates. Don’t you think something was fishy about that?
I don’t really know. I’m old enough in this game to know that the truth can be shaded. You know you could put a spin on what you’re saying to leave people confused.
Why did he reject the NADECO route? Don’t you think it was because he was Aare Ona Kakanfo( the Generalissimo) because you that propagandist, Chukwumerije once called him a generalissimo that was running away from war?
Again who knows what was going on behind Abiola’s mind. Shakespeare once said something about the mind so deep… I don’t know. NADECO tried to persuade him not to declare. When I was alone with him and his wife. I ask him why are you are insistent on doing this, it is dangerous. He said because i left the country they called me a coward. I’m not a coward I won’t change my mind.

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12 Presidents Nigeria Never Had

Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Dangiwa Umar
Herbert Macaulay

In certain climes where the purchasing power parity is reasonable, a dented apple is only fit for the bin and not the groceries of the shopper. If leaders were chosen based on the depth of smudge or twist on their character, some countries might not have any captain for decades. It is not too impossible that there are as many dented personas as there are dented apples, only a statistician can tell us.
Noticing a mark on an apple is easier than spotting one on a being occupying a position is draining as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There are certain fruits that need to be opened before you spot a sign of rot.
We can confidently judge the core of the beings that have stayed at the Dodan Barracks or Aso Rock- based on our perceptions because we have cracked their characters open.
There are some beings, however, whose portraits stir people to wish, ‘what if this person was president?’
Below are some 12 names
Herbert Macaulay

Herbert Macaulay

Herbert Macaulay was not of impeccable character according to public records. He had the one key gene of a leader though, the ability to glue different strata of society. Macaulay was born into the prominent family of Thomas Babington Macaulay and Abigail Crowther- son of Ajayi Crowther- famous Anglican bishop. Macaulay’s academic stint abroad was funded by the colonial office, yet he grew to be a formidable enemy to their course. Badmos Macaulay used his position as a socialite to fight for the respect of the House of the Lagos Oba and the independence of the country. His Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) won all available elective seats in three elections, despite Macaulay being barred from contesting elections. He Created the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in 1944 with Nnamdi Azikiwe- who later became the ceremonial president of the country. Macaulay died two years later in 1946- 14 years before Nigeria’s presidency.
Aminu Kano

If there is any Northern/Muslim member of either the seventh or eighth Senate that would have voted for the adoption of the United Nations Convention against the Discrimination of women, it is Mallam Aminu Kano. He was born in 1920 and died in 1983. Within the six decades of his time on earth, Aminu Kano challenged the Northern Native government- which was at that time dominated by people of Fulani extraction. He canvassed for an egalitarian society and advocated for the taxing of the rich. His support came from the commoners and petty traders. Just like Macaulay, Aminu Kano was a bonding character. He was one of the first generation of Nigerians to conceive of the creation of politics without ethnic fault-lines. Aminu Kano served as Federal Commissioner of Health under the Yakubu Gowon regime- 1967 to 1975. He contested for the office of President under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 1979 poles.
Dangiwa Umar

Dangiwa Umar

Umar is one of those rare beings that faced the cannon and took the more difficult choice. He was born in 1949 and still lives. In 1993, RTD Colonel Dangiwa Umar resigned he’s commission in the Nigerian military, in an attempt to restore the mandate of MKO Abiola. He searched for support to achieve his mission within the Nigerian army but ultimately failed. That selfless effort got him detained on charges of conspiracy in October of 1993 but he skidded out without a sentence. Umar, who served as Governor of Kaduna state between 1985 and 1988, has remained a social critique since the Fourth Republic. He famously accused former president, Olusegun Obasanjo for being complicit in June 12, 1993 presidential election annulment. He is one of those who have said the government should dialogue with the Boko Haram terrorists.
Ndubuisi Kanu

Just like Colonel Umar, Ndubuisi Kanu is one of those top military officials who opposed the usurpation of power by Abacha in 1993. Kanu was born in 1943 and still lives. Between 1976 and 1978, Rare Admiral Kanu served as governor of Imo and Lagos States. He is an advocate for the amendment of the Nigerian constitution to reflect a true federal system of government. Kanu blamed the restiveness in the Niger Delta region on the absence of regional governance.
Tai Solarin

Solarin is one of those dogged beings that never veer off course in their beliefs and struggles. Solarin, who was born in 1922 and died in 1994, was an educator and daring ink fighter. He was neither a politician nor a member of the country’s security apparatus. Solarin’s views would have seemed an anathema to many Nigerian voters, as he was an atheist. This would have given the impartiality to deal with the trappings of tradition and religion that have tethered the development of the Nigerian state.
Solarin, a regular caller at Nigerian prisons, was famously arrested this one time, for distributed a pamphlet titled the ‘beginning of the end,’ to force Yakubu Gowon to hand over power to a civilian regime in 1975.
Chima Ubani

Like Taiwo Solarin, Chima Ubani was neither a politician nor member of the military. Ubani, one of those hardened activists who did not permit any government airs to go unvisited, was born in 1963 and died in a car crash in 2005. Ubani created the Campaign for Democracy movement in 1993 in response to the annulment of the elections by Ibrahim Babangida. He became an Amnesty International prisoner of Conscience, after his arrest by the Abacha regime in 1995. Ubani survived this ordeal and resumed his normal routine when Obasanjo returned in 1999. His greatest imprint is the halt on the indefinite detention of citizens by security forces. Ubani was on a campaign against fuel price hikes when his car somersaulted in what an investigation published in 2007 describes as suspicious.
Anthony Enahoro

Anthony Enahoro was the first individual to move for the independence of Nigerian of the floor the parliament in 1953. His motion did not receive support but led to a cascade of more motions which forced the colonial clasps open. Enahoro was born in 1923 and died in 2010. At age 21, he is said to be the youngest editor of a Nigerian newspaper- the Southern Defender in 1044. This fit was attained at a time when the press was food for the independence struggle. More remarkably, Enahoro was still a student in Kings College Lagos at the time. Enahoro, a two-time minister, is one of those independence heroes who never won an election when independence was attained. Ironically, he served as a Minister under Yakubu Gowon’s military regime.
Michael Okpara

If Michael Okpara was alive to serve as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is highly probable that his hands would never have been found sticky with crumbs from the cookie jar. The medical doctor
and agricultural reformist was born in 1920 and died in 1984. Okpara is believed to have never owned a house of his own during his time in different government positions- 1952 to 1966. Okpara is the only of
the three regional premiers- North, West and Eastern regions to have survived the first military coo of 1966. He is famed for bringing reforms to the Eastern region during his time as Premier. If Okpara was president, he probably would not have permitted the abandonment of the agricultural sector by the discovery of hydrocarbon. Ahead of his return from exile in 1979, his associates raised a collection to build him a house in his hometown in today’s Abia State.
Ernest Ikoli

It is an omission of history to speak of the struggle for independence and not mention Ernest Ikoli. Ernest Ikoli was born in 1893 and died in 1960, the year when his life’s worth was achieved. Ikoli was one of the founders of the Nigerian Youth Movement which wrestled power with Macaulay’s NNDP in Lagos. Ikoli represented Lagos in the 1942 legislative council. Just like Macaulay, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and most of the Nationalist fighters, Ernest Ikoli saw the media is the best channel of communication with Nigeria’s colonial oppressors. Ikoli started with being the first editor of the Daily Times. He soon founded the African Messenger as well. Ikoli is an insignia of those times when genuine leaders used the press in an unbiased selfless course.
Isaac Boro

Isaac Boro is one being that divides perceptions across Ijaw and Igbo fault lines. He was born in 1938 and died in 1968 during the civil war. Boro was an undergraduate and student union president in the
University of Nigeria Nsukka, when he formed a militia group- the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF). He declared the Niger Delta Republic in February 1966 and engaged the Nigerian state in a 12-day armed
struggle. Boro and his militants were subdued and cut a deal with the federal government before the civil war began- a deal that was vital to the defeat of the Biafran army. He was an active soldier with the Federal Republic of Nigeria before his ‘mysterious’ death. Boro’s grouse still remains unsolved today. He fought against the exploitation of petroleum resources from the Niger Delta to the detriment of the lands been exploited. Boro is from Oloibiri, where the first commercial oil well was drilled. The well has since dried up and the community is in shambles.
Ahmadu Bello

Ahmadu Bello was born into provision but understood how to use it. Born in 1910, to the Uthman Danfodio lineage, He was killed in a coup in 1966, which triggered the slaughter of over 40,000 persons of Igbo extraction.
Ahmadu Bello’s blueprint was to industrialize the Northern region and keep them at par with the West and East. In order to keep this dream alive, he relinquished his office as Prime Minister to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, then Deputy Leader of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) in 1960. Bello tried to maintain the traditional Quranic schools by giving them a modern education outlook. His dream was to have a quality school in every Northern Province. His drive to have the North industrialized, is summed up in his removal of persons of European and Southern extraction from political offices in the North. If Ahmadu Bello saw Nigeria and he saw the North and reigned as president, a legacy of growth and prosperity would have been the probable outcome.
Obafemi Awolowo

Chief Obafemi Awolowo

The son of a farmer was a self-made man that rose to become a respected leader of the Yoruba nation. Born in 1909, the legal luminary stayed active in Nigerian politics till his death in 1987. As Premier of the Western region, Awolowo aggressively promulgated a socialist policy that saw the use of taxes and monies earned from cocoa production to promote access to education within his province. That singular policy created a generation of educated Yoruba elites. After his release from prison- following the constitutional crisis of 1963, Awolowo played a key role in managing the financial operation of the civil war-1967 to 1970 as well as the settlement of scores between former Biafrans whose assets were confiscated and the Nigerian government. Obafemi Awolowo made three unsuccessful attempts at becoming Nigeria’s president. With his firm stance on federalism and strong financial acumen one of his breed is conspicuously absent in today’s leadership of the country.
Those are the not so spotless Nigerians that might have left indelible positives on Nigeria’s governance.

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