Abacha through the prism of fairness
While he spent eight years in power, the attacks on General Abacha’s regime were the notorious refrain of the former President Obasanjo administration. With time, however, fair-minded Nigerians are now convinced that the late military ruler deserves more credit than his enemies are willing to give him. The June 12 presidential election controversy of 1993 […]
While he spent eight years in power, the attacks on General Abacha’s regime were the notorious refrain of the former President Obasanjo administration. With time, however, fair-minded Nigerians are now convinced that the late military ruler deserves more credit than his enemies are willing to give him.
The June 12 presidential election controversy of 1993 should not be allowed to overshadow the concrete contributions of the late General Abacha to Nigeria’s progress. After all, he found himself dealing with a major national crisis he didn’t create. He was thrust into it by circumstances and he resolutely rose to the occasion. Former NADECO leaders did everything to blame Abacha for Abiola’s death but subsequent revelations by key actors have painted a bigger picture of reality than Abacha enemies are ready to disclose.
The former Lagos State civilian governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Chief Ebenezer Babatope have revealed in various exclusive newspaper interviews how extremists in NADECO frustrated their efforts to secure a bail for Abiola in 1995. According to their accounts, the late General Abacha was ready to release Abiola as a part of political solution.
However, these NADECO extremists and the late Abiola’s lawyer, Chief G.O.K. Ajayi rejected the bail offer out of hand because they were approaching the issue academically. The late General Abacha had no desire to keep Abiola in detention longer the necessary and the rejection of the bail offer by Abiola’s lawyer and NEDECO extremists was ill-thought after all.
In fact, even Abiola’s eldest son Kola, was angry at the stupidity of rejecting a political solution to his father’s detention. He was so angry that he told Abiola’s lawyer to hands off the case. This posture pitted him against the late Kudirat Abiola who told Kola that she hired Ajayi and only she had the power to fire him. Unfortunately, emotion overran reason and Abiola lost the chance for freedom due to wrong and irrational advice.
In fact, there are other theories which suggest that NADECO leaders never wanted Abiola out of jail because of the huge donations they were receiving from European Union countries to advance the cause of democracy. Since Abiola was the symbol of their agitation, this school of thought alleged that NADECO leaders wouldn’t want Abiola’s freedom because it might weaken the strength of their struggle. If Abiola had accepted the bail offer, the Abacha regime was said to be ready to drop the treason charges altogether in the end. Freedom and life would have been better for Abiola than insistence on becoming a president, despite the realities of the time. NADECO leaders must bear Abiola’s blood in their hands for misleading him to reject the chance for freedom, which led to his death.
When Abacha took over, Nigerians were psychologically at war; the atmosphere of mutual distrust was palpable among fellow citizens. The country witnessed a mass movement of citizens from one part of the country to their states of origin because of the fear that war was imminent. Some had accidents on the way and died; some sold their property at derisory prices in states where they resided to earn a living.
Such was the dangerous political situation in which General Abacha took over in November, 1993. He restored stability and confidence to the extent that Nigerians who fled to their states of origin because of the fear of the unknown were reassured to return where they were residing to pursue legitimate means of livelihoods. Even the international community, which originally concluded that Nigeria was to break into war, was incredibly surprised at how General Abacha had managed to restore confidence and hold Nigeria back from the precipice of disintegration.
Twelve years after his death, Nigerians are now coming to the realization that the late General Abacha was more patriotic than his critics are willing to admit. Soon after taking over on November 17, 1993, he formed an all-inclusive government, representing all political and ethnic interests. If, indeed, there was anyone to be blame for Abiola’s avoidable death, it was the miscalculation and poor judgment of NADECO leaders.
Because of the decisive manner the late General Abacha restored stability to Nigeria, even the European Union countries became divided. Countries with moderate and realistic views rejected the idea of total sanctions on Nigeria because stability had returned to the country. Another issue that was a marvel to the international community was the aggressive manner the late General Abacha tackled security issues. As we remember Abacha, we are also reminded of the fact that the man had more good intentions than the evils attributed to him by implacable enemies. Some of his enemies are so disarmed and shamed by their own poor performance record in office that they were quietly forced to retreat from their frequent attacks on the late General Abacha and his memory.
Ifeanyi wrote from No. 35B, Col. Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Ilorin, Kwara State