Ogoniland: The Killing Field

ONAGORUWA'S TRAGEDY

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Overdraft andTermLoans Access toNERFUND,NEXIM/RRF,ADB/ESL Capital Restructuring,MergersandAcquisitions Capital Issues—DebtandEquity Funds Management KANO BRANCH 100-104 Murtala Mohammed Way,KanoTel.(064)621092 KANO BRANCH100-104MurtalaMohammed — anchortoretovotopnnont. r Outline AimsHÉd SEPTEMBER 26,1994 NIGERIA’S WEEKLY NEWSMAGAZINE VOL. 20 NO. 13

Nigeria: Cover: 9 Abandoned oil equipment worth more than N1 billion at a flow Browning of station in has become Onagoruwa a property free for all After weeks of speculation Politics: 18 about an imminent cabinet New faces in 10 states as Sani reshuffle, General drops three adminis­ Abacha fired Olu Onago­ trators and redeploys seven others ruwa, September 12, mak­ • Adamu Fika loses battle to stay ing him the first attorney- on as National Assembly director- general as he moves to the general and minister of presidency justice to be given the boot. What went wrong? Africa: " 27 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm For government and opposition in Burundi, the formation of a Nigeria: 15 national govememnt is helping to patch up a bitter and bloody struggle for power HowSicklsAbiola? Nigeria Medical Asso- World: 28 cation experts warn the A US-led international forces make final preparations for the Abacha government that invasion of Haiti M.K.O. Abiola's illness may take a turn for the Business: 29 worse unless care is taken Oil producing states present proposals which they say can ensure an equitable and accep­ Special Report: 21 table revenue allocation formula i 4 Letters The Ogoni Agony 5 Cartoon Has a military task force in 6 Essay Ogoniland exceeded its 7 Editorial peace mission brief? Yes, 33 Dialogue says MOSOP. No, says Dauda Komo, Rivers State ' Cover: administrator Design by: Tunde Soyinka

Newswatch (ISSN 0189-8892) is published weekly by Newswatch Communications Limited, No. 3 Billings Way (off Secretariat Road), Oregun Industrial Estate, Oregun, P.M.B. 21499, , Lagos, Nigeria. Telephone: 4960950. Fax: 962887. Telex: 27874 NE WCOM NG. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part without permission, is forbidden. Printed in Nigeria by Academy Press Pic, Uupeju. LETTERS

■ Free in Chains? No! of this great country for well ■ Kolo and Kolo < ♦ r over eight good weeks. The Abiola's Freedom Deal (August 22) In your edition of September 12th, wt was not only a travesty of justice but also common man in the street and were dismayed to see the picture of Hon a discreditable reflection on the entire the richest man in the country Justice K.M. Kolo, the Chief Judge o. judiciary. By stage-managing this strange were forced to get petrol, Bomo State, mistaken for Hon. Justice contrivance of a deal, the federal govern­ Mamman Kolo of the Federal High Court, ment had unmistakably shot itself in the diesel, kerosine and cooking who was the presiding judge of the foot. The impression given by the gas at exhorbitant prices. He NUPENG case under reference. Since the ingeniously contrived action was that has shown Nigeria and case was outside the jurisdiction of Justice there were powerful forces outside the K.M. Kolo, the appearance of his picture government that influenced its decisions. Nigerians that he is a very against the case has invariably caused a Abiola deserves nothing less than un­ important person who cannot lot of embarrassment to his Lordship. I conditional freedom. He just cannot be be dealt away with very easily. therefore, urge you to correct whatever free in chains in his country! impressions being created by such Charles I. Oivutu, George Oche, publication and tender an unreserved Ovim, Bauchi. apology for the serious mistake done. . M, Alkali, Victoria Island, Lagos.

• Newswatch owns up the mix up and ■ Madueke’s Undoing apologises to his Lordship.

After reading your write-up on the replacement of Rear-Admiral A.A. Madueke, I was forced to conclude that the most innocent, most hardworking, most honest and most impartial military officer today in Nigeria has fallen victim of the present scheming in the military circle. You wrote that he favours Enugu Any important zone in appointments. I must inform you that Madueke's headache today is man who has beca use sensitive positions in a re occupied by people from N sukka and Abakaliki zones. Madueke's undoing also something is that he hates politics — be it military or partisan. And for one to survive in Nigeria important to today at that top level he must either be a military politician or a professional politician. Those criticising Madueke say does so failed to tell the world that in-Oji River O ne thing every local government area, Madueke's local through an Nigerian should understand government area, there is no portable water, no electricity, no telephone services important is that although the widely and no good roads. Other biased write­ assumed June 12 presidential ups against Madueke by your magazine election winner, M.K.O. leaves one guessing what offence the fine medium: soldier committed against your crew. Abiola, was not officially After all, the four naval officers you kept declared president of the on complaining about their removal Federal Republic of Nigeria, everyday were replaced by their kinsmen, not by Madueke's brothers. he was able even in detention Eric Omire-Oluedo, Africa’s No. 1 to paralyse the economic,, Oji River, Newsmagazine social and political activities Enugu State.

Typed reactions to the contents of Newswatch, should be addressed to Newszvatch Letters, 3 Billings Way (Off Secretariat Road), Oreguti Industrial Estate, P.M.B. 21499, Ikeja, Nigeria. All letters must bear the correct names, addresses and signatures of the writers. Newswatch reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and brevity. 4 Newswatch, September 26,1994 | NEWSWATCH CARTOONS "QUOTES"

That Dr. Olu Onagoruwa has been El/Bl KIV MWISTfN HAS dropped by the federal military HO MoUUDfiE, NO COPV government comes to no one as a surprise... The only snag was, once the Oft INFORMATION... constitutional lawyer knew he could not contain unconstitutionality any longer, his resignation would have been more honourable than a sack

— in Sidelines, the newspaper's front page commentary.

The bite was his downfall. After biting me, I knew I had to put him down fast. He did it out of desperation and in a smart way. —Bash Ali, African heavyweight boxing champion, after his 41 seconds win over Sean Jones, an American.

It seems hardly rational to ask anyone to withdraw from a position which he cherishes and adores, for a cause he does not support and has repudiated openly. — Bisi Lawrence, a veteran journalist and newspaper columnist in an essay, At a time like this written on Nigeria's political crisis.

A regime that denies the people freedom of association, clamps down on the press and prevents the masses from seeking legal redress cannot deliver the country to true democracy. — , a Lagos-based lawyer and social critic, reacting to the promulgation of anti-freedom decrees by the Abacha government.

We absolutely do not want the slowest ship to decide the pace of the convoy. — Helmut Kohl, German chancellor, rebuking Britain for its foot-draging on European integration.

I know that I shall no longer exist in a few months or years. But it is not over death that I feel concerned. It's over no longer living. — Francois Mitterand, 78, the French president, confirming the state of his health.

I have no scruples. The good news we take advantage of. The bad news we hide. — Rubens Ricupero, a Brazilian finance minister accusing government of manipulating economic data in support ofHenrique Cardoso, his predecessor and presidential candidate.

Newswatch, September 26,1994 5 ESSAY Deterring Destruction

By

HERE IS NO DOUBT THAT NIGERIA IS FACING compounded on their way home when they are ambushed many daunting political, economic and social by armed robbers/assassins or are involved in road mishaps. problems today. To find lasting solutions to these All these negate the laudable provisions in our problems in our life time, our ingenuity and will­ constitution pertaining to the issues of sanctity of life, safety power will be tested to the fullest. One of such problems, of property and freedom of movement of citizens in our which has adversely affected our national unity and social country. We must find a way of enforcing these provisions. cohesion, is the extent and frequency of destruction during There are today a large number of people still waiting for crisis of lives and properties of Nigerians living in places compensation for the properties and lives wilfully destroyed other than where they or their parents were born. by fellow Nigerians of different ethnic divide over the years. We witnessed the massive destruction of lives and We must do something about that and others that might properties during the Western Nigerian crisis of 1965 and arise in the future. We must force the community, which the Ironsi regime and soon after its demise in 1966. We also destroys the properties and lives of other citizens living witnessed isolated cases in Kafanchan, Zango Kataf, Bauchi, amongst them, to pay full compensation promptly and in a Tafawa Balewa, Katsina, Funtua, Numan, etc. We also have way that could be a deterrent to members of other had cases of forced loss of properties, the so-called abandoned communities. We must deduct the amount equal to the properties in Port Harcourt and other parts of the country. values of whatever has been destroyed from the community's Almost all of these destructions have been brought about state or local government budgetary allocation at source, by the few evil-minded people among us who magnify any namely at CBN level. tiff or squabble within the community to irreconcilable A citizens' Relief and Compensation Commission should feuds, resulting in violence and the destruction of properties be set up at federal level to effect compensation to victims/ and even lives. All sorts of subterfuge are used to hide these their relatives whose properties/lives are destroyed. This evil people and the perpetrators of the violence. But one commission should have the power and the means to thing is always clear at the end of each incident and that is the properly assess all damages and to draw money from a extent of destruction of properties and loss of lives. There is, state's/local government's budgetary allocation and disburse therefore, no excuse for not paying full compensation to the same to the victims. The amount to be paid shpuld not be the victims of the mayhem or their relations immediately after book value of these properties but their replacement values such violence. Any delay in payment could only further on the day of payment of compensation. That might involve anger the victims and is tantamount to gross injustice on the payment for such compensations in two stages, the first one part of authority and the society. It hurts and adversely being the amount as initially assessed, while the second will affects the^victims and ordinary citizens and consequently cover adjustment due to inflation on date of final payment. the fabric of the Nigerian nation. This, coupled with the Other functions of the commission should include elite's vocal and divisive tendency and most of government's immediate provision of relief materials and temporary shelter policies of isolating citizens from other parts, even where for the victims, liaison with government and security agencies they pay tax, from enjoying basic educational and social to ensure their safety and security, investigation of all claims privileges and opportunities accorded indigenes of the local arising from damages and Jhe evaluation of the extent of government areas or states, can only have a debilitating damage with a view to paying appropriate compensation effect on our national cohesion and togetherness. within six months unfailingly. • As a result of the foregoing, the ordinary citizen has To culturalise the foregoing, members of the constitutional become fearful of owning property, in part or whole, in parts conference should ensure that a provision in line with what of the country other than his own indigenous area. He is is being suggested is provided for in our constitution. This fearful of pursing his legitimate activities or even investing matter could then be a truly settled issue and the fears of all in these parts. He is also fearful of travelling in the country. law-abiding citizens of this our great nation on this subject There is a great danger in this for the unity, peace and would be allayed. stability of our country whenever ordinary citizens begin to We must move forward! think of "going home." Some do not even wait long enough Vice-Admiral Nyako, for the violence to start. They sell their properties at give­ fortner Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, away prices, pack their bags and baggage and head for their wrote this exclusively for Newswatch so-called indigenous homes. Their misfortune is further

6 Newswatch, September 26,1994 LU ONAGORUWA'S AP- Cr/\m l-UQ But Onagoruwa was not quite sitting ■ ■ pointment as attorney- ■ 1 OlTl Xll6 pretty in the government. Controversies ^ m general and minister of justice still dogged him. He was caught up in the in the Abacha administration p-J Cl lit A dilemma °f clinging to his social critic kicked up a fuss on several fronts. Some EZ> Cl 1101 1 Cl I Cl II W posture and serving the government, warts critics, did not want him to take up the job. always gives. It is now easy to see which Onagoruwa ignored them. He had been called, he argued, quite did. On September 6, government proscribed The Gudrdian, rightly, to serve his .country. Moreover, he reasoned quite Concord and Punch groups of newspapers for six months. The strongly, that his presence in government would ensure that the day, Onagoruwa called a press conference in Lagos to military conducted its affairs according to the rules of law. He denounce the proscription and other decrees. He should know promised there would be no ouster clauses in the decrees and because being 's chief law officer, all such laws must that fundamental human rights would be scrupulously observed come through his office. If he found out that the decrees were and enforced by the administration. Quite nice, really. indeed signed by Abacha, Onagoruwa promised, he would But controversy continued to dog his every step. He was resign. He ascertained the authenticity of tire decrees but changed dragged into every suit against the government. He made no his mind about resigning. Little did he know he had just put the personal appearance in those cases but because he was the chief last straw on the back of the camel. On September 12, he was law officer of the federation, he was held responsible for thrown out. government disobeying court orders. His social critic colleagues Everyone but the man himself saw his removal coming. begged courts to jail him for contempt of court. Nearly one month ago, Newswatch reported that he was among T.O.S. Benson, a lawyer and a flamboyant minister of those who had been pencilled down to be dropped in General information in the First Republic, did not make life easier for the Sani Abacha's first cabinet shuffle. Onagoruwa makes history man either. He insisted Onagoruwa was unfit to be the country's as the first attorney-general and minister of justice of the chief law officer. Benson dragged out of the closet a theft case he federation to be sacked. He appears to have discovered too late insisted was still pending against the attorney-general. that because soldiers have brains, they also expect total loyalty. Onagoruwa took Benson to court, insisting quite strongly too, Don't let me pre­ that the case had been dismissed. Others, notably, the Democrat empt Mike Akpan, V newspaper, joined in this affray. Quite a bit of mud was splashed the senior associate lX ^ S j J * about. But Onagoruwa survived all that. editor, who tells you *____ His decision toTtake up the job proved to be quite sensible. the story of Onagor- 1 He made, in case you have forgotten, the earth-shattering personal discovery that soldiers have brains. uwa's Tragedy. j Newswatch The International Award-winning Magazine Founders: (1947—1986), RAY EKPU, DAN AGBESE, YAKUBU MOHAMMED

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m aapn/0104 "TH EDITORIAL Not the Leash

OVERNMENTS ARE VERY MYSTERIOUS. its owner - Abiola's cause. But when the police first laid siege Just when you think you can hazard a message on the premises of both the Concord and Punch in June, they from an emeiging pattern/ you are thrown a claimed that the premises of the two groups were being used curve that defies a very simple logic. Which is to store arms. Although the police conducted their why we are surprised and sad that the federal government investigations, at no time did they tell Nigerians that the found it necessary to proscribe three media houses: The allegations were true. In fact, group which had Concord, The Punch and groups, even after the sued government won its battle to get the police to leave its head of state Sani Abacha, promised, in a nation-wide premises. They did and Punch had begun to publish its broadcast to maintain its governments track record of not newspapers once again before the proscription decrees were muzzling the press or impairing its ability to perform its released two weeks ago. Had police found evidence that arms duties." were stored in the premises of both media houses, such a fact We are aware that events of the past few months have would have been brought to the attention of the court and the signalled a deterioration in the govemment/press relations. Punch would probably have not been able to win its case. But as optimists, we have always believed that government We, like the Abacha administration, are opposed and veiy can and should settle the scores within the laws already in our strongly too, to gutter or junk journalism of mad books. sensationalism, innuendo, rumours, falsehood and It is true that journalism in Nigeria has for now been unsubstantiated reports that pass for a vigorous press. The reduced to the coverage of one single event: the political crisis Guardian, The Punch and the Concord groups do not belong in that has resulted from the annulment of the June 12, 1993 the smut group. election and the subsequent self-declaration as president by Senior journalists are not themselves too happy with the Moshood Abiola, the man widely believed to have won that current behaviour of the press in general. The Nigerian Press election. It is true that wild and sometimes sensational and council has been at pains preaching the virtues of abiding by partisan coverage has been given pro-democracy activities the ethics of the profession to its practitioners. Evidence that and activists in recent months, just as government media, journalists themselves know that the current behaviour of tjie especially radio and television have lavished their attention press is more a function of the political situation in our on government efforts to stem the crisis. It is also true that country than an informed desire on their part to destroy. It is strikes by oil workers and other labour groups ostensibly to a passing phase. And we should be confident that when the bring government to its knees and install Abiola as president political blight passes, the return of sanity in the larger society did an incalculable damage to the economy of the nation. will make the return of sanity to the press inevitable. The surprise is that just about the time when the political This is not the first time publications have been proscribed temperature had started copling, and veiy fast too, and it was in our country. It may even be argued that the press has to becoming possible once again for the nation to pick-up-the blame every time it happens. But that does not lessen the pain pieces and move on, the government brought the hammer and the collective trauma it inflicts on the society. The down on the press with the three decrees which put in the proscription of a publication is an abridgment of that most cooler, for six months each, all publications of the three media fundamental of all freedoms - freed om of speech. The Abacha houses, and by extension thousands of jobs. None of them can administration itself recognises this and that was why it de- use their subsidiaiy companies to publish any new or old proscribed the Punch and Concord groups of newspapers titles till the end of the proscription order. proscribed by the Babangida administration and rescinded This is an extreme step. Why for example has The Guardian decrees 43 and 48 — to the immense relief of the press. That f oünd itself in the belly of the tiger? For all its liberal posturing, record ought to be sustained, whatever may be the The Guardian is neither a reckless nor an unpatriotic radical government's degree of frustration with the press. It should newspaper. The newspaper may be "guilty" of crusading for use the instrumentality of the laws to deal with cases of the revalidation of June 12 and may be obstinate in its infringement of our laws by the press. It did so in the past by opposition to the constitutional conference, in its editorial reporting some offending publications to the Nigerian Press opinions, but it was not guilty of sensationalism or peddling Council. The council had a robust, uncomplimentary words junk and smut in the name of scoop. Obviously there would for those publications. Meaning, when the government is be those who would not agree with its views and the support right, no one disagrees. it garnered in its op-edit pages to reinforce them but the Now that it has made its point clear, we believe it would newspaper never assaulted our sensibilities. Its news in the be in the interest of us all for the government to do a re-think main was balanced. and de-proscribe the three groups of newspapers. It is the As for the Concord publications, it is easy to conclude that right thing to doM government is punishing the group because of its support for

Newswatch, September 26,1994 9 COVER Browning of Onagoruwa

Olu Onagoruwa, sacked September 12, becomes the first federal attorney-general and minister of justice to be given the boot. What went wrong?

By Mike Akpan

HE SIGNS WERE THERE for Olu Onagoruwa, former attorney-general and minister of justice to see that he had over­ stayed his welcome as a member of the federal executive council and the Provisional Ruling Council, PRC. HeT refused to see them for reasons bordering on naivety. When he met some Yoruba leaders with other south-western ministers in Lagos on September 5, Onagoruwa complained that Sani Abacha, head of state, had marginalised him and that certain statutory functions of his ministry were being carried out by other people without his knowledge as the chief legal officer of the federation. He cited the eight decrees which, he said, were to be published the following day. He said his c ministry knew nothing about them. The o decrees were promulgated September 6. Be\ The Yoruba leaders advised Onagoruwa to resign honourably from tile federal cabinet. They told him it did not make sense for him to remain in a government that had sidelined him. Rejecting that line of action, Onagoruwa told the Yoruba leaders: "I will not resign. I know what I am doing." A day after the decrees were published September 7, Onagoruwa called a press conference in THE FE his office to disown them. He did not only disown them, Onagoruwa alerted Onagoruwa: “I will not resign. I know what I am doing.1

m Newswatch, September 26,199- COVER the nation tha t more of such decrees were was not necessary. on the way. Said the former minister: "Onagoruwa was not "We disown responsibility for these laws, sacked by Abacha. By his neither can we vouch for their pronouncements, he had authenticity." removed himself from the According to Onagoruwa, section 10 government. As a member of Decree 107 of 1993*empowers only the of the cabinet, he told the PRC to make laws in the country. world that eight decrees Statutorily, he explained, only the were promulgated outside ministry of justice can make drafts of the government, illegally legislative proposals of the PRC into laws. and behind his back as the Such draft laws are usually submitted to chief legal officer of the the head of state by the attorney-general federation," Fakayode of the federation who is the only person reasoned. recognised by law to present a decree to Tha t is also the position him as chairman of the PRC. of Godwin Gbetsere, a Washing his hands off, Onagoruwa legal practitioner in Lagos. said that his ministry should not be held Argued Gbetsere: "Ona­ liable in anyway for the eight decrees goruwa himself had either which "sip away our liberties and whose directly or indirectly contents, purpose and intentions are not resigned his appointment known to the minister outside what is before his removal because read in newspapers as the ministry has when a minister has np knowledge, no copy or any expressed his ignorance of information about their promulgation." decrees promulgated ■1 Stopping short of declaring the decrees when he is the chief legal Saleh: Signed the sack letter illegal, the former attorney-general said: officer of the country, it "Under section 10 of Decree 107 of 1993, means he was no longer wanted." amended draft decrees into law. Abacha no decrees shall become law without Gbetsere said before Onagoruwa was put them aside. being drafted by the ministry of justice even dropped from the federal cabinet, it Newswatch was told that Abacha tried and approved by the PRC of which I am was public knowledge that he was no not to show his anger after Onagoruwa a member." longer there. "The announcement of his returned from his Japan trip to inquire Onagoruwa accused some of his removal was just putting the hammer on whether the decrees had been signed by colleagues of encouraging Abacha to the nail as speculated by Nigerians, him. He simply told him he had misplaced j sideline him in the cabinet. He said that including the members of the Nigerian them and requested for new drafts to be| the decrees were the handiwork of two Bar Association," he said. forwarded to him. Onagoruwa obliged. unnamed persons he described as He is right. Onagoruwa's trouble Like the earlier ones, Abacha also putt "powerful." He argued: "It is possible started last December when government them aside. Unable to get the message] that certain bureaucratic and political rolled out 10 decrees, two of which had Onagoruwa went to work again to amend forces are at work in making sure that the ouster clauses. Onagoruwa disowned the Decree 17 of 1985 which empowered federal government does not succeed." decrees in the press and, according to a former President to Ordinarily, Onagoruwa ought to have presidency source, Abacha did not like it. hire and fire service chiefs, the chief of resigned his appointment before or after Abacha was, somehow, pacified after general staff and the inspector-general of that press conference because his , the chief of general staff, police. Onagoruwa was, perhaps, bowing statement was against the principle of pleaded for him. Even then, there was a to pressures from senior military officers collective responsibility in the cabinet. crisis of confidence between Abacha and who wanted the power to hire and fire Instead, he only threatened to resign from Onagoruwa. That crisis was heightened military and police chiefs to revert to the the government after meeting with after Onagoruwa appointed a committee PRC. Again, Abacha refused to sign the Abacha "on the deluge of decrees that are to advise him on the amendment of the decree whose provisions he invoked to currently in circulation without the decrees. The committee did its duty and hire and fire service chiefs in the army knowledge or input of the federal submitted its report to the minister. and navy last month. ministry of justice." On the basis of that report, The increasing loss of confidence in It was not certain whether the meeting Onagoruwa amended the decrees with Onagoruwa prompted Abacha to decide with the head of state was held before he ouster clauses, backdated them to 1983 on an alternative source for drafting was fired September 12. The terse and passed them to Abacha for his decrees outside the ministry of justice. statement signed by Aminu Saleh, signature and travelled to Japan This arrangement resulted in a situation secretary to the federal government, thereafter. Instead of signing the decrees, whereby the National Constitutional offered no explanation for the action, Abacha sought legal advice on the Conference Commission, National apart from saying "the change was made committee's report presented to him by Constitutional Conference Electoral by the head of state, Sani Abacha." the attorney-general. The lawyers who Committee and National Constitutional Emmanuel Fakayode, former chief studied the report advised Abacha it Conference decrees were drafted and judge of , said the explanation would amount to suicide if he signed the presented to the head of state to sign into

Newswatch, September 26, 1994 11 ■COVER

laws without inputs from Onagoruwa. A high court, who ruled in favour of ABN ministry put it to Newswatch last week: presidency source said last week that to stop further announcement of the June "All these actions point to lack of although the former attorney-general was 12 presidential election results. Onago­ confidence in the minister. The best thing asked initially to work on the decrees, ruwa was said to have made sure a for him at that stage should have been their final drafts were passed to the head federal high court judge handled the resignation." The appointmentof a special of state without his knowledge. case. adviser on legal matters to the head of Sources claimed that the three decrees Onagoruwa was said to have opposed state was said to have been done to spite and subsequent ones were worked on by Abacha when he said Abiola should Onagoruwa. But all Nigerian leaders, , minister of mines and apologise before he could be released. even some state governors, always avail power who is a lawyer and a one-time The high point of their strained rela­ themselves of a second legal opinion by NBA presidential candidate, and a team tionship came when Abacha reportedly having legal advisers. of lawyers picked by him. The team is phoned Onagoruwa asking him to draft The gulf between the former minister assisted by Clement Akpamgbo, former a decree proscribing a number of print and the government was further widened attorney-general and minister of justice media houses. Onagoruwa allegedly after the appointment of Tobechukwu in the Babangida administration. refused saying there was no basis for Onwugbufor as the federal solicitor- Naturally, Onagoruwa felt bad with that. But he was shocked to hear the general. Onagoruwa's consent was never the development. Last month, he com­ broadcast on television that three sought. Even when Onwugbufor appoin­ plained at an interview published in newspapers and magazines had been ted Sondangi Dan Su, an Abuja-based Today, a Kaduna-based newspaper. He proscribed. lawyer, to replace Mosugu, he did it with­ alleged that Abacha preferred to deal Dependable sources said the head of out consul ting Onagoruwa. He also made direct with members of the PRC instead state never wanted Onagoruwa as his himself coordinator of the trial without of consulting his office on legal issues. He attorney-general. His candidate for the any reference to the attorney-general. confessed that Abacha did not trust him job was said to be Michael Ashikodi What perhaps was the last straw even though he claimed to run a Agbamuche, who has now replaced which broke Onagoruwa's back was government of national reconciliation. Onagoruwa. Agbamuche was top on the Decree 11 of 1994. When the idea of the He said: "You have to be one of either of list of 12 names Abacha submitted to the decree, which is a re-incamation of Decree the two government officials to have PRC for consideration. Some PRC 2 of 1984, was first raised at the PRC views considered." He said the two top members argued for the inclusion of meeting, Onagoruwa, according to a government officials were the only ones Onagoruwa in the list. In the election that reliable source, spoke against it. The the head of state trusted in the cabinet to followed, Onagoruwa was said to have position he took against the decree was advise him. polled six votes to beat Agbamuche who said to have infuriated Abacha the more. Onagoruwa's problems were multi­ scored three votes. Onagoruwa worsened the matter when, dimensional. A reliable source told When government decided to appoint two days after the decree 11 and others Newswatch that despite his position in Samuel E. Mosugu, a private prosecutor, were released, he called a press conference government, the former minister was to handle the treason trial of Moshood in his office to disown them. In his always attending meetings of the Abiola, it was against his recom­ stubbornness, he turned down the advice Campaign for Democracy, CD, and other mendation. His own recommendation of friends who told him before the press meetings organised by pro-democracy was rejected because th« presidency did conference to throw in the towel because groups. Said the source: "Whenever he not trust him. As a senior official of the the game was up for him. was not opportuned to attend the Onagoruwa was quoted as telling his meetings, he usually sent Leke Sanusi, friends that he could not resign because his personal assistant who, until his Diya would be left without any support appointment, practised law in Gani in the cabinet. According to sources, he Fawehinmi's chambers. Security reports argued that all those whom Diya brought on Onagoruwa's relationship with the into government and the constitutional CD were said to have disturbed Abacha conference had left. and further deepened the distrust Definitely, Onagoruwa had misread between him and the former minister. Abacha's mood. The head of state had Things started falling apart between decided to kick him out of the cabinet as Abacha and Onagoruwa in June when far back as last February as a result of 2te the National Democratic Coalition, pressure from his colleagues who NADECO, mounted pressure on the repeatedly complained that Onagoruwa government. Before Onagoruwa travelled had sinister designs for the adminis­ to London mid-June, he advised that tration. They cited his attempt to get Abiola should not be arrested but by the Abacha to sign out his powers in the time he came back, Abiola had already amended Decree 17 of 1985 which would been arrested and detained in Gashua. have created problems for him as a Sources close to Onagoruwa said that, classical example of his sinister design. through his pressure, Abiola was trans­ Abacha could not yield to that pressure ferred to Abuja, and Onagoruwa frus­ because at that time Onagoruwa's trated efforts to have Abiola tried before colleagues from the south-west had "THE I Dahiru Saleh, the chief judge of Abuja Dalhatu: Chief draftsman threatened to resign en masse if he was

12 Newswatch, September 26, 1994 ■ cover

fired. For Abacha to fire Onagoruwa to him that by accepting to become the without such threat again from his south­ federal attorney-general and minister of west colleagues shows that he is now justice, he would be saddled with the fully in charge. responsibility of drafting decrees which A source told Newswatch last week he once described as "a mockery of the that initially Abacha did not know how rule of law." to get rid of him without incurring the Gani Fawehinmi, a radical Lagos wrath of the Yorubas. He was advised to lawyer and his long-time friend, was so start the process by first margina­ upset by the decision of Onagoruwa to lising him with the hope that Onagoruwa accept the ministerial job that he wept would read the writing on the wall and openly while pleading with him to turn it resign voluntarily. If he failed to resign, down. To avoid undue pressure from his the head of state was advised to wait for colleagues in the pro-democracy move­ him to do something that would warrant ment, Onagoruwa travelled out of the his removal without much public country shortly before his appoint­ sympathy. His press conference of ment was announced last November. September 7 was all that was needed to From far away London, he confounded give him the boot. his colleagues and admirers by trying to Onagoruwa's problems with the justify his decision to accept the government are also traceable to his ministerial portfolio. He told a BBC embarrassing public statements regard­ correspondent: "We had to make the best ing the constitutional conference. For of the situation otherwise what is the example, after Diya had announced that Agbakoba: Not surprised alternative? You remember that the there would be "no-go" areas for the (Ernest) Shonekan government was there. conference, Onagoruwa contradicted were dra fted behind his back, Onagoruwa It was declared illegal by the court. But it him. Said he: "Government has already had no input in the appointments of continued to be there and the only body decided that the constitutional conference members of the conference commission, that could enforce the judgment of the has constituent powers; that it has powers the election committee and nominated court was the military." to deliberate on all issues that affect the delegates. Although, he said, "we human rights polity of Nigeria and to promulgate a Not many Nigerians have sympathy groups might not be able to instantly constitution which automatically for Onagoruwa in his predicament. install Abiola, but we must continue to becomes law like the conference of 1957 Remarked Godwin Esene, a Lagos lawyer: find various ways by which we can help and 1958." He promised that a decree to "He deserved it. Why should he make those who are not in government to come that effect would be enacted last January. such provocative statement as a cabinet back to democratic government." After The decree was enacted in May instead of minister and still remain in government?" all efforts to talk him out of his position January as promised. Esene said it would have been more failed, Fawehinmi said in desperation: His claim that the conference was his honourable for Onagoruwa to have "The turn of events is really tragic." brain-child also créa ted problems for him. resigned after acknowledging that those That statement was, somehow That claim lacked merit. , a decrees were made without his prophetic for Onagoruwa. His tragedy retired brigadier-general and one of the knowledge. "There was divided loyalty dogged him throughout his tenure in planners of the coup that toppled the on his part," he explained. government. When he took over as the Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Olisa Agbakoba, president of Civil justice minister, the first promise Government, ING, had told Newswatch Liberties Organisation, CLO, agrees. Said Onagoruwa made, for which he was at an interview in March that the idea of he: "It did not come to us as a surprise applauded, was that the days of ouster a constitutional conference was Diya's, that Onagoruwa was dropped. In fact, clauses were over and that no one would to achieve two main objectives. The first right from the day he called the press be detained with out trial. Barely one objective, he said, was to enable the new conference, he should have been wise month into its tenure, the administration government to gain the support of the enough to put in his resignation letter." rolled out 10 decrees, two of them with Yorubas and human rights groups while The CLO president said Onagoruwa ouster clauses. Unable to make the second was to use the conference as a displayed patent naivety by even meaning out of that development, smokescreen to buy time for five years. contradicting himself when he spoke with Fawehinmi went to court to challenge Another controversy was the a correspondent of the British them. Onagoruwa rose to the defence of commencement date of the conference. Broadcasting Corporation after the press not only the Abacha regime but also of While Onagoruwa gave January 1994 as conference at which he disowned the his own integrity, saying the Abacha the take-off date, Abacha felt embarrass­ controversial decrees. "I have no administration needed the ouster clauses ed and had to contradict him by giving a sympathy for him. He should have in the suspension and modification of March deadline which was not even listened to some of his colleagues who constitution decree to prevent any kept. As a result of his embarrass­ pleaded and begged him not to accept challenge of its validity and legality. In a ing pronouncement on the issue, the the appointment," Agbakoba said. bid to absolve himself of any blame, the attorney-general was marginalised on all Indeed, Onagoruwa spurned all attorney-general explained that the 10 decisions that touched on the conference. pleadings from his friends and colleagues decrees were drafted and sent to the ,For instance, apart from the decrees that not to go into government. They explained government printers before he reported

Newswatch, September 26,1994 13 ■ cover 0

for duty. He said even after they were his name and integrity built over the have installed Abiola under the printed and circulated, he was unaware years because of personal greed. "His controversial cloud that had been created of their existence until Fawehinmi went tenure was a disaster. History will record by Babangida would have benefitted to court to challenge them. him as the worst attorney-general so far," Nigeria more than the constitutional Nobody believed his story. Opeyemi he said. conference. He said his membership of Bamidele, secretary, Movement of Social Echoing Olanrewaju's feelings, the cabinet had changed his orientation and Economic Justice, said: "The issue Sunanu Alii, a Lagos lawyer, said: on the military, which, he said, is made was a personal dilemma for Onagoruwa. "Judging by his position in the bar and up of intellectuals. All his professional life as a lawyer and the position in thecrusade against military On September 7, he contradicted human rights activist, he has waged a rule, it was a miscalculation on himself when he alerted the nation that major crusade against ouster and simi­ Onagoruwa's part to have accepted to the outcome of the constitutional larly irresponsible clauses. He has also serve as minister. Before he joined the conference would be tampered with. He fought gallantly on the side of the rule of government, he had made a name and a argued: "The only fear I have is that if law at great costs to his personal security mark. But now he has ruined all that." laws are made surreptitiously, then what and liberty." Bamidele said "Onagoruwa The ruination has come in many ways. will be the future of a constitution that is had a choice to erode his hard-earned Apart from throwing off the cloak of being drafted?" Reacted a senior official credible past by voluntarily opting to be human rights activism to show his real in the ministry of justice after the press part of an anti-people scheming which self, Onagoruwa's appointment as conference: "Onagoruwa is a case study undermined the rule of law." attorney-general has forced his friends of a man with a confused mind." Emeka A ta ma, a medical doctor based and enemies alike to invade his privacy. Beyond his pro-democracy consti­ in Lagos, has a very poor impression of Some Nigerians have called him tuency, Onagoruwa was also at war with Onagoruwa. "He is one of the people unprintable names as a result of an T.O.S. Benson, information minister in who will say one thing against the interview which he granted to Timesweek the First Republic, and the Democrat, a government today and when the time last April during which he commented Kaduna-based newspaper, both of which comes tomorrow for him to be in on Abiola, June 12, the military and his questioned the rationale for his government, he grasps it with both hands. decision to join Abacha's cabinet. Said he appointment when^his character was He is an opportunist to the core." of his appointment: "My friends can only questionable. They accused Onagoruwa Ayo Olanrewaju, deputy head of Gani disagree with me. They cannot claim a of not only cheating at a Nigerian Law Fawehinmi Chambers, agrees. He sees right to decide for me. At my age and School examination but also of stealing Onagoruwa as a pretender, arguing: "I level of thinking, there is no friend who N720,000 from his cousin and former don't believe there is any progressive can tell me I can only take an office when client. The Supreme Court later cleared serving in the Abacha government." He he says I should." him of the charges. He sued Benson for said he was not surprised that On Abiola and June 12, Onagoruwa libel. Onagoruwa did not resign before he was said with the advantage of hindsight and For the 10 months he served in sacked. Even if he had resigned, the volume of information available to goverhment, Onagoruwa exposed Olarenwaju said it would not have made him, he had his doubts whether June 12 himself as a man who cannot keep his any difference because "we warned him would have benefitted "us better than promises. He was unable to put an end to that there was no point in taking up the the constitutional conference." Similarly, repressive laws, closure of media houses, appointment." he said he had his doubts whether to arrest and detention of journalists and Atama said since he failed to resign human rights activists. This year alone, when it was obvious he had lost out, the three media houses, namely, the Concord only logical deduction open to many Press of Nigeria, The Punch and The Nigerians was perhaps that Onagoruwa Guardian were proscribed under Decrees must have done something which the six, seven and eight of 1994. Last April, security agents would have used to three executive directors of Newswatch blackmail him if he had decided to resign Communications Limited were arrested on his own. Newswatch learnt the mistake and detained for 12 days for publishing Onagoruwa made was to hang on after an interview granted to Newswatch by disowning the decrees. "He should have Mark. A few weeks into the life of the resigned right there and left with some administration last year, 50,000 copies of dignity. Staying on was his undoing. Now were seized by security Bl he has lost everything. His tenure has left agents. Since last May when Abacha no legacy," the source said. That is also started a crackdown on pro-democracy the view of Olanrewaju. According to activists, many Nigerians have been him, Onagoruwa is the first federal arrested, detained, charged or released. attorney-general to be sacked. Not only All with Onagoruwa looking on. that. He said the former minister never Reported by Soji Akinrinade, drafted any decree that was passed into Wale Akin-Aina, Sam Olukoya, law by the present administration during Mercy Ette, Kay ode Olaokun, his 10-month tenure. Olanrewaju said Olu Ojewale, Uduak Bassey, Onagoruwa not only ruined his career as Emmanuel Ugwu and "THE I a practising lawyer, he has also ruined GankWarned Onagoruwa Stanley Emelife 14 Newswatch, September 26,1994 NIGERIA How Sick Is Abiola?

Nigeria Medical Association experts warn the Abacha government that Abiola’s illness may take a turn for the worse if care is not taken

By Wale Oladepo

F MK.O. ABIOLA, ACCLAIM- ed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election currently standing treason trial in Abuja will appear in court this week, he may be doing so on a stretcher or in a wheel chair. That is if the federal government has not by that day, releasedI him for medical treatment as demanded by the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA. Both the stretcher and the wheel chair were taken to Abuja last Friday by Abiola's personal physician, Ore Falomo, in the company of NMA's officials and its three-man team of experts that diagnosed Abiola's spinal cord problems. Falomo told Newswatch last Thursday: "We cannot afford to see Abiola crippled in the process of his trial. If the government cannot release him for treatment now or give him a suitable carriage to come to court, God forbid that the man be crippled in the process." His views were echoed by George Chikelue Okpagu, vice-president of NMA, who said in a separate interview that they were aghast when the police in Abuja informed them they had to bring Abiola to court last Tuesday without either of the two carriages because none could be obtained in Abuja. Said Okpagu: "We were embarrassed that despite our appeals and reports, Abiola was taken to court at âll. He was even made to appear Abiola: May face health disaster without proper medical care

Newswatch, September 26,1994 15 I NIGERIA

without the benefit of a stretcher or a wheel chair." It is uncertain if the government can stand the embarrassment of taking Abiola to court in a wheel chair or on a stretcher. When at the start of the trial Abiola was driven to court in a Black Maria, there was a resounding outcry from Nigerians and the international community who felt outraged by the treatment. The VJ government was so embarrassed, ! Oladipo Diya, a lieutenant-general and chief of general staff, CGS, confessed in

an interview that "putting him in Black f? * Maria is bad," adding: "In any govern­ ment set up, we find people who are flj» overzealous, who, I would say, want to U portray the government as bad but I feel . •, bad about this. And I think it is more ■ reprehensible to air it on National Television Authority, NT A, network Okpagu: NMA can't be bought Diya: Will government heed appe news." Which is why it is being alleged that the Abiola's situation. To realise that whenever he was not in Abuja. The dc the NMA was politicising its efforts to objective, Femi Falana and Gani administered Abiola's medications wl free Abiola following the failure of the Fawehinmi, both Lagos lawyers have were handed over to him by Falo oil workers to secure his release after a been instructed by the NMA to act as its "But when Abiola asked for the docto seven-week strike which paralysed the counsels. Ayo Olanrewaju, a lawyer and August 24 and 25, the police did economy. But Okpagu denied NMA deputy head of the Fawehinmi Chambers allow the police doctor see him. Basho playing politics with Abiola's health, told Newswatch last Wednesday that had to resort to self-medication as a rej saying: "Whether oil workers strike or NMA has given government up to the of which he took an overdose of p not, what we are saying is that after the end of last week to meet its demands. "If killers," said Falomo,By August 26 wl scuffle with the security officials, Abiola nothing is done, NMA has instructed us Falomo was in Abuja for his routine v sustained an injury that aggravated his to go to court. So, if we don't get any which was once weekly, Abiola's bio back pain leading to radiculopathy — a positive response along that line, we are pressure had shot up to 210/140 from 1 compression at the spinal column going to file a suit on Monday (September normal pressure of 140/80. As Falor affecting the nerves which controls the 19)." put it, the most striking finding was t right leg. NMA did not engineer that The new twist in the Abiola saga began agonising pain Abiola had in his low scuffle. Now that oil workers strike is off, after he was involved in a scuffle with a back following the injury, adding thatl let the government give him medical police officer in the office of the police was unable to sit up for a long tin attention and we will not fight the commissioner in Abuja on Tuesday without being in agony, having alreac government. It has nothing to do with August 23. News of the scuffle between lost a good part of the function of tl politics, nobody can buy NMA over - not Abiola and the police was broken by right leg. even the government or Abiola himself." Kudirat, his wife who issued a press Falomo returned to Lagos and heli Falomo also expressed dismay over statement that Abiola was suffering from discussions with a number of medica insinuation that NMA was playing serious back pains following a scuffle he doctors with whom he agreed that th politics with Abiola's health. Said he: "it had with security operatives over his best solution was to get NMA to assis! is unfortunate to think so. The man has access to newspapers. The report was His report to the NMA led to the decisia been in detention for two months but I promptly denied by the police public of the association to brief some experts a have not raised anyalarm even though I relations' officer, Tunji Alapini, who said orthopaedic surgery to go and assess th have noticed the bad health situation Abiola has on the fateful day objected to extent of the damage to Abiola's spin because I could contain the high blood the usual security checks on papers and report back. Isola Abudu, a consultai! pressure problem. But if he had not brought for him following which he orthopaedic surgeon was despatched ti Bi sustained an injury following a scuffle allegedly grabbed the security agent in accompany Falomo to Abuja to examin with security official on August 23, this an attempt to stop him from screening Abiola September 2. The NMA wa situation would not have arisen. The the papers. "If anything, it was Chief alarmed by his report of September 3. spinal injury he suffered has now Abiola who assaulted the officer," Alapini In the report, Abudu confirmed tha aggravated his blood pressure and we explained. Abiola complained of persistentbackach are now faced with two potential disasters According to Falomo who confirmed which had rendered him almost confinée of either a stroke or a paralysis." the incident to Newswatch, Abiola, who to his bed. The pain, he said, is worse or No matter what impressions are was in pains from the incident, sent for coughing or defaecating hence AbioL formed of NMA's motive, the association Charles Ogwuma, a police medical had to reduce his food intake to avoic has put together a new plan to deal with doctor, who stood in for Falomo constipation and pain. There is als<

"THE 16 ■ NIGERIA

weakness and numbness of his right leg treatment. the judge to issue the required order and hence his limping gait. Abiola, from The association also alerted the new of the police to carry Abiola in a stretcher Abudu's report, had sustained back injury trial judge that he would be "trying a or wheel chair "presage disaster because in 1953 during his secondary school days man who is very ill and almost a near the continued use of the lower limbs but had been free of any symptom except corpse." the NMA told Senlong that without the repaired investigation and of stress or jolting for which he wa s trea ted "Abiola has been instructed by the treatment may lead to irreversible at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, medical experts to confine himself strictly neurological damage and consequent Igbobi, in 1972, 1974, 1976 and at ITT to bed pending the definitive paralysis of the affected limb." clinic thereafter. "The pain, however, investigations and probably surgical It therefore, warned that forcing became worse following repeated falls in intervention." The appeal to Senlong even Abiola to use his weak right leg which the police Black Maria, a couple of weeks included that he allow NMA "to transfer would worsen his condition amounts to ago. This was further aggravated during Abiola to appropriate medical centres, "torture," an act, which, quoting the a scuffle with the police recently." both within and outside Nigeria where World Medical Association's WMA, Abudu whose examination revealed he can have the four investigations the Tokyo declaration of October 1975, is an absence of reflexes on Abiola's right experts recommended to wit: CT scan, against international conventions. The leg and numbness of his riaht muscles magnetic resonance imaging, myelo­ declaration states that "the doctor shall diagnosed "prolapsed intervertebral disc graphy and nerve conduction studies as not countenance, condone or participate (PID) with nerve root compression well as electromyography. in the practice of torture or other forms of syndrome" and hypertension induced, The CT scan is a computerised system cruel inhuman or degrading procedures,

possibly, l7 stress. He, therefore, through which the extent of nerve root whatever the offence of which the victim recommended a chest X-ray, X-ray of the compression and neurological damage of such procedures is suspected, accused thoraco-lumbo-sacral spine, a CT scan of can be determined. The myelography on or guilty and whatever the victim's belief thelumbo sacral spine and myelography. the other hand would visualise the spinal or motives, and in all situations, including The orthopaedic surgeon also noted cord from where the nerves take their armed conflict and civil strife." that "we were well received by the police origin. The compression of the nerve root Explaining the implications of the but what I found nauseating was the at the level of lumber 4 and 5 (back continued trial of Abiola under his present physical exa mina tion of Chief Abiola who bones)leads to prolapsed intervertabral conditions, Okpagu told Newswatch that was stripped naked for examination disc or radiculopathy. "any plea he makes is not legal by under the full glare of four SSS men," Senlong did not heed NMA's appeal international convention if the doctor has adding that "The examination couch was but he ordered that Abiola be allowed said he is not fit." no more than three cushion chairs access to his lawyers and members of his Abiola's ailments may not be limited arranged together and I had to assume family on Mondays, Wednesdays and to radiculopathy and high blood pressure the undignified position of kneeling to Fridays. Similar orders had been given in which have been diagnosed. There are examine Chief Abiola..." the past but they were largely ignored by speculations he may have suffered some Following Abudu's report, the NMA security operatives. liver infections resulting in his swollen also despatched a letter to Abacha The failure of Senlong to address any leg. Falomo, however, said Abiola had no September 4 stating that something of the issues it raised drew the ire of the liver problem before his incarceration. urgent should be done to avoid a calamity. NMA which issued another statement "If he has a trace of it now it must have The NMA in the letter stated that "it is last Wednesday stating that the failure of been caused by his detention" but he was worrisome that the police is deceiving quick to add that the swelling of the leg the public that all is well with Bashorun was due to stress and not pathological. Abiola, even in the face of the glaring He, however, said the team that was to go findings of the consultant surgeon who to Abuja last Friday would take his blood examined him." It warned the sample to do a liver function test through government against the disastrous effect which the NMA would be able to see of Abiola dying in detention or suffering details of what Abiola has suffered not a paralysis adding that Abiola's ailment only because of stress and the scuffle but is probably worse than that of former also resulting from irregular meals. president Ibrahim Babangida in February Falomo recalled that until recently, Abiola 1987. was usually served his breakfast at 11 The letter to Abacha and NMA's a.m., lunch at 6 p.m. and dinner at seven-day ultimatum led the government midnight, a sequence that affected his to allow Abiola access to Aso Rock clinic medication since he has to take his drugs for examinations which invariably with meals. confirmed Abudu's findings. A team of Falomo believes Abiola will doctors comprising Ade Bailey, the eventually be released for medical nation's foremost orthopaedic surgeon, treatment abroad. "The government has Seyi Robert, a consultant neurologist, no justification of being in a community Abudu and Falomo examined Abiola of nations if it will deny one of its most September 7. The NMA team later said prominent citizens access to medical Abiola should be released for further treatment," he said. medical examination and appropriate Falana: May go to court Reported by Olu Ojewale

Newswatch, September 26,1994 17 ■ NIGERIA

carried away by unknown persons are six giant caterpillar light generating sets and all the hi-tech communication At the Mercy equipment in the communication room. A 100-metre high communication tower and its mast have also been dismantled and taken away. All five buildings in the station are without windows, doors, and Of Thieves roofs. The items stored inside the buildings have also been removed. Worst hit is the manifold at the station. Ordinarily, all oil fields in Khana local government area should be Abandoned oil equipment worth more than N1 connected to the manifold. But because billion at a flow station in Rivers State has of stolen equipment, the manifold has virtually been cut off from the oil fields. become a property free for all. Very expensive installations on the manifold like oil pipes and electrical fittings have been disconnected and taken By Sam Olukoya away. Expensive underground pipes and electrical wires have also been exhumed IL EQUIPMENT AT THE Khana highway, the flow station has and taken away. Not even minor items Yorla flow station in Rivers become a fertile ground forvandalisation like bolts and screws are spared. State worth more than N1 of the oil equipment by thieves. A Only very large equipment that billionhas been left at the Newswatch reporter who visited the flow require heavy duty vehicles to carry them mercy of thieves. The equipmentstation was July 29 remarked: "The stock of away are left at the flow station. But their abandonedO there since May last year equipment appears inexhaustible after parts are systematically dismantled and when Shell Petroleum Development many months of steady thieving. The carried away. Company pulled out of Ogoniland multi-million naira flow station looked Apart from neglect, a major oil spillage was observed near the flow station. Crude oil was shooting 25 metres into the air like a fountain. As a result, surrounding farmlands and forest were flooded with crude oil. Paul Okuntimo, head of the Rivers State internal security task force, the body in charge of security in Ogoniland, says villagers living around the station are responsible for the stealing and damage to oil pipelines. This may not be entirely true. Those behind the havoc apparently have a good working knowledge of a flow station and its component. An oil industry worker told Newswatch that it was not possible for the villagers to neatly dismantle a 100 metre high communication mast or the manifold at the flow station. So organised is the syndicate behind the stealing that there are speculations that it might have been working in league with officials of some oil companies who must be buying stolen equipment. Okuntimo says he has no plans to Oil shooting out from a damaged pipe near Yorla flow station send any security agent to guard the flow station because his men are so few that he following agitations by the Ogoni desolate with everything there lying at can't afford to spare anybody to do the demanding royalties for past oil the mercy of who ever cares to steal it." job. Shell says it is no longer interested in exploration. The flow station is one of the He observed that even the wires used to the flow station because so much had key oil installations abandoned in the fence the station from intruders were been carried away that it will be cheaper area without adequate security. also vandalised and stolen. to build a new one than repair it and Tucked in a remote bush off the Among the expensive items already replace the stolen components-^ 18 Newswatch, September 26,1994 ■ politics WÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊt^^^^^^^KOÊBKIÊÊÊBSÊÊÊÊÊBÊSBët ______i______Change of Batons

New faces in ten states as Abacha drops three administrators, redeploys seven others

By Moffat Ekoriko

OHAMMED ONUKA, Usman, a colonel, Ondo, R. Raji, a navy brigadier-generals, five colonels and a A lieutenant-colonel and commander, Bauchi and B.A. Iyam, a lieutenant colonel. former military admi­ group captain, Kwara. Godwin Abbe a brigadier-general and nistrator of Sode, promoted a commodore ran GOC, 2 mechanised division, Ibadan was knew five days earlier he would be into problems with the composition of redeployed to army headquarters, Lagos, dropped. He believed it might not be his cabinet. Muslim leaders attacked him as chief of policy and plans. Patrick Aziza unconnected with the violent pro­ for favouring Christians. The following brigadier-general takes over from him at democracy riots that rocked his state month, his ban on religious activities in Ibadan. Thaddeus Shelpidi, a brigadier- between July and August in which lives schools drew the ire of muslim youths. general, GOC of 82 division was also and property were lost. Sode said it was to avert religious riots. moved to defence headquarters as Onuka and t\^p other military Kefas deployed to Delta was director of administration. He is replaced administrators Adejpye So de, Oyo and embroiled in a controversy with some by Samuel , a brigadier- James Kalau, Bauçfti were dropped interest groups in who general, and formerly of the National September 14. Seven administrators were wanted him removed for alleged War College. redeployed . Three new ones were impropriety. Newswatch learnt the A. A. Adbullahi, a brigadier-general appointed. presidency found him innocent of the of the directorate of military intelligence, , a group captain, moves charges but decided to move him for the DMI, takes over command of the 1 from Cross River to Delta ; , sake of peace. mechanised division, Kaduna from a colonel, from Delta to Edo, Temi Ejoor, Forty-eight hours before the Alwali Kazir who was appointed chief of navy captain, Enugu to Abia, Ike Nwosu, reshuffling of the administrators, general army staff last month. A.S. Mukhtar, a colonel, Abia to Oyo and Gregory officers commanding, GOC, army another brigadier-general, returns from Agboneni, a group captain left Adamawa divisions and other key officers were also Liberia to take over the DMI. His place in to Cross Rivers State. His position there moved round. In a posting dated Liberia is taken over by G. Ayankpele was taken over by a September 12 and signed by Lawrence who is now the commander of the police commissioner who was in Kwara Onoja, a brigadier-general and military Nigerian contingent and chief ef staff, State. Mike Torey, a lieutenant colonel secretary, the affected officers were ECOWAS Monitoring Group, ECOMOG. left Ondo to take over Enugu State. directed to complete handing over by S.I. Momah leaves army headquarters The new administrators are A.A. last Friday. The exercise affected 18 as director of administration to become commander, training and doctrine. , a brigadier- general, goes to the directorate of army administration. Y. Norn is the new chief of logistics at army headquarters. Other key redeployments include thatof Womotimi Diriyai from the 13 moto­ rised brigade, Calabar, to command and staff colle­ ge, Jaji, as director, army faculty. Reported by Uduak Bassey, Emmanuel Ugwu and Yemi Adebowale.

Newswatch, September 26,1994 19 POLITICS Fika Steps Aside

National Assembly director-general loses struggle to stay on, moves to presidency

By Abdulrazaq Magaji

N SEPTEMBER 6, ADAMU Fika, director-general, National Assembly, finalised his handing over note to A. Salim, former deputy clerk of theO dissolved house of representatives, who succeeded him. But a day after his redeployment to the presidency, Fika was back at his seat at the National Assembly. This caused quite a stir among assembly workers and delegates to the constitutional conference who had earlier been officially informed of his redeployment. A second memo had to be issued on September 9, backing the first— and this was what brought his 18-month battle to save his job as boss of the national assembly bureaucracy to an end. He has since resumed duty at the presidency. Newswatch learnt Fika would have been removed a week earlier when he, in company of some leaders of the constitutional conference, met General Sani Abacha, the head of state. He was said to have been confronted at the meeting over recent complaints by conference delegates against him. For more than five weeks now, the delegates have been complaining of lack of secretarial assistance in handling their Tinubu: Investigated Fika reports. Some committee chairmen accused had accused him of usurping the duties priating funds belonging to the assembly. Fika of attempting to thwart their efforts of Debo Akande, former secretary of the But the government exonerated Fika. to discuss their problems with the head NCCC, who resigned his appointment Fika also enraged some of the senators of state. Two weeks ago, the 19 committee last June. That accusation apparently lost when he submitted a memo to the chairmen met and resolved to press their its steam following revelations that government, alluding to a parity in the case against him. Akande himself campaigned for the status of the senate president and the Newswatch learnt that the committee scrapping of his post in favour of that of speaker of the house of representatives. chairmen were told by Abdul One deputy chairman for the NCCC which he This was in disregard of the relevant Mohammed, a brigadier general and was said to have lobbied for. sections of the 1989 constitution which director of conference logistics, at their Fika's problems started before the recognised the senate president as being meeting with officials of the Federal coming of the Abacha regime. In the days superior to the speaker. Some national Capital Development Authority, FCDA, of the last national assembly, he was assembly officials suspect that Fika's latest and the presidency that the N34 million, constantly at loggerheads with the problems might have been the handi­ which was released as the conference political leaders of the assembly. In work of some of the people he offended take-off grant, had been spent. January, 1993, a senate investigation last year who are now occupying stra­ Even before that, Fika had been having committee headed by Bola Tinubu tegic positions in the Abacha adminis­ problems with some of the delegates who accused Fika in a report of misappro- tration.®

20 Newswatch, September 26,1994 SPECIAL REPORT

Agony of injured mother and child The Ogoni Agony

Has a military task force in Ogoni exceeded its peace mission brief? Yes, says MOSOP. No, says state administrator

By Sam Olukoya

ate night june 3 was a prominent Ogoni leaders May 21, at Paul Okuntimo, a major and head of night of horror for Giokoo by angry Ogoni youths, the task the task force agreed to stop on condition residents of Uegwere-Boue, force had been raiding Ogoni towns and that the people enter into a dialogue with in Khana local government villages in an operation aimed "at the army, the police and officials of Khana area of Rivers State. They restoring normalcy in Ogoni land." Their local government "on ways of restoring were asleep, when soldiers operating main objective is to arrest youths for law and order in Ogoniland." But when under the umbrella of the state's internal interrogation over the murder. Three the people returned to the town, later securityL task sneaked into the town. They consecutive nights of raids in Uegwere- that day, there was a disagreement. Some sma shed down doors and windows. With Boue saw the people spending three youths challenged the right of the peace all roads blocked, the people fled into the nights in the bush. Several youths were delegation to represent the town. The bush, also arrested. On June 6, some leaders of disagreement degenerated into a brawl In the commotion, Nbari Vopnu was the community went to plead with the during which J.S. Sagha, a member of the shot dead while a girl, Bariyira Biragbara task force commanders at their Kpor peace delegation was beaten up. and two other boys received gun shot headquarters in Gokana local Okuntimo was enraged when he received wounds. Since the murder of four government area to stop the raids. the report on the incident. He decided

Newswatch, September 26,1994 21 ■ SPECIAL REPORT

■. " ...... ' ■ ■■■

that after the Bori mission, to continue Mogho and Lewe were raided. Lewe with the raids against the youths. Sunday which was raided May 24, was the worst Nordee, a 20-year-old school leaver was hit. Newswatch visit to the town showed a victim of the Bori raid. "It was just past that virtually all houses in the eastern mid-nightwhenlheard gun shots outside wing had been destroyed. Sources our house. In minutes, soldiers had claimed that five persons were killed. broken down our doors and rushed into The impact of the incident was still the house," he told Newswatch. Sunday visible on the countenance of Nnene Azor, and two of his brothers were inside the an 80-year-old woman. Newswatch met room when the soldiers broke in. They her scavenging the burnt remains of what were arrested. They and several other used to be her house.Her tom dress youths were driven toward Uegwere- reveals her right shoulder bone which Boue. bears obvious signs of a serious More youths were arrested on the dislocation or fracture. way. Sunday is now in hospital nursing a The injury, she said, occurred when a gun shot wound. He was one of the eight soldier hit her with the butt of his gun. people injured during theUegwere-Boue She managed to escape further assault by raid. Five others died. taking refuge in a church. Her son, The security task force was set up Sunday Azor, whose newly completed early this year by the Rivers State bungalow was burnt down with a number government as an internal security body of valuable property was still counting to check communal clashes in the state. his losses when Newswatch met him. He Its members are drawn from the Army, said he had just returned from a business Airforce, Navy and the Police. Its head, trip to Cameroon and was about to change Okuntimo is a tough looking and smooth his dress when he heard gun shots in the talking officer. town. By the time he came out he saw The activities of the security task force Badey: Killed in Giokoo some houses already in flame. "A solider have been largely concentrated in and fired at me but missed and I took to my around Ogoniland. This perhaps explains received troops re-enforcement from the heels," he recalled. Hours later, when he why its headquarters is in Ogoniland. Its 2 Amphibious Brigade, Port Harcourt, to came back home, the place had been burnt first headquarters was in Bori, the main carry out the assignment. Within the first down. The burnt remains of a motorcycle, town of the Ogoni. Following the murder four days of the operation, at least six a generating set, and an outboard engine of four prominent Rivers men in Giokoo Ogoni towns: Bera, Nweol, Giokoo, Kpor, were some of the sad reminders of the the security task force shifted its valuable property in the house. headquarters to Kpor, a short distance In K-Dere, the Gaage family was from Giokoo. Those killed during the having lunch when the town was raided Giokoo incident were Albert Badey, one June 14. All members of the household time secretary to the Rivers State abandoned their food to run for cover government; Edward Kobani, former when shooting started. Paul Gaage an 18- commissioner of education in the state; year-old school leaver jumped through a S.N. Orage, another former commissioner window, ran about 200 metres from the and his elder brother, T.P. Orage. They house and sought cover at a farm by the were holding a meeting with others when road side. But a soldier standing at angry Ogoni youths attacked and killed vantage position had seen him. He fired them at the venue of the meeting. The two shots at the boy with deadly accuracy. action was sparked off when security One hit Paul just below the right collar men barred Ken Saro-Wiwa, president of bone. The other bullet ironically hit about the Movement For The Survival of Ogoni the same location of the left side of the People, MOSOP, from addressing a rally chest. Time then was 3.30 p.m. At about in the area. 4.15p.m. whenhewasputona motorcycle At a press conference shortly after the for a ride to the hospital he died! incident, Dauda Komo, a lieutenant- There were allegations that members colonel and administrator of the state of the security task force not only killed blamed MOSOP for the murder. He but also looted. Many victims complained specifically accused members of the that on fleeing into file bush, they returned National Youth Council of Ogoni People, home to find their property looted. Moses NYCOP, the youth wing of MOSOP, of Giadom, a Bera-based business man said carrying out the act. Komo ordered the his guest house, said to be one of the security task force to arrest all those largest hotels in Gokana local government responsible for the murder and restore area, was looted when soldiers forced normality in Ogoniland. their way into the premises during a raid A day after the incident, Okuntimo Saro-Wiwa: In detention on May 22.

22 Newswatch, September 26,1994 I SPECIAL REPORT

He said his building materials store Komo said: "I think that is one of the incidents after attacking his troops with near the hotel was also looted. He put the usual cheap propaganda stuff of MOSOP dane guns. The other four he said, were loss here at N250/000.00. His merchandise which has over the years shown total shot dead while attempting to escape store almost opposite the building disregard for facts arrest. materials store was also looted. He put and respect for the Okuntimo said the loss from the merchandise store at truth. We operated in he operates at night about N700,000.00 Rwanda, Yugoslavia to send the people Not even his house was spared. and Liberia. In none into the bush. "The Refrigerators, television and video sets, of these places could youths are confron- curtains, even children's wears, cutlery the tational and they and plates were carted away. "The ever be found to have want to die. They thought of this huge loss almost killed taken part in either believe if they put me," he told Newswatch.. cases of rape and some concoction on In Bori, an hotelier who observed that killings of harmless their body, bullets hotels in the area were targets of looting civilians," he said. cannot penetrate hurriedly packed his drinks into a store Okuntimosaidhe them. So if you move and transformed the place into a phoney had been involved in in the a ftemoon, you church. That trick saved his hotel. peace keeping ope­ will kill them in their In separate reports both MOSOP and rations twice in thousands," he said. the Civil Liberties Organisation, a human Lebanon and Angola Why then does he rights group, said that between late May under the umbrella of have to send the and mid-June, close to half the 136 towns the United Nations, f people into the and villages in the three Ogoni local "If I can give peace to bush? "I sent them government areas of Khana, Gokana and a foreign country into the bush to put Tai-Eleme had been raided. They accused why must I not give them in a defensive the soldiers of committing such atrocities the best to my position whereby as killings, looting, raping and extorting country?" He put the they will ask for the money. number of Ogoni favour of airing their But in separate interview with killed by his men at Komo: Blames MÔSOP views. After days of sleeping in the bush, they started making representation." The major said all he had done so far in Ogoniland was to conduct a psycholo­ gical warfare with minimum casualties. According to him, "the solution to the Ogoni crisis requires more of a psycholo­ gical approach since the people are pursu­ ing a goal that they will get 400 million dollars from the federal government as royalty. You require a psychological approach to rewind them out of that mobilisation." Without dialogue, he said, a psychological warfare would be difficult. He said the widespread looting in the area was the handiwork of Ogoni youths. But Giadom denied this, arguing that the youths could not loot in a town taken over by the military. Newswatch asked Komo whether compensation would be paid if investigations reveal that innocent people had been killed or injured in Ogoniland by the security task force. His words: "It is not only a question of compensation, we would also want to take steps to discipline any person who is responsible Nordee: Nursing a gunshot wound for that. Our first task is to safeguard the lives and property of fellow Nigerians, Newswatch, Komo and Okuntimo denied six. He said all were killed under justifi­ not to inflict injury or pains on them." the allegations. Asked if he heard reports able circumstances. According to him, MOSOP wants the army to leave. of atrocities committed by the troops, two youths were killed in separate There is however no indication that the

Newswatch, September 26,1994 23 ■ SPECIAL REPORT

army is prepared to leave Ogoniland in a halted since May last year. Besides, they which he said were MOSOP-inspired. haste - at least not until it ensures that have succeeded in halting two key One of the cases of violence cited is MOSOP is dead. The current clamp down projects from progressing through their the one that erupted in the area late June on the Ogoni is to a large extent directed land. These are the Trans Niger Pipeline, last year after Saro-Wiwa was arrested at wiping out MOSOP. Virtually all those TNP, project that was supposed to convey for spearheading the Ogoni boycott of so far arrested in connection with the oil from a number of oil fields through the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Giokoo murder are either MOSOP mem­ Ogoni territory to the Bonny Terminal. Apparently enraged by the arrest, thou­ bers or its sympathisers. These include The other is a gas line project which is to sands of Ogoni youths went on a violent Saro-Wiwa and Ledun Mitee vice- convey gas to the aluminium smelter in demonstration to protest the action. In president of the body. A number of other Ikot Abasi, . the process, police stations in the area MOSOP key leaders have been declared Komo rejected suggestions that plans were sacked. Johnson Olowookere, a wanted. to ban MOSOP has any thing to do with police inspector at the divisional police Most of Okuntimo's activities in the stoppage of oil production in headquarters at Kpor, told Newswatch Ogoniland to a large extent re-enforces Ogoniland. "The crude oil they produce that a group of youths raided the station the belief by MOSOP members that the is inconsequential as far as the Nigerian and carried away all their weapons. "The action is directed against them. Before position is concerned," he said. According exhibit room was broken into and 25 any of his detainees are released, they to him plans to ban the body has to do motorcycles were taken away," he said. have to sign an undertaking denouncing with persistent violence in Ogoniland A portion of the station was even set both MOSOP and NYCOP. His fondness ablaze. All policemen were sent parking for addressing large crowds of Ogoni has from Ogoniland. taken him to virtually all towns and Some Ogoni who were accused of villages in the area. At such gatherings he working against MOSOP had theirhouses tells the people MOSOP is an evil destroyed. These included prominent organisation that will lead Ogoniland to Ogonis like Lekue Lah Loolo, one time ruin and destruction. "Whenever I chairman of the former Bori local address them they weep for their folly," government area; I S. Kogbara, secretary he says. Komo told Newswatch that of industries in the Interim National representation has been made to the Government ING; and Priscilla Vickue, federal government to ban MOSOP. former director-general, Rivers State Post MOSOP officials see current attempts Primary Schools Board. Traditional rulers to kill the organisation as government's opposed to the MOSOP cause were not reaction to its stand that no more oil spared either. Houses of four of the six would be explored in Ogoniland until 10 paramount rulers were destroyed. One billion dollars is paid as damages and of these was the palace of Mark Tsaro royalties for past oil exploration. With Igbara Gbenemene of Babbe. S.K. Igbara, this stance, the 28,000 barrels of crude oil a brother of the traditional ruler, told produced form the area per day has been Lah Loolo: Fell out with Leton Newswatch that Tsaro was sneaked out of the palace a few minutes before more than 5,000 youths attacked the place. The youths vandalised the palace before moving to the family business centre on Hospital Road, Bori, to create further havoc. The Vigilantes, a group of hard youths sharing similar traits with the Lagos area boys, were mainly blamed for spear­ heading the violence. The youths were to become a dominant factor in Ogoniland later in August last year when war broke out between the Ogoni and Andoni. They became the internal security organ in the area by keeping watch over the area after the Andoni completely Burnt building in Lewe razed down eight Ogoni

24 Newswatch, September 26,1994 SPECIAL REPORT

towns and left hund­ reds of people dead. They helped to stop further losses on the Ogoni side. When the crisis subsided two months later, they found ano­ ther pastime in clean­ sing the Ogoni society of witches and wizards. They brought a juju man from Abua who claimed to be gifted in the art of tracking down witches and any other person that has killed another in the past. The juju man was taken to a number of villages where suspects were tried in mock courts and if found guilty execu­ ted According to The Gaage family: Pensive for the dead Garrick Leton, former federal commissioner for education and He said they were in two groups, one first president of MOSOP, the Vigilantes financed by Ogoni politicians in the carried out their execution publicly, either National Republican Convention while by tying peoples' legs and throwing them the other was financed by politicians in into the stream or by pouring petrol on the Social Democratic Party, SDP. Leton them and setting them ablaze. "My who was a key member of the defunct labourer was executed in broad day light SDP, denied this allegation. According to with his children looking on. His body him, the Vigilante is an off-spring of was thrown into the river," Leton said. MOSOP and NYCOP. Sogho, is said to have recorded the Leton shares Komo's views that highest number of executions. The chief MOSOP should be banned because of the of the town put the total number of people atrocities committed by the Vigilantes. executed in his domain at 50. In Opuoko, But MOSOP supporters see Leton's eight people were executed between arguement as a manifestation of the October and November last year. "Most collaboration between his group and of the eight victims were people who at government to ban MOSOP. "The present one time or another had been accused of situation where government-attributes killing people through witchcraft," said killings in Ogoniland to MOSOP and Lah Loolo, who is a prominent indigene Okuntimo: Psychological warfare NYCOP is very unfair. It is a deliberate of the town. Similar executions were said falsehood being dished out to members to have taken place in Lubara, Kaloko, extent of division between both groups. of the public. "Lah Loolo said. According Bionu, Tagbam and Baen. The Leton group which is made up of to him, government has merely adopted In some instances, victims were not some Ogoni elites, most of them a clever device to blackmail MOSOP. only executed, their houses also burnt politicians, is strongly opposed to Mishak Kananwi, a one time MOSOP down too. A visit to Lubara showed burnt MOSOP. All four men slain in Giokoo public relations officer, said MOSOP's houses belonging to some victims. On during the May 21 incident belonged to effort in trying to curb the activities of the one of the houses was an inscription this group. MOSOP which on the other Vigilantes was enough evidence that it written in black ink: "This man is a killer hand draws strong support from the had nothing to do with the Vigilantes. He and a witchcraft." In Baen, Newswatch youths and the grassroots scornfully refer said it was on record that MOSOP had on reporter saw the burnt remains of a to the Leton group as "vultures." They several occasions invited the Vigilantes beautiful bungalow burnt down see them as people who have teamed up to warn them about their nefarious following allegations that a relation of its with government to kill the MOSOP activities. Besides this, he said, Saro-Wiwa owner was involved in witchcraft. dream. and Mi tee wrote series of letters to Ogoni There were conflicting claims between Barika Idamkue, a MOSOP official villages, asking people to report the MOSOP and another group of Ogoni led said the Vigilantes were set up by Vigilantes to the police. by Leton, as to who formed the Vigilante. politicians during the aborted Third Leton himself confirmed this, but he Such conflicting claims manifest the Republic to further their political goals. described the letters as half-hearted.

Newswatch, September 26,1994 25 ■ special report

Newswatch however gathered that it was Leton group when he discovered that all It was like old wounds had been as a result of letters written by Mitee to they were trying to do was to implicate healed when they all came together to the inspector general of police and the Saro-Wiwa and other MOSOP members form MOSOP. Leton was president of tire Rivers State police commissioner that the in theGiokoo murder. "When they went body, Saro-Wiwa its spokesman while two leaders of the Vigilante were arrested to the press conference and announced Kobani became its vice president early in in April this year. Both men are still in that it was Saro-Wiwa that did the killing, 1993. But by June 1993, a crack had police detention. "If MOSOPhas anything I felt so bad. I may disagree with Saro- developed and the old rivalry was to do with the Vigilante, its officials will Wiwa, butl cannot imagine myself sitting rekindled. Leton and his group pulled not call in the police to arrest them," somewhere and allow people to crucify out to challenge MOSOP's right as tire Kanawi, argued. him for what he knew nothing about," he umbrella body of the Ogoni. Lah Loolo, who until recently was a said. Leton said he had to pull out of member of the Leton group told The bad blood between Saro-Wiwa MOSOP following a series of Newswatch that as a former member of and the Leton group appears in part to be disagreements with Saro-Wiwa over the the group he had evidence to show that a struggle. But its genesis pre­ running of MOSOP. The first major issue the group and government had been dates the formation MOSOP. It, perhaps, of disagreement was whether to accept working together against MOSOP. He had its origin in the N1 million offered as compensation to cited as example, an alleged plan by the years when both sides were on opposite some Ogonis by Willbros, an oil pipeline government and the group to stop Saro- sides of the conflict. Saro-Wiwa was on laying company. Leton favoured a deal Wiwa from winning the election into the the Nigerian side as administrator of whereby the money would be collected constitutional conference. He alleged that Bonny while Leton and two of those and Willbros be allowed to continue the at a meeting held at Leton's house May murdered in Giokoo, Badey and Kobani, job. Saro-Wiwa, on the other hand was 19, it was agreed that they put up a were actively involved in the Biafran war opposed to any clause that would see candidate to stop him from going to the effort. Leton was in the scientific unit of Willbros resume the project. constitutional conference. Biafra; Badey was a top civil servant while Besides this, Leton accused Saro- He said it was announced at the Kobani was in the Biafran propaganda Wiwa of creating all sorts of bodies meeting that the state and federal machine. Each side claimed to be completely loyal to him. These he said, governments had made money available representing Ogoni interest. included NYCOP and umbrella groups for the purpose of stopping Saro-Wiwa. The bitter rivalry was to further forOgoni teachers, Ogoni women, Ogoni The money from the federal government manifest in 1977, when Saro-Wiwa and students and Ogoni professionals. He said he said was being channelled to the group Kobani entered to contest the election he was particularly opposed to the through a former federal minister from into the constituent assembly. Kobani was formation of NYCOP, a body he described the Kalahari speaking area of the state. disqualified following a petition written as the government of Ogoniland. He said as part of the grand plan, electoral by one of Saro-Wiwa's supporters. The But Kananwi claimed that the affiliate and local government officials in Leton group all the same sponsored bodies were original MOSOP concept Ogoniland would be engaged to rig the another candidate who ended up even under Leton's leadership. He said it election in favour of Saro-Wiwa's defeating Saro-Wiwa. was Leton who swore in NYCOP officials opponent. "I was also put up as a of the various Ogoni kingdoms. At a delegate," he told Newswatch . swearing-in ceremony of NYCOP officials Lah Loolo said the money was to at the Suanu Nwike Hall, Bori, April last have been disbursed at a meeting year; Leton allegedly described the scheduled for Beeri, Leton's-home town officials as a crop of formidable youths at about 4.00 p.m. May 21, the same day Ogoni elders can hand over ta. the four Ogoni leaders were slain. The The final parting of ways, however, four men were scheduled to attend the came when MOSOP took the decision Beeri meeting. He said he was travelling that Ogoni boycott the June 12, 1993 , to attend the Beeri meeting when heheard presidential election. Leton and Kobani about the killings on his arrival at Bori. resigned as president and vice president "That is the truth of the matter," he said. respectively in protest at the MOSOP Although Leton agreed that the group decision. put up a candidate to oppose Saro-Wiwa, Kenneth*, Kobani's first son, said the he denied that government made money plan to kill his father was hatched shortly available to stop his election. Komo also after he pulled out of MOSOP. "Media madea similar denial at a press conference reports that they were killed by angry in Port Harcourt. He said government youths is not true. The plan has been on would not be jittery about Saro-Wiwa's for long," he said. presence at the constitutional conference. MOSOP wants a commission of to the extent of making money available enquiry with foreign observers to look to anybody to stop his election. He into the killing of the four Ogoni leaders. wondered what threat an individual Komo told Newszoatch that although would constitute in a gathering of more investigation was almost completed into than 300 delegates. the matter, directive was still being Lah Loolo said he fell out with the Leton: Ban MOSOP awaited from the federal government.®

26 Newswatch, September 26,1994 AFRICA

people were displaced. About 25 people, mostly Hutu, were killed in the protest. Sylvester Mfaykurera, a prominent FRODEBU leader, head of the national Breakthrough parliament's economic commission and governor of one of the FRODEBU controlled states was killed in the uprising. Despite government's appeal for calm, the Hutu themselves embarked on a revenge mission. Several people were In Burundi forced to flee the capital as a result of the attacks. Fearing that the country's ethnic problem might degenerate into the type of carnage witnessed in neighbouring For government and the opposition in this Rwanda, the UN security council last month sent a fact-finding mission to small African nation, the formation of a Burundi. The Four-member mission headed by Ibrahim Gambari, Nigeria's national government is helping to patch up permanent representative to the UN, also a bitter and bloody struggle for power had the permanent representatives of the Czech Republic, the United States and Russia. At the end of their assignment, By Kayode Olaokun the committee concluded that the democratic institutions in Burundi were very weak and needed to be urgently OVERNMENT AND days before the breakthrough was strengthened. The committee advised that opposition parties in announced, two of the hardline Tutsi- the UN and the international community Burundi last week dominated opposition parties broke away should show more concern through high- buried their diffe­ from the coalition of opposition parties level visits and international monitoring rences and agreed on negotiating with the government. UN of political developments in the country. a new power sharing arrangement based officials managed to persuade them to Dallah's efforts came as a result of the on a national government. The return to the negotiations — but in their recommendations. He was responsible government will comprise 23 cabinet individual capacities. However, tension for the unconditional release by posts. The ruling Front for Democracy in is still lingering in the country. Last government of Mathias Hitimana, leader Burundi, FRODEBU will have 13 Tuesday, fighting raged across the of PRP, who was arrested for organising ministers. country between government troops and the anti-government demonstration in The FRODEBU ministers will include Tutsi opposition forces. Hundreds of Bujumbura. Hitimana's release and those for justice and defence. Opposition people reportedly died in the fighting subsequent participa tion in the peace talk parties will fill the 10 remaining cabinet which broke out in the northern province contributed to last week's breakthrough. posts. The agreement also called for the of Kinigi. Sporadic fightings were also Burundi has known no peace since convening of a national conference to recorded in and around Bujumbura the last November when Ndadaye was examine the ethnic conflict between the capital, last week. assassinated in an abortive coup attempt majority Hutu and the Tutsi. This will be The unstable social and political staged by the Tutsi-dominated army. followed by a presidential election. The situation in the country has also been Prior to June last year when Ndadaye new president is expected to serve a four- worsened by the problem of refugees was elected in the country's first multi­ year term. displaced during the mayhem that party election, the Tutsi, less than 40 Ahmed Ould Dallah, the United followed the assassination of Melchoir percent of Burundi's population, had Nations', UN, representative to Burundi, Ndadaye, the country's first Hutu dominated its politics. The November who brokered the agreement, said it president. UN officials in Bujumbura coup was aimed at returning the country specifies the implementation of said the country currently has about 1.3 to that status quo, but it failed. Instead, democratic principles. The warring million refugees. another Hutu, Cyprian Ntaryamira, was factions themselves have also said the The refugee problem worsened last elected president by the parliament. agreement would help resolve the month when the Tutsi dominated Ntaryamira was assassinated along with country's political crisis. Jean Baptiste People's Reconciliation Party, PRP, President Juvenal Babyarimana of Manwangari, the interior minister, said organised a violent demonstration to Rwanda in a plane crash early this year. the agreement if obeyed by all parties, protest FRODEBU'S rule. The protest Sylvester Ntibantumganye a Hutu and a would put an end to the country's which started peacefully in Bujumbura, leading parliamentarian, replaced him in communal tensions. The agreement came was hijacked by the Tutsi dominated April as interim president. He is expected when all hopes for a peaceful resolution armed forces. Houses of prominent Hutu to remain in office until the scheduled of the crisis seemed to be fading. Two leaders were ransacked and several presidential election.H

Newswatch, September 26,1994 27 mm WORLD The Zero Hour

A US-led international forces make final preparations for the invasion of Haiti

By Emmanuel Ugwu

reparations for a United States, US-led invasion of Haiti ap­ pear to have reached a crescendo, raising specu­ lations that the zero hour is imminent. TheP Clinton administration's'efforts to make the invasion an international affair got a boost last week when 150 troops from four Caribbean nations landed at the US Naval base in Puerto Rico. The troops, contributed by Antigua, Barbuda, Belize and Jamaica, have since joined their US counterparts in pre-assault training preparatory to the invasion. In a related manoeuvre, a US warship approached the Haitian capital, Port-Au- Prince, in broad-daylight last week. There have been clandestine naval manoeuvres in the area in the past. According to eye witness accounts, the unidentified ship moved to within about three kilometres of the city. Helicopters were seen taking off from its flight deck. Two aircraft The Haitian military regime is yet to human rights violations in Haiti are part carriers have also left the US to join 15 show any sign of cracking under the of its anger toward the Cedras regime. A other warships stationed off the Haitian weightof the massive US diplomatic and report released in Washington showed coast. military offensive. Claude Josephat, a that the level of violence in the country is Having exhausted all diplomatic colonel and a Haitian military now comparable to the scale of repression channels to force the military regime in commander, called the US military in the days of 'Tapa Doc" Duvalier, the Haiti out of power, the Çlinton adminis­ demonstrations "an attack on national country's erstwhile"dictator. According tration appears now to have switched to sovereignty." He said the government to the report, 1,500 persons have so far direct military intimidation as the next had made combat preparations in been murdered by Haitian security forces stage of the escalation game. readiness for any attack. and the number is said to be growing by Explaining the significance of the Warren Christopher, the US secretary the hundreds. Attacks and abuses have military manoeuvres, Stanley Schraeger, of state, confirmed last week that Haiti's been directed at women and children. the US embassy spokesman in Port-Au- military regime would be forced out of Rape, torture and other violations are Prince, said it was a signal to the military power, "one way or another", but he fell reported to be rampant. regime of Raoul .Cedras, a lieutenant- short of giving the deadline. The closest The Clinton administration still has general, that the US was determined to thing to setting a deadline was given by to convince the American public that the resolve the crisis by any means. "You the White House chief of staff who said invasion is the right thing to do. An ABC have had consistent signals over the last that military action would be taken "very survey released last week showed that a few Weeks", Schraeger told Haitian soon" as Clinton prepared to address the majority of Americans were opposed to leaders. "It is time for the military to Americans over the issue last weekend. it. Clinton is however, banking on leave." Anthony Lake, the US national The administration has said repeated­ precedents that once the invasion starts security adviser, said Washington's ly, that restoring democratic rule in Haiti both the congress and the Americans will credibility over the issue is not at stake. is in its national interest. Continuing rally to the flag.H 28 Newswatch, September 26,1994 ■ BUSINESS + ECONOMY Clamour for a U-Turn

Oil producing states present proposals which they say can ensure an equitable and acceptable revenue allocation formula

By Mike Akpan

IL PRODUCING STATES 50:50 balance between derivation and One of the recommendations is that the in Nigeria have submitted DPA. conference should do away with proposals designed to help That formula was abandoned in 1967 oppressive constitutional and statutory the on-going Constitutional when crude oil became a major revenue provisions used by successive federal Conference arrive at an equitable and earner for the country. Accordingly, governments to confiscate the oil mineral acceptable revenue allocation formula. mining rents and royalties which hitherto wealth of the oil producing states. These The proposals were contained in a were earned by states from where oil was include the Petroleum Act 1969, and memorandum: Revenue Allocation in produced went to the federation account. Section 40(3) of the 1979 Constitution. Nigeria-An Equitable Approach, submitted Such a turn around in policy, oil The two laws, the SMDF pointed out, on their behalf by the Southern Minorities producing states argue, was indefensible, confiscated minerals from the mineral- Delegates Forum, SMDF. In the viewed against the background that producing communities. The other law is memorandum, oil producing states want derivation principle wa s given rea sonable the land use decree 52 of 1993, backdated a return to the formula recognised by the weight when national politics was to 1975, which vests ownership of shore­ 1963 constitution which struck a dominated by the three regional line lands including those reclaimed by reasonable balance between the principle governments, with each wanting to private capital, in the federal government. of derivation and distributable pool maximise the benefits from the natural The SMDF also wants the conference account, DPA, popularly known as resources located in its geographical area. to recognise that rent and royalties from federation account. By implication, they In order, therefore, to arrive at an mineral oil prospecting activities are land- want a return to the formula adopted acceptable formula, the SMDF, has made related, arguing that royalty is payment between 1950 and 1966 which gave a six recommendations to the conference. made to a land owner for the extraction of wealth from beneath his land. For this reason, mineral pro­ ducing states have intrinsic right to rents and royalties paid on all minerals extracted from their land. The SMDF wondered why this right which was recongnised in the 1963 constitution was not extended to the 1979 constitution. Apart from restora­ tion of royalty and rent right, oil produ­ cing states want all laws relating to oil company-community relations to be up­ graded. Not only that. They want the laws that apply to other minerals to also apply Oil prospecting: Land owners deserve royalties to oil minerals. Said

Newswatch, September 26,1994 29 ■ BUSINESS + ECONOMY

region or state as a part of its territory. It provided that whatever derived from the territory must be shared 50 percent on the basis of derivation and 50 percent on the DPA principle. From whatever goes to the DPA allocation, it also recommended that 30 percent of the distributable quota should go to the federating units and the 20 percent to the federal government. In addition to its share of the federation account, it said the federal government should have exclusive revenue items which include federal income taxes and dividends from federal parastatals and companies. "It should retain 50 percent of this revenue and return 50 percent to the DPA," the forum said, adding that 50 percent allocation to the DPA should be shared to the states on the basis of 60 percent on equality and 40 percent on population. The memorandum also specified functions for the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission, OMPADEC, which it wants retained in the new arrangement. Among such responsibilities are control of coastal and OMPADEC: Lighting up rural areas marine pollution, industrial pollution, erosion and flooding, land and fishery as the memorandum: "If the Oyo State One of the proposals known as the Igbeti well as forestry resources in accordance government through the Igbeti Marble Marble Industry formula provides for with accepted international conventions. Industry could unilaterally exploit the recognition of the autonomous In addition, it wants OMPADEC to mineral in its territory, so be it for oil nationalities as the owners of the embark on long-term industrialisation producing states and oil." It said oil resources in their territory. Under that plan for the oil-producing states to ensure producing states do not understand why formula which is currently applicable in a decent level of socio-economic life for Bomo State government is allowed to the industry, the state government, using genera tions of indigenes of the states even commission feasibility studies on the experts, financiers, technocrats and other when the oil is extinct. deposits of soda ash, mica, glass sands, relevant personnel, develops the To ensure that OMPADEC is properly limestones, phosphorous and gypsum resources on behalf of the community, funded to carry out these responsibilities, on its territory when such right is denied subject to strategic and conservatory it proposed an allocation of 15 percent to them regarding oil. The same, it argued regulations imposed by the federal it from the 50 percent derivation fund. It applies in the case of limestone whereby government. Thereafter, the state makes also suggested that OMPADEC should states are allowed to exploit the mineral percentage allocations to the federal be centrally managed with equitable to run their cement industries. government, the host local government, representation of the affected states in The forum also wants the federal the host community and the operating the organisation. government to grant equity participation industry. Argued the forum: "This Finally, the memorandum recom­ to the states which have minerals. It cited approach will force every state to look mended a return to a true federal system examples within and outside Nigeria to inwards and halt the overdependence on which provides for a proper devolution buttress its position. The eastern region, the resources of other states and the of power.s and responsibilities. the forum pointed out, had equity shares federal government for funds. It should Accordingly, it said the federal in the Port Harcourt refinery before the be applicable to all resources - oil government should limit itself to a strict civil war. In Malaysia, it said, the state minerals, solid minerals and agricultural list of regulatory and common services where the gas industry is located has 10 resources." leaving the socio-economic welfare and percent equity in it. "The new constitution In the alternative, the forum has services of citizens, that is, education, should provide for this in respect of oil recommended that the revenue should health, housing, agriculture, commerce producing states," the forum recom­ be shared using the principle of derivation and tourism among others, to state and mended. as specified in the 1963 constitution. local governments. "This must of To help the conference, the SMDF has Section 140 of that constitution, it necessity increase the financial provisions submitted two proposals which, if explained, recognised oil as a mineral to the lower tiers of government, and in adopted, will allow states benefit more while sub-section 5 of the same section no way weakens the federal government," from minerals located in their territories. also recognised continental shelf of a the forum pointed out.M

30 Newswatch, September 26,1994 NEWSWATCH ECONOMIC INDICES THE PERFORMANACE OF THE NAIRA IN 1993 RISE IN BANK FRAUD IN 1993

• AMOUNT INVOLVED

BANK FRAUD IN 1993 SOURCE: NDIC

600 NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 DOLLAR POUNDS 1ST QUARTER 2ND QUARTER 3RD QUARTER 4TH QUARTER ■I PARALLEL MARKET □ OFFICIAL MARKET ■ AMOUNT INVOLVED G3 ACTUAL / EXPECTED L

Newswatch, September 26, 1994 31 ADVERTORIAL LIMITS OF IMPERIALISM

By Peresuo Isaac Dema

INCE THE BEGINNING OF THE POLITICAL CRISIS LAST YEAR, UNITED STATES HAS BEEN CHAMPIONING A campaign against Nigeria, all in an attempt to destabilise her. Acting under the twin cloak of promoting democracy and safeguarding human rights, a role to which our countrymen have not appointed her, the US has funded the activities of dissidents. It first funded the so called human right groups to unleash a reign of terror and economic Ssabotage on Nigeria. Last year, these groups organised all forms of strikes, sit at homes and riots that not only directly saw to the death of at least 2(X) Nigerians but also paralysed social services and the economy. Homes were burnt, vehicles vandalised, factories shut and public utilities damaged. As if this was not enough, the dissident groups beat the drums of war forcing Nigerians to flee from different parts of the country that have been their homes for more than three decades to their ancestral communities. In the process, close to 2,000 lives were lost in simple and multiple accidents precipitated by a rush from fear of a war that never was. But for the divine will of God, Nigeria would have gone the way of Somalia, Bosnia or Uganda, which was the human wish of the imperialist and their Nigerian agents. Before the crisis could get out of hand, Chief Moshood Abiola suspected winner of the cancelled election and other democrats invited the military to sack the then civilian Interim National Government and assume political authority. The military did and Abiola led a delegation to congratulate General Sanni Abacha, head of state. That singular act symbolised the formal surrender of his mandate, if there was any, to the military. He (Abiola) did that for Nigeria to move forward. That was before the imperialists went to work and convinced Abiola he had a mandate he could claim. Of course their objective was not the installation of Abiola as president which they knew was a day dream, but the destabilisation of Nigeria. Abiola then embarked on his recent ill fated mission of becoming president by self proclamation. From nowhere, labour unions, community groups and oil producing communities became restive demanding the restoration of a mandate that never was. For more than two months, oil workers went on strike and completely crippled an economy that was just struggling to recover from the sabotage of last year. Nigeria, a country struggling under a western instigated heavy debt burden could not export 465,000 barrels of oil per day for more than 63 days. This cost the national purse more than N4.4 billion, according to Chief Don Etiebet, the petroleum resources minister. The cost to the entire economy would not be less than N20 billion. In the forefront of the current campaign is the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, which I suspect is funded by the American Central Intelligence Agency, CIA. The US has placed its propaganda machine, CNN International, at the disposal of the group. At the invitation of the government, CNN came to Nigeria but they made a one sided political rhetoric in the guise of a news report. This has led a lot of us to suspect that Bob Coen could be a CIA agent detailed to Nigeria for espionage assignment under the guise of a CNN correspondent. As part of his detail, a fake attack was staged on two NADECO members—Gani Fawehinmi and Dan Suleiman, for propaganda purposes. The defect in the plot was that only the rear windscreen of Dan Suleiman's car, an American Chevrolet, which does not have a registration number was destroyed. Again, it is alledged that 35 bullets were fired into the body of one of Fawehinmi's night guards and 27 in another! Both guards are not dead but responding to treatment—what a poor, uncoordinated and unconvincing propaganda! All these were staged to blackmail the government and destabilise Nigeria. Why would the Nigerian government make his two guards and not Fawehinmi himself targets for such number of bullets, if at all the government would contemplate such an uncivilised approach? In the same vein, why would the Nigerian government hire amateurs who on sighting Dan Suleiman even without a gun, would run away abandoning the house and car they were purportedly commissioned to bum. NADECO and their foreign backers perhaps needed to justify their criminal burning of the properties of innocent citizens like Sam Ogbemudia, labour minister; , former vice president and Tony Anenih, Chairman of the defunct Social Democratic Party SDP. One would have thought they should give up on dirty tactics after stagging the disappearance of Frank Kokori, NUPENG former secretary whom they claimed was abducted by the government. Nigerians must be warned to beware of the fake democracy gospels of NADECO and their imperial masters. The United States destabilised Nicaragua, Allende's Chile, Angola and Congo. She must not be allowed to do it to Nigeria. The Uni ted Sta tes govern men t m ust accept tha t democracy cannot be decreed but must evolve within the context and capability of the nation concerned. The preoccupation of third world countries today is sustainable development and economic recovery. It is the hasty desire of the United States to bully her favoured specie of democracy on third world countries that has led to the many false starts and early disruptions of the several attempts at democracy in Asia, Africa and South America. The United States must demonstrate understanding and patience in her over reaction to the political problems of third world countries. There cannot be only one route to democracy. Nigerians, and not the US, must choose their own route. In our sovereignty lies the limit of imperialism. Isaac Dema,

• lawyer, is the secretary for the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Bclcwa Centre for National Integration, Abuja. DIALOGUE My Dream For

Joshua Obademi, a group captain and military administrator of Benue State recently spoke with NatsAgbo, associate editor, on his plans for the state, etc. Excerpts:

Newswatch: When you came to the state, what were your immediate challenges? Obademi: My immediate challenge on arrival was to be able to have the confidence of the people I'm going to work with. Because in this type of job, if you do not have the confidence of the people, you may not be successful. That was why I had the challenge of carrying the people along with me. We have to go in the same direction, not that I'm going this way, and the followers are following the other way. So that was the first challenge I found on the ground.

Newswatch: Have you been able to surmount that? Obademi: Thanks be to God, I have been able to. Because the people now know my thinking, we now operate in the same direction.

Newswatch: Is that the only challenge? Obademi: There are other challenges. Com­ munal clashes. It has been high, just as I said in Hotel project has been breathing down our my speech yesterday. It has been high but neck, but we do not have the resources to thanks be to God, it is now on the decline. We complete it. For instance, the Fruit Com are yet to get over it. It is a challenge in that, Company at Katsina Ala is a new company, the communal clashes in Benue State did not start equipment has been bought, but the vendor now. They have been there. So if I can put an came and dropped the equipment on site, no end to them, then it will be a very big achieve­ shelter. Even the new factory building is yet to ment. be designed. So we cannot afford to leave these equipment on the site. We have to find ways of Newswatch: You inherited some projects that protecting them before the rains start. were still on the drawing board. Do you intend to complete them? Are they even viable? Newswatch: Let us take a look at some of the Obademi: In the life of the last administration, existing state owned companies, like the Taraku I had the there were some industries that were newly Oil Mills, Benue Breweries, the Bottling challenge of incorporated. Unfortunately the records for Company, Benro Packaging. Apart from Benro, them are not readily available. But what we I do not think any of these companies is doing carrying the have decided to do is to set up a committee. You well. Do you have plans to revitalise these would say we have so many committees, but companies? people along that is the only way you can sort out these Obademi: We have plans. The ministries of with me. things. Because all the newly registered finance and industries would work to find a companies were handled by the governor, so way out for us. Ehm, some of the problems of we have to set up a committee to fake over from the industries you are talking about boil down the man who was handling it. The committee is to lack of working capital. These companies drawn from the various ministries. At the end were run aground through mismanagement. we would look at the projects and see which are They do not have the running capital. The viable, which ones are within our reach. Because Taraku Mills has its own problem. Theproblem they may be viable but still out of reach. is that it is located in a place where there is no Everything boils down to money. The Sheraton light. It is a heavy industry. It requires a lot of

Newswatch, September 26,1994 33 ■ dialogue

water and electricity. But we are thinking of going out. They must be in the equilibrium, what we can do. First, the water. If they have otherwise, when we have people coming in, enough water, it will reduce their problem. The and those to go out refuse to go, you find that the money they spend to source water would be system is going to be over-bloated. And Benue better utilised in the factory. To bring electricity is a civil service state. We seem to have more from Otukpo to the factory is another problem. people on the payroll than it is necessary. We But we are looking at it. There are many ways now have staff audit. If they are real workers, Government to solve their problems. We may have to raise then we have more workers than we actually funds to solve these problems. These are the required. If there are too many, then we have to set up those possibilities we are looking at. I expect my lay some off. The idea of laying off is normal in I companies to commissioners for industries and finance to any organisation. There should be a balance. come up with workable proposals. We shouldn't spend over 30% of our revenue on take care of personnel; otherwise, there would be no fund Newswatch: WhatofOtobi water works? It is for development. We are spending about 69.5% themselves and now six regimes old in the state. How much do of our earnings on salary. to assist her. you need to complete the project? Obademi: We need about N25 million. What Newswatch: What does that translate into in Unfortunately, remains really is all this piping network to link naira? up all these places. Most of the things are in Obademi : Let me say in December when I got the reverse is place. The intake is already completed. The here, we got N71 million from the federation the case. pumps have been installed, the generators are account, and we spent N81 million on salary, there. In fact they have two generators. There is including arrears. The following month, we got a synchroniser. Everything is okay. Even the N92, million and we spent N82 million on salaries pipe network, I think about six kilometres of it alone, excluding pensions. That has been the has been laid. We are hoping to get fund to lay trend. We are living from hand-to-mouth. the pipe to link up all these places; already the contractors have been mobilised to start. So, Newswatch: The CBN was angry that you set hopefully, the problem of Otobi water supply, up a committee to restructure Lobi Bank. What to Taraku would be a thing of the past. is the committee actually supposed to do when there is a board? Newswatch: What have you identified as the Obademi: It was a wrong signal that was being problem with Benue Bottling Company? sent. We own the majority share in the bank. Obademi: Benue Bottling Company? So far That is the problem we are having reorganising they do not have the raw materials to carry out these companies. The government owns these their production. And the issue the management things. If you take certain action, they say you raised was that they do not have the working are taking unilateral action. When it fails, all of capital to purchase these materials. As of now them would just shshsh.. You wouldn't see the company is indebted to First Bank. They are them, the private share owners. Before it owing twenty something million Naira. The crumbles they shout at your actions. But when same thing with the sister company there, Benue it crumbles all of them run away. But I haven't Breweries. Benue Breweries is owing twenty any intention of generating any bad blood, or something million naira too. And all this money any bad feeling for the bank, because, I know it has to be paid. So it is not only the question of is a very sensitive thing. For instance, the way getting the working capital, we have to think of the CBN is already thinking, and even the NDIC. the debt they are owing. We are looking at what For them not to react, we have decided to slow we can do. So, even if we are able to raise this down the whole thing. I have suspended the fund, are we sure the money would not go action of the committee. We shall watch the down the drain? And that is the fear in the reaction of the public to see it they can turn the minds of everybody. The government set up bank around. those companies with the hope that they would be able to develop, take care of themselves, and Newswatch: The NDIC said that you brought if possible assist the government. Unfortunately, in people who cannot even manage their own the reverse is the case. banks as members of the board. Obademi: NDIC cannot be dictating to us. They Newsivatch: Some state administrators are have their limit. All they are concerned with is talking of reducing their work force. Considering just the board. If they say everything has to go the poor economic situation of the state, do you through the board, I agree, I concede that to think you can continue to sustain the present them. But I do not think they can agree with us work force? because the people we call into the board are Obademi: You see, this is exactly what I told the renowned bankers in their respective civil service commission when they visited me. endeavours. They have recorded successes in They said they suspended recruitment a long their fields. Maybe we have to realise that the time ago, that they should be given permission banking industry is undergoing some stress. to recruit. Then I looked at it, the question I Things a re no longer as buoyant as they were, so asked them was; do you have enough people a lot of them are actually affected. It may not be leaving the service? Because, the equation must that the individuals are not capable. I think the be balanced between those coming in, and those competition is now more intense than before.B

34 Newswatch, September 26,1994