Diplomatic Baggage (Part II) How Britain tried to get Dikko Out of London
FORCES AINST
Saudi Arabia RisICOO Germany DM3.50 CFA Zone 500 ^^A $3 50 Zimbabwe $1.30 France 13F Kenya Sh 20 UK £1 50 The Gambia D4 Liberia .. L$ 2.00 Be sure your Anchor holds a Solid Rock In times like these, when the financial climate is rough and uncertain, you need Citizens Bank to anchor onto.
Introducing Citizens Anchor Account.
Citizens Anchor Account gives you, your spouse and children a free accident cover in case of accidental death or permanent disability.
♦ Minimum deposit of N50,000. ♦ 300% free accident cover of your deposit f Automatic free accident insurance cover for your spouse and children ♦ Free medical related expenses of up to N50.000 ♦ Easier claims processing through Corporate Citizens Insurance brokers ♦ Pays up to 15% per annum on your deposit. ♦ Minimum Tenor 90 Days
■ ‘ i * your Citizens Banker or telephone our 24 hour hotline: 01-2030289 for details
Acr.o\iïQ underwritten by THE LION OF AFRICA INSURANCE COMPANY LTD. (B CITIZENS BANK CITIZENS INTERNATIONAL BANK LIMITED yoasi sUyJit to bccocejtd
LAGOS: Head Office: Plot 130 Ahmadu Bello Way. Victoria Island, P.O.Box 53174. Falomo, IKoyi, Lagos. Tel: 01-2601030-9, 2691474, 2691475. Telex. 28330/22952. Fax: 01-2615138. Broad Street: Mandilas House. 96/102 Broad Street, Lagos. Tel: 01-2662699, 2662368, 2665899. kJumola: 134, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Idumota, Lagos. Tel: 01-2669454, 2664522. 2660536. ______Ikej*:______ALL SEASON PLAZA, Opposite Cadbury (Nig.) Pic., Lateel Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: 4972698-4972701. ONITSHA: Investment House. 49, New Market Road, Onitsha, P.O. Box 7702 Anambra State. Tel: 046-218191, 219619. Fax; 046-219619. KANO: 54, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kano. P.O. Box 14448, Kano State. Tel: 064-630486, 649688, 647998. Fax: 064-637642. ABA: 85, Cameroun Street. Aba, Abia State. Tel: 082-220788. Fax: 082-226493 208: Faulks Road, Aba, Abia State. Tel: 082-225144 P/HARCOURT: 5A Olu Obasanjo Street. Port-Harcourt. Rivers State. Tel: 084-239798, 239996, 230207, 090500986 WARRI: 67. Efturun/Sapele Road. Warri, Delta State. Tel/Fax: 053-233139 CBN/BSD/ADV/041/1172/94
CBN/BSD/ADV/214/1159/94 0136 AO OFC: rmoe oe (t-0h ot, 7, iuu tet PO Bx 17 Lgs Ngra Tl 0-654-3 1 lns. ee: 89, 82 Fdy Q Fx 2665126. Fax: NQ. Fedty 28428 28894, Telex: lines). (10 01-2665944-53 Tel: Nigaria. Lagos, 9117, Box P.O. Street, Tinubu 17A, Root), (6th-l0th Tower Primrose OFFICE: LAGOS HR STCfTYMERCHANTBANKLMUTED KANO OFFICE:AfricanAllianceHouse(3rdRoor),F1Airport Road,P.O.Box12555,Kano,Nigaria.Tel:061-646411,646412,646510,631766,631767.Fax:626611. Nigeria undertheNigerianDebtConversion to replaceexpansiveshort-termborrowing» su truh h ctesc o US$3.9m of cotversicn the through issue 42,188,000 OrdHarysharesof50keachat Corporation tnanceditspartidpaticninthis sovereign debtoftheFederalRepublic PFIZER PRODUCTSPLC Conversion AgentandIssuingHouse with merepermanentfuming.Ptzer 124k parsharevalued*f62,313,120 OFFER BYRIGHTS They dobusinesswithFirstCityMerchant BankLimited. What dothesemarketleaders \mm] Programme. 6«p
UAC OFNIGERIAPLC through aschemeofarrangement
Ï RESTRUCTURING Financial AdviserstoUAC
fi \
fSEmî 1 Mgerts United
of •e Jtn* 1SS* OFFER FORSUBSCRIPTION prcMde addKcnalworkingcaptaitertha RR*T CITYMERCI *30,000,000 UnaacuradRoaringRata company Redeemable LoanStock1996/1990 TEXACO NIGERIAPLC manufacturing operations ^ÊÊÊÈm 1 » expandingmarketingand Offered by fa to V, RRBT CfTYMERCHANTBAMCLMBTED addüonsl productionassetsendwcrWng s previds inandngfatheacquWBonof mKr CMB TOYOGLASSNIGERIAPLC *150,000,000 Apart Bank captN for to January’*)
Prima»Garnet J Corporate enlightenment serial II \ t v A
Cement production: Electrical Energy Consumption
Power supply is critical and central to Elephant Cement production. Electricity supply to our two factories comes in two forms - from NEPA and from WAPCO's own generating sets. Between the two factories at Ewekoro and Shagamu, WAPCO consumes no less than eleven million kilowatt hours (kwh) per month. This is enough to supply, for a whole year, a well populated city. At an average cost of N1.35 per kwh, this amounts to about #200 million per annum in power consumption alone. In this regard, WAPCO stands out clearly as the highest consumer of electric power in Nigeria today, after the Steel Industry. In addition to paying current energy bills of #200 million per annum, WAPCO has invested about #140 million in power generators and in power related projects with a view to maintaining steady production of high quality cement. Power costs presently represents 11% of the manufacturing cost of Elephant Cement. So when next you are buying a bag of your favourite Elephant Cement remember that 11% of its manufacturing cost is for electiricity consumed in the process of making it.
WEST AFRICAN PORTLAND CEMENT PLC Elephant Cement House, Ikeja Central Business District, Alausa, P.O.Box1001, Lagos. Tel: 01-4901060-9 Telegrams and Cables: Wapcemo Lagos.
Elephant Cement ...the best around.
PNL aapn/0038 Outline
FEBRUARY 13,1995 NIGERIA’S WEEKLY NEWSMAGAZINE VOL. 21 NO. 7
Nigeria:
Cover: 12 Umaru Dikko advocates defence pact with a Super Power as a way out of frequent military The Unforgiven intervention in Nigeria's politics • The Nigeria Union of Teachers The Yoruba and the Igbo suspends its nation-wide strike but the problem with the face a difficult task of education system lingers • The building a bridge over a Nigeria Medical Association and gap created by factors of the Confederation of African history, politics and hatred Medical Association wash their dirty linen in public
Africa:
Warlords in Liberia's civil war once again fail to give peace a Business + chance in their war-tom country Economy: 27 • A guerrilla warfare in Sierra Leone threatens the government Haven for of Valentine Strasser
Fraudsters Business + Economy: 31 Savannah Bank of Nigeria Pic is certified "technically States' budgets for 1995 fiscal year insolvent" by the Central reflect their various economic Bankfollowingwide-spread capacities and developmental malpractices by directors, needs management and staff 6 Letters Special 7 Cartoon Section: 35 8 Osundare 9 Editorial Suite 11 Essay Diplomatic 32 Sports Baggage 33 Book Review Cover MOSSAD and Nigeria: The Dikko Story - Part II 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, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Telephone: 4960950. Fax: 962887. Telex: 27874 NEWCOM NG. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part without permission, is forbidden. Printed in Nigeria by Academy Press Pic, llupeju. LETTERS
■ 1994: What a Year? its performance in US'94, but our national political leadership team is neither Your edition on the events of 1994 admired by the masses of the country nor (January 2) cannot be equalled and it by the international community. couldn't have been better. It is simply a Enyioma Nwoko, treasure and has confirmed your rating Umuahia. as the premier Nigerian newsmagazine. Thanks for increasing my reference stock. Just like 1993, you failed to report the Ebere Wabara, epileptic nature of our higher institutions Lagos. occasioned by the protracted strike of ASUU. You should not have overlooked I wish to point out that the informa tion an event which affected the youths in provided in Science/Technology section particular and our nation in general pertaining to the fossil, Lucy, does not adversely. contain the up to date facts. Although Achusi Celestine Chinedu, "until this year the famed Lucy and her Lagos. fellow members of the species, Events of the year 1994 gave insight to Australopithecus afarensis, were the oldest the fact that creation has one eternal God, known members of the human family," but not one temporal destiny. this is not the case any more for "at 4.4 Peter Dominic Anyanzou, million years of age, the newly unearthed Obowo, Imo State. Australopithecus ramidus is the closest link yet (no longer missing) to the common In 1993, Nigerians survived three As we recapture and shudder at those ancestor of apes and humans." different governments. In 1994 they had gory images of 1994 which are gradually For further information, there is a to survive high prices of virtually fading, my earnest desire is that the legacy "second major find: Homo-erectus, the first everything. What a year. of 1995 makes a whole lot of difference— Lucy's descendants to leave Africa, made John A. Iwori, heal frayed nerves and return smiles to that move about 800,000 years earlier Port Harcourt. the suffering-induced wrinkled faces of than had been thought." our beloved people. N.D. Briggs, Nigeria is a country whose football Ukonu Kalu Agbai, Port Harcourt. team is highly admired and respected for Aba, Abia State. Typed reactions to the contents of Nezvswatch, should be addressed to Newswatch Letters, 3 Billings Way (Off Secretariat Road), Oregun Industrial Estate, P.M.B. 21499, Ikeja, Nigeria. All letters must bear the correct names, addresses and signatures of the writers. Neiuswatch reserves the right to edit letters for clanty and brevity.
PASSAGES
BIRTHDAYS: was deputy editor of the newspaper, and Observer titles. Mobolaji Johnson, a retired succeeds Peter Preston who was Garba Baidu, comptroller-general of brigadier-general and former military appointed editor-in-chief of both Guardian the Nigeria Prisons Service, January 17. governor of Lagos State, 59, February 9. He succeeds Josiah Lily-Ojo who retired M.C.K. Ajuluchukwu, journalist, recently. Baidu was formerly deputy administrator and politician, 71, February comptroller-general. 10. He was general manager of Concord Kayode Murtala, 42, chief press Press Nigeria from 1984 to 1986. He is secretary to Oyo State military now in private business. administrator. Until his appointment, he Pat Utomi, political economist and was deputy editor of Sketch. journalist, 39, February 6. Until recently, he was the deputy managing director of DIED: Volkswagen of Nigeria Pic. James Grant, executive director of Doyin Abiola, editor-in-chief of UNICEF, at 72. He died of cancer on Concord newspapers, 49, February 1. January 28,1995, at Northern Westchester Oyewale Tomori, professor of Hospital Center, MountKisco, New York. Virology, 49, February 3. He is chairman, Grant, who became UNICEF director in West African region of the Pan-African January 1980, resigned on January 23, Virology Association. this year, because of ill health. Alfred Babalola, former ambassador, APPOINTED: January 25. He was a member of the Alan Rusbridger, editor of Guardian : i constitutional conference representing ofLondon.The51-year-oldjoumalistwho Johnson Ondo East.
6 Newswatch, February 13,1995 NEWSWATCH CARTOONS "QUOTES"
«tfHAT !? I CAN NOT When we strive, as we should continue "They çv/ckjsaYIto strive, to nourish and uphold FtY WE MATIOMAU democracy in places such as Russia and too hcaviy Mexico and Haiti, we must prove that AIRWAY'S . 'bo THEY m we have not forgotten the core values of T3FP|1 liberal democracy at home. SAY.. — Bill Clinton, US President.
s' I wasn't changed with immediate effect, I am aware that everything is with immediate effect under the military in Nigeria. I was removed with effect from the following day.
— Olu Agunloye, former Corps Marshal and CEO of the Federal Road Safety Commission.
When Ibrahim Babangida and the former CBN governor, Abdulkadir Ahmed squandered the $12.2 billion oil money, it was not the East alone that suffered it. If Mr. Paul Ogwuma is removed and another Ahmed is installed, the East, the West and the North will lose again.
— Sam Diala, reacting to the discussion that Paul Ogwuma, CBN governor- will be replaced with a Northerner.
Although we know that G od is merciful, please God have no mercy on those who "ie heavy ?? I oft eoeM have created this place. WNtbEft «HAT Wfloor — Elie Wiesel, Nobel Laureate when ÔAll Juicing. he visited Auschwitz, Poland, HAS TO bO WlTtf RYIMU where Jews, Poles, Gypsies were killed i rcaum vwcNoefti by the Nazis in gas chambers. I am convinced that the only way the fundamentalist forces can be stopped is if all of us who are secular and humanistic join together and fight their malignant influence. I, for one, will not be silenced. — Taslima Nasrin, Bangladeshi medical doctor turned poet, who is exiled because she speaks out against Muslim fundamentalists.
It really doesn't matter if the militaiy leaves on January 1,1996 or in 2026, they will be back soon enough anyway.
— Dele Sobowale in Vanguard.
The militaiy is able to subvert Nigeria's political process because the political class is willing to corrupt itself and allow itself to be used.
— Larry Diamond, senior research fellow at the Hoover institute, New York, USA on World Net.
Newswatch, February 13,1995 7 COLUMN Limits of Eloquence
ANY PEOPLE REMEM- mischief of overzealous security agents. ber Jerry Gana, ex- Niyi Osundare He even openly apologised and promised MAMSER boss, ex- to put a final check to such harassments. presidential aspirant, But the honeymoon was brutally and now minister of information, youth short. The echoes of the minister's voice and culture, rather nostalgically now, as had hardly disappeared behind Zuma a dedicated and industrious university Rock when those security agents started lecturer. His former students at Ahmadu paying unwelcome visits to The News Bello University will tell you that his and Tempo. There was no word from the geography classes were lively and minister. Newswatch chieftains were rewarding. As a man whose academic herded into detention over the David calling is the entire universe, including Mark interview. Silence on the minister's its people, forests, animals, rocks and side. Then three prominent Nigerian rivers, he talked about the inter Eloquence media outfits, The Guardian, The Punch, relatedness of the world. He could easily and Concord, were finally proscribed after place Nigeria on the world map. Accord without truth several weeks of police occupation in ing to my information, he also used to and justice is like breach of court orders. And the minister talk about truth and justice. rose stoutly in defence of government To be sure, Jerry Gana has brought to a pod without action. It had all been done, we were bear on his job as a public functionary seeds informed, to cool tempers, reduce tension; most of the oratorical skills that ensured all for the peace and stability of the his classroom success. His easy oratory, country. boosted by verbal and structural include- M-K.O. Abiola, winner of the While all this was happening, some repetitions, studied emphases and 1993 election, who was marched into a of the media under government control energetic body gestures, is a cross between detention dungeon instead of being bombarded the country with patent lies Eupheus's eloquence and the tendentious cheered into the state house. Ironically, and sickening inanities. Jejune solidarity histrionics of Demosthenes. But as recent Abiola, Africa's most important prisoner visits to state houses gobbled up a events have shown, the truth of the class today, won his denied victory on the substantial portion of television time, and room is different from that of the political ticket of the same party for which Jerry Nigerians were subjected to the podium, the morality of the teacher is Gana was himself once a presidential as insufferable charades of rented crowds blackboards away from that of a minister pirant. How would the honourable minis who clapped and sang for a government whose unenviable task is the defence of ter have felt if he were in Abiola's shoes? under whose machinations their very an intensely unpopular government. Irony number two: Anthony Enahoro, livelihood has all but vanished. Each time I see the hard-working recently released from detention, is not Nothing can be more difficult, more minister punching the air and belting out just an eminent Nigerian, he was himself frustrating than defending a bad his lines, I always wonder if he seriously a former minister of information; in other government. Even Joseph Goebbels, the wants us, his listeners, to believe him and words, he was Jerry Gana's predecessor Nazi propaganda minister, would tell whathe says. Several times I even wonder in office. The present information minister you that. For if the country is hard, if food if he believes himself. His defence of has not informed us, hapless Nigerians, is simply unreachable in the market, if government deeds and misdeeds is what a 71-year-old man, and one of the the men and women we have learnt to simply incredible. A sampler: Imme fathers of Nigerian nationalism, did to respect are being gaoled and humiliated diately after the closing ceremonies of a turn him into a security risk. Nor are we before our very eyes, while power- conference on urban violence, which took told why he was not charged to court grabbers and plain robbers are being place in Ibadan, the minister was besieged instead of being so callously wasted at a decorated with national honours, how by media reporters who, so sure about time when this unfortunate country many words, how many threats, how the connection between urban violence needed his counsel and experience. much bribe, what manner of eloquence, and government violence, asked why so Early in the Abacha government, Jerry would get us to believe that all is well and many Nigerians were being hurled into Gana came close to our idea of an ideal our national door is still on the hinge? detention by the government he serves. information minister. When security There is a choice we all have to make The minister's responses were uninspir agents raided TELL and seized thousands one time or another between principle ing and blandly political: those in of copies on their way to the distribution and expediency, between conscience and detention are really not as numerous as line, there was an uproar, especially from con-science. For anyone who has ever we'd thought; and they are there for the Nigerians who thought that that kind of been in a position to affect the lives of peace and stability of the country. gestapo thuggery had ended with the others, that choice is near-sacred. Of course, those whose incarceration Babangida years. Jerry Gana condemned Eloquence without truth and justice is the honourable minister was justifying the act, dismissing it as the unauthorised like a pod without seeds.H
8 Newswatch, February 13,1995 UR FOUNDING EDITOR- Ch/M-% a iLâ It is a book written by a very good È V in-chief, Dele Giwa, first in- ■ rOll L11 w journalist with an eye for details; one of W troduced Kayode Soyinka, a m m those unputdownable books. Diplomatic our London bureau chief, to pQ|TQK|J 3|| §Ult6 Ba8Sa8e was eventually published by the magazine's readers in the Mav 27. Newswatch Books Limited, whose
board and was trying to get subscribers, launched with fanfare at the Nigerian set up a computerised filing system, and Institute of International Affairs, NBA, was meeting with advertisers in what Giwa described as last week Tuesday. "his manic efforts to launch Newswatch to the international As Soyinka said at the punching, the book transcends community." the central figure, Dikko, and was written to help promote Nearly 10 years later, we can say unequivocally that respect for the rule -of law. As we did last week, excerpts Soyinka has done that and much, much more. He has filed from the book that reads like a novel are published in this many big international stories for us. He travelled to South week's edition of the magazine and the book is on sale at Africa several times for the magazine and did stories on the bookshops and at Newswatch offices in different parts of the apartheid system and the prominent actors in the battle country from this week. We are proud to be associated with against the dehumanising system, before it became our London bureau chief in this book venture. fashionable for Nigerian journalists to troop to that country. • ••••• His interviews with prime ministers, presidents and other For weeks, political leaders in the western and eastern Commonwealth leaders have been very revealing. parts of the country have been trying to forge a new alliance. So it was no surprise to us when Soyinka told us he was They met in Avutu, Imo State, and later in Ibadan. This writing a book on the Umaru Dikko kidnap saga of 1984, week's story, The Forces Against Igbo/Yoruba Unity, handled aborted by the British security men at Stansted Airport, near by Wale Akin Aina, examines why it may be impossible for London. He spent time collecting and collating materials for the two traditional ^ the book before going to Cambridge (Wolfon College, which rivals and enemies • ^______.____ 2) c. I too once attended as a Press Fellow) as visiting scholar to to bury the hatchet ^ write the book, Diplomatic Baggage - MOSS AD and Nigeria: and truly come • Newswatch Communications Limited Senior Advertisement Executives: Emmanuel Emeje (Kaduna), Zakari Ogbadu CEO: Ray Ekpu Advertisement Executives: Ibrahim Ademu (Kano), Morenike Omoleye Dep. CEO: Yakubu Mohammed Special Projects Manager: Gloria Chukwujekwe Special Projects Executives: Inemesit Ebu, Magnus Aja Eze, Omolara Okelola, Newswatch Paul John Okpe, Akoma Onuabuchi Editor-in-Chief: Dan Agbese Marketing Manager: Clement Okitikpi Dep. Editor-in-Chief: Soji Akinrinade Assistant Marketing Managers: Lionel Agbaji, Ikechukwu C. Dike, Mfon Ukutt Senior Associate Editor: Mike Akpan Marketing Supervisors: Sanusi Abdullahi, Pius Aji, Tony Asangaeneng, Associate Editors: Nats Agbo, Chukwuemeka Gahia, Wale Oladepo Godwin Enamoh, Paul John, Nsidifiok Nsukaba (Subscription), Assistant Editors: Wale Akin Aina, Mercy Ette, Abdulrazaq Magaji, Franklin Onwusah, Adolphus Sidi Jossy Nkwocha, Joseph Ode, Sam Olukoya, Utibe Ukim London Bureau Chief: Kayode Soyinka Principal Executive Assistant: Stella Ibeabuchi Senior Staff Writers: Janet Mba-Afolabi, Moffat Ekoriko Senior Executive Assistants: Patrick N. Nnate, Patrick Obuzor, Kamoru Oduntan Staff Writers: Jonah Achema, Tunde Asaju, Olu Ojewale, Kayode Olaokun Executive Assistants: Roseline Durojaye, Lazarus Eze Reporter-Researchers: Dotun Oladipo, Emmanuel Ugwu Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive: Victor Batta Guest Columnists: Ogoh Alubo, Eddie Iroh, Chuka Momah, Niyi Osundare Photo Editor: Matthew Faji Deputy Photo Editor: Conrad Akwu Board of Directors: Principal Photographers: Olufemi Kayode, Akinyele Okundare Ime Umanah (Chairman), Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed, Photographer: Bamidele Abiodun (Abuja) Soji Akinrinade (Executive Directors), Mike Adenuga Jnr., Alex Akinyele, Readers: Ogiri Ochonu, Elizabeth Ogbe Ahmed Dasuki, Abdulaziz Ude Principal Artists: Kehinde Schulz, Taiwo Schulz Artist: Chuks Okoh Head Office: Senior Computer Superintendent: James C. Onwuegbu No. 3 Billings Way (off Secretariat Road), Oregun Industrial Estate, Oregun, Senior Computer Supervisor: Emmanuel Amolo P.M.B. 21499, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel: 01-4960950, Fax: 4962887, Computer Supervisor: Sulaiman A. Atanda Telex: 27874 Newcom NG. Lithographic Superintendent: Femi Akinlusi Assistant Lithographic Supervisor: Musibau Olayiwola Regional Offices: Senior Lithographer: Amos Asieba Newswatch Communications Limited Chief Librarian: Eyo Nsah AM 8 Abuja Road, Kaduna. Tel: (062) 213021 Consultant Librarian: Nyaknno Osso 28 Edinburgh Road, Ogui New Layout, Enugu. Tel: (042) 336971,339244 Senior Researchers: Mofesola Akinbanji, Michael Utuk 63 Uselu-Lagos Road, Benin City. Tel: (052) 257419, Fax: (052) 248100 2 Araromi Street, Oke-Padre, Ibadan. Administrative Manager: lyah Onuk 41 Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo. Tel: [085) 201200, 201221 Senior Administrative Officer: Halilu G. Musa 7 Suzi Garden, Tafawa Balewa Street, Jos. Tel: (073) 56327 Assistant General Manager, Finance: Amudatu Beauty Amoda Block 4, Flat 2 (J.S. Tarka Way), Area 3, Garki, Abuja. Tel: (09) 2341857, 2342069 Accountant: Jonathan Opeche 27 Galadima Road, Sabon Gari, Kano. Assistant Accountant: Janet Bello 94 Mohammed Mustapha Way, Jimeta, Yola. Assistant Internal Auditors: Olu Akinbami, Felix Olise Corporate Affairs Manager: Angela Emuwa Centre for International Operations: Advertisement Manager: Emman Effiong NEWSWATCH, Premier House Corner, 313 Kilburn Lane, London W9 3EG. Assistant Advertisement Manager: Toyin Onanuga Tel: (081) 968-6633, Fax: (081) 960-3500 Principal Advert Executives: Aniekan Umanah, Idorenyin Uquang (Enugu) Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office Newswatch, February 13,1995 9 We have invested in R€*D_ Result! i Is Ceiling Tiles Non-combustible Natural white finish, can be painted Exceptional long life Unaffected by high humidity Does not sag Will not support bacteria growth Tiles to fit standard exposed grid MANUFACTURED FACTORY IN NIGERIA BY UCC Uatta Roal P. Q Box 1951, Omr* kro SWi Te: «3-2322*4 / 2330» 232220 LAQOS CFFCE 2. Owowra S&Mt Off Rand* Am., Suntoe. P. 0. Box 2753, SAJtt TKU-S^ut jiU. fccoi.wuaoFfcAwoi Newswatc* The Nigerian Trade Fair& Business Journal Newswatch Communications Ltd. will soon Deadline: All advert bookings to reach the come out with an authoritative réference undersigned before February 13,1995. book/directory for indigenous businessmen, For Further information, please contact* foreign investors, bilateral trade missions, policy makers etc. The book, The Nigerian Trade Fair and Special Projects Manager, Business Journal is a compendium of Newswatch Communications Ltd., businesses in Nigeria, who's who in business, 3 Billings Way, (Off Secretariat Road), trade fairs and investment opportunities in Oregun Industrial Estate, Oregun, the country. P.M.B. 21499, Ikeja, Lagos, This is a unique opportunity for you to Nigeria. advertise your products/services. There is Tel: 01-4960950, Fax: 4962887, provision for corporate spotlights/profile. Telex 27874 NEWCOM NG. % Illusion of Power By Mike Akpan or those who acquire it, power is like a Some modem day dictators have found an alternative to beautiful mistress. Those who have it are reluctant to rigid repression of the opposition. They try to secure their part with it and those who don't have it would go to power by a resort to the offer of enough social and economic any length to get it. Because of its attraction, some advantages to some people to enlist thei? support. That happened people seek power for the love of it. Lieutenant-Colonel Buka in the administration of Babangida and is currently happening SukaF Dimka, who assassinated General Murtala Muhammed, under General Abacha. Military apologists are encouraged Nigeria's head of state, on February 13,1976, belonged to this through financialinducementsorpoliticalpatronage to canvass mould. He loved power and wanted to take it although he did support for the extension of military dictatorship. When he took not know how and what he would use it for. His coup day over power on November 17,1993, Abacha told Nigerians that broadcast gave him out as a confused person who wanted his tenure would be brief because he assumed power out of power for the love of it. great necessity to save the country from disintegration. That, to There are those who seek power for what they can get out of him, was a patriotic act. it or to achieve a long-term ambition. Generals Sani Abacha and To many Nigerians, his explanation did not hold water. Ibrahim Babangida belong to this category. They hold the belief Instead, they saw it as a fulfilment of a long ambition to be head that the.end justifies the means. Unfortunately, those who seek of state. That suspicion was reinforced by his equivocation on and acquire power do not even know what it is. Ask those who the terminal date of his regime. When public pressure became seek power to tell what it is, you will be stunned by the answers intense, he threw the responsibility of determining the exit date they give. That question is equivalent to asking someone to to the constitutional conference. Ironically, supporters of the define time which St. Augustine, a fifth century philosopher, regime are encouraged to discredit the terminal date set for it by once confessed he thought he knew what time is until someone the constitutional conference. That is not all. asked him to define it. The lesson here is that those who exercise Like Babangida, Abacha is craftily devising means of power do not know what it is and the consequence of its transferring power into authority to sustain his hold on the misapplication. Moreover, they often lose sight of the elusive nation by moral and institutional sanctions. State apparatuses nature of power. are effectively employed to silence all oppositions to his political Power has its own arrogance. That is why its wielders power. Opponents of the regime are daily harassed by security hardly resist the temptation to overuse it. Power is also present agents. Some of them have been forced to flee the country. in all facets of our lives and in every stratum of society. There is Experience has shown that those who hold on to power for the the parental power which parents exercise on their children and love of it believe that justice is nothing else than the interest of religious or spiritual power which religious leaders use to have the stronger. a firm grip on adherents. We also have labour power, intellectual History is replete with examples of the use of naked power, or educational power, military power, media power, judicial institutional sanctions or bribery to suppress the opposition. power, financial or economic power as well as political or Emperor Jean Bedel Bokassa of the Central African Republic, governmental power. The list is endless. Generally, nobody is Field Marshal Idi Amin of Uganda, Francois Duvalier, better satisfied with holding only one aspect of power. That explains known as "Papa Doc" of Haiti, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the why those with military power use it to acquire political and Shah of Iran, Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, Kamuzu economic powers and those who possess economic power use Banda of Malawi, Samuel Doe of Liberia, GnassingbeEyadema it to seek political and intellectual powers. Those who possess of Togo and Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire among others are cases spiritual power use it to grab economic power. Of all these in point. powers, the most sought after are economic and political. In Nigeria, generals Yakubu Gowon and Babangida who Indeed, economic and political powers are like Siamese came to power through the barrel of the gun belong to this twins. One attracts the other and seekers use one to acquire the category of rulers. They were determined to stay in power as other. In all cases, those who want political power, be it from the long as they wished. That explains why the last days of their political or military class, always project the image of a redeemer administration were characterised by the ruthless suppression to the people in order to get public support and sympathy for of the opposition groups or massive corruption through bribery their ambition. All the military governments in this country and offer of political offices to supporters of their regime. The have claimed they came to correct the wrongs inflicted on the Abacha administration seems to be toeing the line of its people by the governments before them. On the other hand, the predecessors with its crackdown on pro-democracy supporters. politicians want to get rid of the military to save the country Regretably, rulers who regard political power as their from economic collapse as a result of corruption institutionalised exclusive property often become paranoid. They resent truth by them. But this messianic mission is lost as soon as they get on and prefer to live in a world of illusion and flattery. Hence they the political saddle and taste the sweetness of power. Rather, are unable to determine when the game is up until they are they begin to plot how to make their tenure endless. What forced out of,power either through coups or mass revolt. Those results thereafter is the naked use of the power to suppress who fail to learn from numerous cases of history are doomed to opposition to their grand design. This is common to all dictators. repeat the same mistakes. But they always forget that those who secure their power by Abacha must avoid the mistakes that dictators make. If the force alone face the possibility of unwillingness to obey their mission of his administration is to enthrone democracy in orders and violent efforts to unseat them. In whatever form, Nigeria, he must show the example by listening to the voice of suppression often leads to a state of apathy orhelplessness with the people. After all, democracy is built around the popular will an inevitable weakening of the social fabric. That also is transient. of the majority.® Newswatch, February 13,1995 11 (L-R) Ogunsanya, Obasanjo, Akinloye, Mbakwe: All for southern unity The Unforgiven History, politics, old animosities, make a new alliance between the Yoruba and the Igbo an uphill task By Wale Akin Aina IKE A TYPICAL SHOT- capital, some eminent political figures understanding, unity, harmony and gun marriage, the met January 28 at the Green Springs Hotel solidarity between the east and the west union of prominent to write a new chapter for Nigerian Lai Balog un, a former presidential politicians from the politics. The forum, organised by the aspirant of the defunct Social Democratic eastern and western National Unity Organisation, NUO, a Party, SDP, and a participant at the parts of the country is political association led by Olusegun meeting, told Newswatch that the meeting beginning to fall apart even before it is Obasanjo, a retired general and former was to foster unity among southern consummated. In Ibadan, the Oyo State head of state, aims at promoting leaders "because if southerners them- 12 Newswatch, February 13,1995 Photo by Akinyele Okundare ■ y hlp sou rtrd permanent retired Asiodu, Philip by gubernatorial Akpata, Tayo Azuocha. Obi SDP and Ezenwa, former national Izuogu, former Anielo, Alexis Kalu, and attorney-general former Akinjide, defunct the of chairman former Akinloye, secretary andbusinessman. represented was Edo State Delta represented while State, stalwart, NPN and former member conference constitutional a Austin Onuoha, P.C. State, Imo in aspirant and government Richard and SDP; local defunct the of member Abeokuta of chairman former Oyo Ajanaku, Titilayo leader; of women's eminent governor an Adedeji, Suliat State, military former NPP; and the Party, major-general retired a Jemibewon, of Peoples David Nigerian chairman defunct former Ogunsanya, Adeniran delegates, NPN; Adisa Nigeria, of NationalParty Balogun, Yoruba Gbasanjo, eminent including some short fell of itsobjectives. Solidarity" and Unity National dubbed forum the shown, have But events recognition." as for forum adequate an Newswatch, February13,1995 Ajasin, Ojukwu:Notpartofthe talks Ezekiel SDP; defunct the of secretary Greg State, Imo Uzor Orji NPN, the of of formerly Mbadiwe, governor former staunch memberoftheNPN. for Understanding Southern of "meeting present cannot they united, not are selves cover rm h es wr Sme Mbakwe, Samuel were east the From by attended was meeting Ibadan The Afenifere lk, ulse o te Ibadan-based publisher Awolowo, the of publisher Aluko, n as a SP rsdnil aspirant. presidential SDP Afenifere Th& an former also Falae, and Olu and State, Oyo of State, Qndo of governor former Ajasin, officer commandingtheWesternNaval Ebitu former and commodore EMU. retired a Union, Ukiwe, the Mandate of members Eastern Nwankwo, Arthur and Jim Onoh, C. Christian president, thelkemba Odumegwu-Ojukwu, emeka the publisher of Iwuanyanwu, line-up Emmanuel eastern were the from Missing Awo Obafemi lowo. sage, late the of son and Akanni Republic, First cabinet the former in Balogun, member Kola include f h rival members the were of also pro-democracy Absent Democratic a association. National NADECO, the Coalition, of members government Babangida the to secretary governor former Ige, Bola including and influential the of members were meeting rtrd eramrl n fre flag former and rear-admiral retired a NdubuisiKanu, and staff general of chief Okadigbo, Chuba were also Ibadan Not in State. Anambra of governors all former Ezeife, Chukwuemeka and vice- Nwobodo former Ekwueme, Alex Nnewi, Eye Third osiuul asn fo the from absent Conspicuously Champion ru ld y ihe Adekunle Michael by led group esae, n Oluwole and newspaper, group largely form and are and form largely group ge m Yoruba Omo Egbe esaes Chukwu- newspapers, f iein Tribune Nigerian of which aur 2 n vt, m Sae a the at State, Imo Avutu, in 2 January oe f bke A ta meeting, that At Mbakwe. of home declare Newswatch to clearly out come not would January 22. included which west the against Igbo started had meeting The conception. along Obasanjo even lines ofoldpoliticalbiasesandaffiliations. Mbakwe, and Akinloye, not Ogunsanya by is operated alliance east/west being the oppo that political nents convince have to difficult we be NPP, or i\ot NPN are "We emphasising alliance. told NPN/NPP old NUO, as the of member a who himself Akinloye, But Republic. the Second evoked Ibadan of in most were Ogunsanya, that and politicians Akinloye, Mbakwe set-up. Akinjide, new in a alliances political old of one appeared men arestrongsupportersofNADECO. Both Ibadan. in not also were Command, mai rnig ae o Awolowo to mate running Umeadi, of home Ekiti the at meeting EMU were Yoruba, of held, group a Dimension, being New and was meeting Avutu Francis and Iwuanyanwu not Ekwueme, was meeting Avutu The the west. of support tacit the with appointment of premier becoming from Onitsha, of Akinloye, the of and grouse the presented Obasanjo had Mbakwe by attended from right co-operation east/west an for would it But said. he that," about forgotten the of accord NPN/NPP the of memories o atn te meeting. did the EMU attend prominent not the of other Members leaders. and Igbo UPN, Party Nigeria, Unity of defunct the of organisation Imo of elections, governor former presidential Ewerem, Evans 1979 the during The up. show not did Mbakwe Enugu, in meeting scheduled a the at brief associations to promised meeting, Avutu had the Mbakwe After State. of Ondo governor former Olumilua, Bamidele the presidential time the about SDP at fact, former In' aspirant. a Ojukwu, Nzeribe, like Igbos prominent other the federal by attended in Igbo and of war civil the marginalisation during Igbo abandon of the ment 1952; in Region Western Owelle the Azikiwe, Nnamdi stopping ht eas o Maw' asne the absence, Mbakwe's Ohaneze of because that of director Ajuluchukwu, M.C.K. State, Philip by attended been had meeting Ohaneze, rbes ae ogd h movement the dogged have Problems n h woe te bdn meeting Ibadan the whole, the On But at the meeting of the of meeting the at But meetingcouldnotdiscussthe n mrla ru o Igbo of group umbrella an ht hr ws o uh thing such no was there that Afenifere, Newswatch h EU and EMU the Ohaneze learnt held 13 Photo by Matthew Faji ■ COVER vt meig Aai ise a state a issued Ajasin meeting, Avutu lo eu i te et Soty fe the after had Shortly west. the problems in begun But also dialogue. east/west Newswatch: Ige: Nocomments fot bsno s utn it i; oe ws, ie wise time wise, money it; into putting of amount is the know Obasanjo to you self-centred interest effort may not it is instance, It For job. all. wonderful at a doing are They support. Organisation (NUO)? e a si ta h hs o rsdnilitrs a al H si he said He all. at interest presidential tall. no a has he interest that personal said any has He for that doing not is He everything. mme, d nt nw f nbd wo aa membership basa who anybody of know not do { am member, I say a to But support. fullest my have They theassociation; of have to able be to us for Nigeria of spirit the revive to working is absolute my UnityOrganisation,NUO,has National Akinloye; Akinloye: Yes,theyhadtagson, peoplesentforwardto describing themasNUOdelegates atSaturday'smeeting? Nezvsxvatchr card ofNUO. objectives the at look I happiness. and contentment of kind that 14 assistant editor,oneffortstobringtheYorubaandIgbotogether r yu mme o te ainl Unity National the of member a you Are Adisa Akinloye, Butdidyounoticethatsomepeople hadtags Finished Yet mmm m ‘We AreNot . ■- ■m ■- ■ . former NPNchairmantalksto Afenifere Afenifere. eorc atvs wo eety was with SaniAbacha,ageneralandthehead recently who accompany activist democracy information to former message Enahoro, Anthony urgent an and Akinloye that west. also all the agreed within accommodate They associations would existing that They ciation west. the of politics new a to on approach agreed of both hours they several discussions, After Ajasin. of State, Ondo home Owo, the at called Akinjide Ajasin's statement to response In dialogue. That political own. their on Yoruba, but the of behalf on acting not were eesd rm eeto, o bj t meet to Abuja to detention, from released pro and Republic First the in minister got Ajasin the happened. incidents and unclear Obasanjo between meeting the of house full a brief would Obasanjo asso umbrella an have to agreed also and Akinloye 14, January on statement, east/west an for NUO the of efforts in the wrench monkey a throw to threatened Akinloye and Obasanjo that saying ment a t hl i Oo a e of set a Owo, in hold to was n aur 2, h dt the date the 25, January On raie ht etn. f o dnt ar ta lbl hw o we do how label, that carry don't you If meeting. that organise and thewelfareofthosewhocamethere? Nexosxvatch; the to come can NUO meeting. Itsadelegates' the of members^ all Not Akinloye: as anNUOdelegatesmeeting? Newswatch: mme o te U. tik h bnes eey mentioned merely banners the think Mbakweisnot I misleading. NUO. the were of banners member a the think I Akinloye: meeting the of the auspices the When under NUO. done NUO. not was it the east, the of in place members took not were they that meeting, the of organisation the about you to talk and you know etn, tews i wl b a as etn; campaign a meeting; mass a be will it otherwise meeting, the NUOdelegateswhowerecoming. TheNUObroughtsome u wy ee hrbnes eciig h meeting the describing therebanners were why But u toe h cm I fo te at complained east the from In came who those But m ■ -■ Afenifere or i Oo reig the briefing Owo in hours of state. eas o Aai' sde ti t Abuja, to that trip sudden him Ajasin's of to because suggested and Abacha He with Ige. from call phone a received Owo he a.m., to 6.45 about go at but morning to that early prepared had in he explained Ibadan, he As foul. cried Obasanjo hearing On " properly. us brief conveners that said senator, former Remi a Later Okunrinboye, up. show to and failed Obasanjo Akinloye but hours three for Ibadan waited forthcoming the on them brief while Abuja Akinloye for Owo left He Akinjide. and with held he meeting previous the Owomeetinghadbeencancelled. appointment Ajasin's of him told Ige said the by boycott a of threat the the until meeting "the Ibadan proposed leaders, the Igbo with meeting the the though The leaders. Igbo with meeting to Obasanjo for wait to also and meeting, the eoe h ti, jsn atd few a waited Ajasin trip, the Before Sam Olukoya, Afenifere ru cno ovosy attend obviously cannot group Afenifere Newswatch, February13,1995 otne t hl the hold to continued a nt foreclosing not was Afenifere Afenifere, Afenifere n a on Photo by Matthew Faji ■ Newswatch, February13,1995 per t b a lgt it f suspicion of hint slight a also be There to when asked. appears he they together," leaders bring to were made being were efforts genuine "Where Akinjide. an But meeting. Ibadan Afenifere the at the not of was side he own would his give nor to happened, volunteer really to what speak not would Ige t h isac o Ie Acrig o him, to According Ige. of instance the at story. He also refused to speak on why he why on speak to refused also He story. "the therefore and Abuja to Ige going be would by sin Aja t tha him informing made allegedly call phone trip a the after cancelled but helicopter to by fly Owo to arranged had Obasanjo said He i i fr rm orc ta Obasanjo that correct from attend to refused far is "it Owo from away stayed Obasanjo that said Martins theNUO. pressing for spokesman Martins, other had he as engagements. the trip of cancellation Owo his in resulted This h gop o soit wt Aily and Akinloye with associate to groùp the week, Last cancelled." been had meeting cover i soy a crooae b Kenny by corroborated was story His source said it was impossible for impossible was it said source te Afenifere (the Newswatch meeting)/' (Afenifere) on of the Yoruba to hold the highest office in office highest the hold to Yoruba the of cause the against is Obasanjo that believed of the form bulk now who activists 12 pro-June is who candidate still presidential the Abiola, detained Moshood the of to detriment Shonekan Ernest of Government National Interim the supporting tacitly of activists 12 pro-June by accused been had 12, June of election presidential the of Afenifere the land.Here,theyciteObasanjo'srole The election. the won have to thought in Governance NUO, the of forerunner a Good ADGN, Nigeria, and Democracy deep. run annulment the following long crisis the for During has distrust the mutual in also confidence have Obasanjo to cause. not Yoruba appears Obasanjo the trust to on Ibadan appear not do the groups preceded The meeting. that confusion have beensanctionedbygovernment. 93 Oaaj' Ascain for Association Obasanjo's 1993, may meeting Obasanjo-organised the that n tig em cer bu the about clear seems thing One or the NADECO. This feeling of feeling This NADECO. the or Afenifere Afenifere n NDC also NADECO and Nezvszvatch: was it think I meeting* the at participated who members ed Te dd o lk or bec a ta meig n because and meeting that at absence our like not did They held. the and Abuja has to tour going the said and up me rang he night same That O'clock. Lagos to get to O'clock eight by arrangement to making was go I 25th. to invited were I and Obasanjo Iges... Newswatch: Alhaji Busari,heisaverypopularmaninIbadan, lean HeisnotNUOatall. AdeniranOgunsaya, at count likethat. Look group. Newswatch: we didnotcome.Theysaidthey arenotcomingtolast may NUO/you are you that matter not not go. But the other version we heard was that the meeting was meeting the that was heard we version other the But go. not are they that him tell to phoned Ige Bola said He cancelled. been is there here, Ibadan from least at yes, (pause) brain, my search Newswatch: ht cnuin Ta ws h I i nt o n Oaaj did Obasanjo and go not did I why was That confusion. a What ten at helicopter by off take to happened. supposed were what we know because you but Yes, in) (Cuts Akinloye: and try — me Let there. were them of number a Quite Akinloye: you call don't there/they come you as soon As Akinloye: Akinloye: Everyconceivablegroup. that and invitation an had all You that. be invitation wentoutundermyname. may you does this, it Yorubaland, in is states know the I all as to invitations far sent as we did that we What misleading. and unfortunate n ohr Yoruba other and But when you talk you when But invitation? your heeded groups Yoruba many How Butno o mn gop fo te et i yu invite? you did west the from groups many How Afenifere party^vhich wasperceivedtobenorthern hy lie fvue te P. The NPN. the favoured which claimed election they presidential 1979 the in Obi: NomandateforMbakwe Afenifere memberwasthere. ai Afenifere,y au Afenifere,y ai etn i nt odn again. holding not is meeting e Afimifere, be Afenifere expect the Bola the expect etn o the on meeting o my be may you 15 Photo by Taiwo Idowu Taiwo by Photo Photo by Olulemi Kayode os, ee o cus w jk, ht s ht oiis hud be should politics what is that joke, we course of here, house, o ae n pry n I m n pry e et n rn o my of front in meet we party B in am I and party A In are you are you If of peace. All divided. so are we Yorubas; the of unity the for was for Afenifere? Nezvszvatch; Saturday's meeting.Youcanseethatcontradiction, rvril icmtne nt acceptable con to Awolowo'sUPN. not in circumstances elections troversial the won dominated Azikiwe: Lostoutinthewest Nezoszvatch: him see hope! I on Saturday(February4,1995). yesterday, Ajasin rang I come, (Obasanjo) to not he him asked until go sisters to and prepared brothers was our I to one. talk the are and And we 25th how Obasanjo. because the was informed on That go I let's not? arranged. said was why I 25th said the I of them? to meeting like to I talk would 25th, and the on come meeting a holding are we Oh fine. in live still and different be can we but way one go cannot us odn peiiay icsin n o te ofb hud be. the at should looked I When confab day. the of father the the be should how I said They on discussion preliminary of member holding a not am I Dimension, New Take together. people Party National the of of Nigeria,NPN.Whyisitso? members former mainly were they shows Nezvszvatch: said he so And other. each against lies telling killings, Not like. went I what Ajasin, saw I 22nd, the on Owo to went I Akinloye: rgam, sw ht oe wlw i gig o e the be to going is Awolowo Wole that saw I programme, were they when me with touch in got They Dimension. New bringing in succeeded I back, came 1 When members. NPN not want 1 telephone, the on talking necessary not is It Akinloye: and meeting the cancelled has Ige Bola that say to up me rang to seehimfaceface. knoe I is It Akinloye: 16 I COVER Whatwasthegenesisofyourcontactwith lo a te oua a te bdn meeting Ibadan the at Yorubas the at look A Didhegiveanyexplanation? not Afenifere all that so. I tell you many people there were there people many you tell I so. that all and I am not, what is the problem? If problem? the is what not, am I and e told he oua as. Waee I ae oe for done have I "Whatever cause. Yoruba November, Last NADECO. in confidence at oiia ainet as se t be to seem also alignments political past of success the for necessary front Yoruba distrust, Awolowo of followers the people whom two Akinjide, and Akinloye with for it done anything have I done then Nigeria, have for good I if race... Yoruba the for not is he that allegation the against the national in Obasanjo said. he not name," in except is that "NADECO association. 1994) national 14, a considered be cannot NADECO (November interview t h meig f the of meeting the to at approach Igbo cohesive a affecting a west/eastdialogue. consolidated a on effect an is have to groups likely Yoruba of factionalisation the association this with But race." Yoruba the the for done have "I said, he Nigeria," himself defended also interview same oten oprto. bkes absence Mbakwe's cooperation. southern nblt t bif te poiet Igbo prominent other brief to inability bsno o hs at hd little had part, his on Obasanjo, n h es, uul itut otd in rooted distrust mutual east, the In Newswatch n n exclusive an in tik nw r hs oe hn h sn f wlw ad the and Awolowo of son the divide when come political has day, era the that new speech a to my think I of back of content going spedaiguest the Thatwas - the thegiants, intrigued between t>e was to I going honour. is Akintola Yomi chairman, Nezvszvatch: son ofAkintolacandinetogether, out ofex-NPNYorubamembersatthemeeting? because Iwasengaged. Akinloye: Yes,butnotallWhenIhavethechancetodoso,The Nezvszvatch: Wearenotemphasising* NPN. the forgotten have We Akinloye; Nezvszuatchi last meetingwasheldatEkitiinQlumilua'shouse,Ididnotgo Nezvszvatch: succeeded inattractingallcampstothegroup? just wanttoserve. Nezvszvatch: party? trying untilyougetperfection. Nezvszvatch: best our doing weare you, told I as why is That Yes, loye: Akin keep you it, about finished nothing is there Yes, Akinloye; the NPNorNPP. surprised? you contesttomorrow? to bringtogetherallgroups.Itmaysucceed. knoe N, f o s cmad i, o cn o be you can how it, commands so God If No, Akinloye: Akinloye: Iamaveryqueerman.don'tchooseformyself,! Ohaneze n his and Youhavebeenattendingtheirmeetings? oeo yu il ge ta yu ae o fully not have you that agree will you Somehow turn large the for account you do how asked, I As o o se hs da rnfrig no political a into transforming idea this see you Do Doyouhaveplanstogobackpolitics? nte wrs w sol nt e upie t see to surprised be not should we words, Inother i mtvs ABC Nou coordinator Nwosu, A.B.C. motives. his politics by aligning himself with Obasanjo with himself aligning by politics quarters boys' playing is "Mbakwe Avutu home. his at meeting the on leaders Igbo Newswatch on suspicion with cast had has politicians has western he meeting the on leaders go oiiin n coe soit of associate close and politician the Igbo at not was Mbakwe he by because up briefed show not meeting Ibadan did the attend to letter who a Nwosu got suspicion. with Mbakwe by added Nwosu said. he Akinloye," and other brief to up show not did Mbakwe the for spokesman and s ht oe go r ssiiu o the of suspicious are Igbo some that is tol Ojukwu, prominent a Obi, Ben week, Last meeting. move political any view Igbo the make only would exclusion of politics such that bke eie t ain ih some with decided also align and west the in his of to friends decided that observed Mbakwe He affiliation." NPN an is the SecondRepublic:"Theythink Ohaneze. to callformerpoliticalassociatesinthe e ad hs rbe satd in started problem this said He Newswatch, February13,1995 that he was at a loss as to why to as loss a at was he that dNewswatch ht h problem the that Ohaneze, Ohaneze Ohaneze told ■ cover east dubbing themselves Igbo leaders. involves the great Zik. Not that Zik is binding on them. Last week, Obi said Obi said all these point to the fact that even dead?" He declared: "It is sabotage." that the Ohaneze welcomes the eastern there are factions both in the east and the Obi said that before there can be any minorities to its meetings, but he said west and that this would make southern useful understanding between the east that the EMU which claims to represent cooperation difficult. and the west this injustice must be righted. minorities in the east had never attended Added to the forces of past political The force of political history is also Ohaneze forum. alignments which is splitting up groups affecting how the eastern minorities view Problems, however, continue to crop both in the east and the west and making the Igbo and Ohaneze. This is also a fall up for the conveners of the east/we&t the issue of southern cooperation an uphill out of the 1952 elections. When Azikiwe inter-regional meetings. Shortly before task, is the force of old party politics and left Lagos, he proceeded to remove Eyo the Ibadan meeting, a group called the history. This makes Yoruba/Igbo Ita, a minority from Calabar, as premier Southern Solidarity Forum, SSF, issued a association an almost impossible affair of Eastern Region. After the removal of statement rejecting any form of southern and has to do mainly with the 1952 carpet- Ita, no minority ever became head of gang-up against the north or any othei; crossing affair that led to the loss by government in the Eastern Region. Ibanga part of the country. The statement, made Azikiwe of the premiership of the Western Udo Akpabio, who was always acting by Joshua Ogbonnaya, a constitutional Region. Akinloye at the Ibadan meeting premier whenever Azikiwe, who had conference member and spokesman for explained to the Igbo leaders present his become premier, travelled, wa s not made the group who, incidentally, was at the version of what happened. According to premier when Azikiwe left again for the Ohaneze meeting in Enugu, said that his him, what happened in 1952 cannot be federal house in 1959. The position went group is not against reaching an under ascribed to tribal sentiment but to a need to Michael Okpara, an Igbo. Because of standing with the west or any other region for a balanced political equation. Akinloye this, minorities feel that the Igbo have but hinted that the south-south dialogue said that while the Northern Peoples never taken them into confidence and in Avutu and Ibadan appeared like a Congress, NPC, won the elections in the have always considered them a gang-up. north and the Na tional Council of Nigeria conquered people. Mbakwe, however, said in Ibadan that and the Cameroons, NCNC, won As a result, eastern minorities have the meetings between Igbo and Yoruba elections in the east, with both installing always preferred to deal with non-Igbo. leaders should not be viewed as a gang- northern and eastern premiers in their An example was in the 1979 elections up. He had asked rhetorically: "Gang-up respective regions, the west felt that a when the votes from Cross River and against who? Against fellow Nigerians?" westerner should be installed as premier Rivers secured for Shehu Shagari and the He said that what was happening is just of the west. Akinloye said that when NPN victory at the polls. Rivers State the coming together of Nigerian citizens Azikiwe approached his party, the Ibadan gave 72.65 percent of total votes to former which will later embrace all Nigerians. Peoples Party, IPP, to join the NCNC President Shagari, while Cross River "We have to start somewhere, some which had more members than any other gave 64.40 percent. This was more than people have to take the initiative." party in the Western House of Repre the votes cast in core northern states of Northern leaders appear unconcerned sentatives, he agreed on principle that Sokoto (66.58 percent), Shagari's home about the political developments in the NCNC should pick a Yoruba man to be state, and Bauchi (62.48 percent). The south. Mahmud Waziri, former presi premier. He said when Azikiwe refused, feeling of the minorities, Newswatch dential aspirant of the defunct SDP, gave he led his party to join the Action Group, gathered, is that any agreementbetween the impression that the meetings were AG, led by Awolowo. As a result of this, the Igbo and the Yoruba would not be not worrisome to the north. He, however, Awolowo became the first premier of cautioned fhat what the proponents of Western Region. Ige said the same thing the meetings should focus on is Nigeria. at a Newswatch summit (interview) late "We need a Nigerian dialogue rather than last year. Akinloye added: "This is no t a regional dialogue. It will reduce hatred for Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe for I only < suspicion, especially in the minority used my objectivity and intuition to ^ areas," he said. balance a political equation..." =? As the Ibadan meeting adjourned, Mbakwe, in his reply to Akinloye in * the communique by the conveners gave Ibadan, cleared him of all wrong doings 4 the impression that a lot of work still has and stated that he understood why to be done. In brief, it said that the meeting Akinloye had taken the step. Igbo leaders reiterated its objective of national unity are not happy with Mbakwe's statement, and advancement of democracy. It also nor are they ready to easily give the stated that the meeting resolved to Yoruba and Akinloye a benefit of doubt. continue further consultations soon after Obi said that Mbakwe's role and Ramadan. Such consultations would statement in Ibadan is purely anti-Igbo. involve the north, it added. Curiously, "I do not know of any mandate given to nothing was said about the progress Sam Mbakwe to go to Ibadan and clear already made between the east and the the activities of Meredith Adisa Akinloye west after two meetings. in 1952." He wondered how Mbakwe can Reported by Mike Akpan, unilaterally understand and clear Yoruba Sant Olukoya, Jossy Nkwocha, of the affair. He queried: "How can he Olu Ojezvale, Kayode Olaokun understand and clear a situation that Waziri: For Nigerian talks and Kolarele Sonaike Newswatch, February 13,1995 17 Nigeria t Caging the Military Umaru Dikko, former transport minister, wants Nigeria to sign defence pact with a superpower. He says it is the best way to stc frequent military intervention in politics By Jossy Nkwocha maru dikko, trans- port minister in the defunct Second Republic and currently a member of the National Constitu tional Conference, NCC, last week reopenedU the debate on the best way to stop military coups in Nigeria. He said the next civilian administration should sign a defence pact with any of the world's super powers to empower it to intervene in future seizure of power by the military. Dikko argued that there was no other measure that was strong enough to deter soldiers from striking again even after Sani Abacha, the current military leader, would have handed over power to an elected civilian administration. The NCC had during one of its debates thrown out a motion on a defence pact. Instead, its committee on national ethics recommended civil disobedience to any future military intervention. But Dikko insisted in his speech at a book launch in Lagos that the defence pact was a better Saraki: Military inhibits growth of democracy option, hoping the debate on the issue can be reopened when the conference defence pact with another country. the constitutional conference, was equal! reconvenes on March 6. The debate, if reopened by Dikko, worried about incessant military coups Even before the commencement of might, in fact, become more contentious. He said the military has not allowe( the conference, Gibson Jalo, a retired Ihechukwu Madubuike, another genuine democracy to grow in Nigeria a lieutenant-general and former chief of constitutional conference member, said a result of such incessant interventions defence staff during the Shehu Shagari Nigerians are not yet prepared to cause a Saraki argued that it was unacceptabL administration, had argued at the permanent exit of the military in the for the military to base their coups or Azikiwe/Gowon conference on Nigeria nation's political life. "We don't have the squabbles or disagreements arnon^ that the only way to discourage further stomach to get rid of the military," he politicians. He is of the view tha coups in Nigeria was the defence pact declared. His solution to the problem is politicians should be allowed to makt option. His voice was equally drowned an arrangement which would accom mistakes and learn from them. "Tht by those who preferred civil disobedience. modate the military in the political military should leave us alone," he said Chuba Okadigbo, a former senator and administration of the country. He argued Saraki, however, contradicted him sell political scientist, told Newswatch that a that the military has become part and when he defended the decision of the similar pact which Nigeria signed with parcel of the politics of the na tion, adding Abacha regime to prolong its tenure Britain in 1962 was cancelled because it that only dialogue with them can solve saying: "The numerous requests for the robbed the nation of its sovereignty and the problem. creation of new states and local independence. No independent country, Olusola Saraki, a medical doctor and governments would delay the exit of the he argued, would be proud to sign a chairman of the business committee of administration." According to Saraki, 18 Newswatch, February 13,1995 ■ NIGERIA there are abouti 00 of such requests which Photo the regime must attend to before it leaves. Another reason, Saraki said, is the delay caused by the constitution drafting committee, CDC. He said the committee has continued to engage in irrelevant arguments on the issues already decided by the conference. He said many interest groups have besieged Abuja where the committee is sitting to dicta te what should go or not go into the constitution. Resignedly, he declared: "By the grace of God, we'll finish before Easter," adding: "If not for all these, he (General Abacha ) would go in October this year." Newswatch learnt that majority of delegates to the , conference have realised that the adjournment of the conference to March 6 has clearly made their earlier decision on terminal date for the military unworkable. Dikko said the controversy which the decision generated was unnecessary. A date for military disengagement, he observed, was not important. He said the important thing was the enthronement of genuine democracy in the country. By A this statement, critics observed last week Okadigbo: Opposed to defence pact Madubuike: Let's dialogue with military that Dikko too supported an extension of the tenure of the present regime even scavenging in dustbins at that time, it took him to the airport. When the van ran though he advocates a permanent exit of was not because they were not hungry out of fuel, his abductors had to go the military from political power. but because there were no leftovers in the searching for more. Secondly, the Rotational presidency was another dustbins. Nigerian in the team, Mohammed Yusuf, issue addressed by Dikko. He said the Agbroko also said for Nigerians, a military intelligence officer who was to defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, Dikko was the symbol of all that was vile put on a Nigeria Airways uniform to had worked out a zoning arrangement in the Shagari administration. He added facilitate the passage of the "cargo" at the for the presidency, stressing that if not for that even in Britain where he fled after airport, forgot the uniform in his (Yusuf's) the intervention of the military in 1983, a the coup, "Dikko, that rare politician who office. Dikko said that the three Israelis in southern president would have emerged would not chew his words before uttering the terrorist squad were so unhappy that at the next election. He said although them, began a jihad to mobilise his fellow they barked, "we said that you Nigerians rotational presidency may negate the countrymen to chase away the inter should let us do it alone. Now, you have spirit of democracy which gives a voter a lopers." He said it was in this crossfire bungled it!" At that stage, Dikko said, choice among a set of alternatives, he that Dikko was abducted in Britain on Yusuf wept. Dikko also recalled that in supports it because it can bring stability, July 5,1984. He concluded that Dikko's the crate, his captors told him that they peace and unity to the country. utterances since he returned home shows had a $10 million contract on him but Dikko, who was speaking at the that he symbolises Nigeria's political class were prepared to let him go if he could launching of a book Diplomatic Baggage - who, like the Bourbons, have learnt give them $5 million. He said when he MOSS AD and Nigeria: The Dikko Story, nothing and forgotten nothing. told them that he did not even have £1 written by Kayode Soyinka, Newswatch Replying, Dikko said he was mis million to give, they drugged him. He London bureau chief, and published by quoted by the media on the dustbin story. only regained consciousness 24 hours Newswatch Books Limited, reacted According to him, he only made a simple later at a London hospital. sharply to some remarks made about remark that there was no famine in Ray Ekpu, chief executive officer of him by the reviewer of the book, Godwin Nigeria as was being alleged by the detrac Newswatch Communications Limited, Agbroko, editor of The Week magazine. tors of his party. Dikko said he observed whose subsidiary published the book, Agbroko said at a time when the Nigerian that the economic hardship then was not said that Newswatch did not publish the citizenry was being pauperised by the peculiar to Nigeria and that Nigerians news of the incident 10 years ago because ruling NPN, Dikko said there was no would never pick food from the dustbins. the magazine was still in the womb at the hunger in the land because Nigerians For the first time, Dikko recalled his time. "So, as you can see, what we could had not started to eat from the dustbins. experience in the crate that was to bring not report in the magazinë, we have done Agbroko asserted that Dikko's statement him back to Nigeria. He said he was in a book. Soyinka said he decided to was not only impolitic but insensitive. saved by God because his abductors write the book in pursuit of the principle He argued that if Nigerians were not forgot to put enough fuel in the van that of the rule of law.B Newswatch, February 13,1995 19 ■ NIGERIA the NUT on December 2,1992, lasted five months. It was suspended after Decree 3 of 1991 which transferred the payment of Moving In primary school teachers' salaries to local government councils was abrogated. Decree 3 repealed the one which set up the National Primary Education Commission in 1988. A Circle Other demands of the NUT have been left unattended to and they include the establishment of a special teachers' salary scale, appointment and inauguration of Despite the suspension of the Nigeria Union of teachers' registration council as well as teachers' negotiating council. For more Teachers’ nation-wide strike, all is still not well than two years, the federal government has been dragging its feet on these with the education system demands giving one reason or another why they could not be met at a particular By Mike Akpan time. For example, Wada Nas, minister of state for education, once argued that the NE STEP FORWARD, TWO union. He said apart from its failure to federal government only proposed to set steps backward. This has implement the decisions reached by both up a ministerial committee to discuss the become the fate of the parties at their meetings, the federal financial implications of the special salary country's educational government has also refused to invite scale for teachers. He also said system after the Nigeria Union of ASUU to resume talks on all the appointment and inauguration, of the Teachers,O NUT, once again called out its outstanding issues. Warned Asobie: "By teachers' registration council would be members in primary and secondary this failure to fulfill its promises to ASUU, done in March even though a decree schools on an indefinite sit-at-home strike government is passing a message to which empowers the government to set last Monday. The strike came barely 13 ASUU and other unions that a strike once up the council had been drafted but not days after the Academic Staff Union of begun must be driven to its logical yet signed by the head of state. Working Universities, ASUU, had suspended its conclusion if the unions' demands are to on the premise: once bitten, twice shy, the five-month-old strike and directed its be met." NUT insisted that the decree should be members to go back to the lecture rooms. Such indifference on the part of the promulgated and gazetted even if the Even then, the cease-fire declared by federal government led to the paralysis council would be inaugurated in March. ASUU January 17 may not last. in primary and secondary schools nation This was not done despite repeated On January 27, Assisi Asobie, wide last week. Apart from Enugu and threats by the union that it would call out president of ASUU, complained that the Oyo states, the strike order was obeyed in its members on an indefinite strike to federal government had violated the truce all other states, affecting more than 18 press home its demands. by its failure to fulfill its promises to the million pupils. A similar strike called by When its threats fell on deaf ears, the national executive committee, NEC, held an emergency meeting in Makurdi, Benue state, on January 20 and decided to carry out the strike last Monday. Buton January 27, the federal government adopted a fire brigade approach to abort the strike action. It threatened to deal with members of the NUT if they embarked on any industrial action. Although a statement signed by Aminu Saleh, secretary to the federal government, was loaded with punitive actions should the strike take place, it directed Samuel Ogbemudia, labour and productivity minister, and the minister of education to meet with the NUT executive on or before January 30, the day of the strike, to find ways and means of putting a stop to it. It also directed that the outcome of the meeting be communicated to government last Tuesday by 12 noon. Saleh: Directed Ogbemudia (right) to meet with NUT There was nothing to communicate 20 Newswatch, February 13,1995 to the government when the parties met in addition to the special salary scales." argued. There was, however, national because no decisions were reached in the Ugwu was angry that each time the relief after the NUT national executive absence of the ministers. However, when NUT submitted a memorandum in met at Ilorin, Kwara state, last Thursday the parties met again the following day, respect of the demand, the argument from to call off the four-day old strike based on an agreement was reached to set up a the government had always been that the decisions reached between the ministerial committee to discuss the teachers were too many. He argued: "If government and representatives of the financial implications of the teachers' you give us more children to teach, it is an union on Tuesday. It explained that the salary structure and make recom insult to say teachers are too many. If you suspension of the strike was to give the mendations to the government within have a large farm, you have to employ federal government time to implement six weeks with effect from February 13 many labourers." all agreements reached on teachers' when the committee would be According to Ugwu, the condition of demands. inaugurated. It was also agreed that the teachers makes examination malpractices But there are fresh fears that the truce ministries of education, establishment possible. "Without a teacher looking the may not last. Ugwu was conscious of this and management services and labour other way or initiating the move, exami when he told Newswatch: "Where there is would make appropriate recom nation malpractices cannot occur," he a will there is a way. When people decide mendations on the other two demands to to make peace, peace will come but when the federal government which in turn, they decide to play tricks surely tricks would communicate its decisions to the will come. Insincerity begets insincerity." NUT when the parties meet again on He said although the federal February 13. The demands are the government did not give cause for now formation of a teachers' registration that it was not sincere in meeting the council and the teachers' negotiation demands of teachers, the NUT would not council. hesitate to call out its members again on Brendan Ugwu, NUT president, told strike whenever such signs were evident. Newswatch that it was surprising that the Already, the cycle of strikes in the federal government dragged its feet on country's educational institutions is the demands of teachers which were pushing idle students into hard drug made in the interest of the teaching trafficking. Musa Bamaiyi, a major profession. He said: "We asked for a general and chief executive of the National teachers' registration council to enable Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, the body to register all professional said in Lagos last week that drug barons teachers in the country so that any have resorted to recruiting idle students member caught in examination as drug couriers. He revealed that out of malpractices will be expelled from the the 693 suspects arrested for drug offences profession and banned from teaching." last year with foreign passports, majority On a special salary scale for teachers, he were Nigerian teenagers recruited from argued: "Other professionals in the either secondary schools or tertiary country have special salary scales for institutions. example doctors, nurses, university Reported by Janet Mba-Afolabi teachers. They have special allowances Bamaiyi: Students turning to drugs and Emmanuel Ugrvu At Each Other's Throat NMA and CAMAS are washing their dirty linen in public By Olu Ojewale he crisis of confidence nian professor and secretary-general of its edition of January 23, 1995. which forced the Nigerian CAMAS, flew into Lagos io address the The Newswatch report, Shao said, Medical Association, NMA, to Nigeria media on the crisis. Shao repeated prompted him to come to Nigeria to "clear withdraw its membership of his allegations against the leadership of the air." As if that was not enough, Shao, the Confederation of African Medical the NMA, accusing it of forgery with the 49, further fuelled the crisis by accusing AssociationT and Societies, CAMAS, is aim of defrauding world organisations some members of the NMA of attempting deepening. Last week, John Shao, a Tanza as exclusively reported by Newswatch in to blackmail him. He alleged that the Newswatch, February 13,1995 21 ■ NIGERIA — unknown persons used a CAMAS letter secretary of CAMAS has persistentl head to write a letter dated December 5, turned down NMA's advice to hand 1994, purportedly signed by him to over to its administrative manager. CAMAS bankers in Switzerland, asking On the N20 million donation, Oye the bank manager to "make a payment of Adeniran said the money was given tc SFR 32,405 to M/S Alfa Metal the NMA towards the building' of its International, France, and debit the secretariat in Abuja. "The money was not account of CAMAS with the same for any joint venture with CAMAS," said amount." Fie added: "The letter head of Oye-Adeniran who showed Newswatch CAMAS was used and my signature some relevant documents on the matter. forged." He insisted that the letter head Newswatch learnt that since the police used for the attempted fraud was stolen have been asked to investigate the from CAMAS secretariat inside the NM A criminal allegation of forgery and the headquarters at Adeniyi Jones Avenue, attempted fraud raised by Shao, the NMA Ikeja. and CAMAS members have not been "It was the first time CAMAS would able to reconcile the two groups. NMA purportedly ask that such a large sum of and CAMAS parted ways when Shao, in money be transferred from its account," a letter dated January 31, 1994, told the Shao told Newswatch. Furthermore, the NMA that he had given Société Medicale letter was allegedly signed by Shao alone, du Cote d'Ivoire the final approval to whereas it required at least two signa tures host the congress, in place of the NMA of CAMAS officers before it could become whose bid to host the same congress was valid. "Because this procedure was not approved by the CAMAS assembly and followed, I was contacted by the bank board in 1992 and 1993. Shao was to manager, who asked me if CAMAS has monitor the NMA's level of preparedness, changed its method of transferring visit Nigeria in March last year before money," Shao said. Apparently irked by giving a final approval. Without visiting this development, Shao said he included Nigeria, Shao gave the final approval to the new allegations in his statement to Société Medicale du Cote d'Ivoire thereby the Nigeria police who invited him for Shao: Further fuelled the crisis causing the controversy. questioning over the previous allegations. After a series of letters on the issue by He pointed accusing fingers at the NMA, membership is disposed of." Again, Oye- some members of the CAMAS hierarchy, insisting that the letter originated from Adeniran said the administrative Shao came to Lagos in June last year, to the Lagos headquarters of the NMA assess the level of preparedness. But that which houses the CAMAS office. CAMAS visit turned out to be the beginning of office had been sealed off by the NMA another controversy. Shao alleged that since October 1994. The secretary-general the letter given to Oye-Adeniran in also accused the NMA leadership of Maseru, Lesotho, in September 1993 in failing to render account of how it has respect of the congress, had been illegally managed the donation of N20 million altered and his signature forged on the received from the Nigerian federal same document. He charged that the government in 1992 towards the building word - "provisional" was deleted and of a joint NMA/CAMAS secretariat in replaced with "an approval" for the NMA Abuja. Said he: "I have been further to host the same congress. disturbed by information that the said Shao insisted last week, that he did money had been lodged in distressed not sign the controversial document. He financial institutions and that all or most argued that CAMAS could not give of the fund is lost." Nigeria a final approval to host its Boniface Oye-Adeniran, the NMA congress last year because the political president, dismissed all the allegations climate at that time did not favour such a by Shao. He said Shao and his cohorts in decision. Shao also insisted that the the NMA came out with those allegations CAMAS board empowered him to take a "because the initial allegations did not decision on its behalf without coming succeed." He explained that the NMA back to tell anybody in the association sealed off the CAMAS secreta ria t beca use why that decision was taken. Oye- it had withdrawn its membership of the Adeniran did not contest the secretary- organisation and suspended the only two general's power, but told Newswatch that Nigerians in its hierarchy as a result of Shao is the author of the signature on the the crisis. Besides, he said, the NMA no altered document. "He admitted this longer owes the international association before the NMA disciplinary committee a duty to house its office "until the matter headed by Dr. Christopher Okojie, on for which the NMA withdrew its Oye-Adeniran: Denied all allegations June 25, 1994," said Oye-Adeniran.ÉI 22 Newswatch, February 13,1995 ©QDGùOÎÎto There is love in the air. February 14 is Valentine’s Day, VvS the day for all lovers. Quality brings you a special edition on love, sex and marriage. Check-out: Our couples with a difference - a large age diffe rence. What’s age got to do with it? We tell you. — Married 25 years and still in love. Want to know h the secret of a long-lasting love life? We tell you. — Tried and tested, we tell you the aphrodisiacs // that work. — He’s behind bars. That’s problem enough but OfeStar M.K.O. Abiola’s wife has another big problem. We tell you. PÜIre — Meet Nigeria’s most famous female herbalist. — True love story, Zesty Susan, Quality children SMltfNOFF and all the other exciting regulars. On Sale Now ISERE)mWEB Price: N80.00 MME CLINIC VACANCIES TIMES Newswatch Communications Limited, a publishing ORE company based in Ikeja/Oregun axis of Lagos State, BE^ requires the services of suitable candidates for the underlisted positions. mIII J 1. MEDICAL OFFICER Si ~V7 h The applicant must be fully registered with the Nigerian. \Ju\\ U L Medical and Dental Council and must have at least 3 years post Youth Service Corps experience. He/she must have Every bottle of Smirnoff ' ____ VÇDKAI ^ IS MADE STRICTLY TO paid the annual practising fees. THE FORMULA ORIGINALLY PREPARED BY Ste. Pierre Smirnoff of Lwow Poland. Smirnoff is nine times oharcoal filtered so that you 2. STAEE.NURSE/MIPWIFE CAN ENJOY A DRINK THAT IS PURE AND CRISP AND CLEAN. The applicant must be an energetic young lady with 1\ / good disposition. Must be gentle and kind and must be dedicated to her profession. She must be a registered SAMRNQTpI member of the Nigerian Nursing and Midwifery Council. Personal emoluments and conditions of service are very attractive. The purest spirit of all. Applications with relevant credentials should be »• V* f submitted to: The Administrative Manager, Newswatch Communications Limited, 3 Billings Way, Off Secretariat Road, Oregun Industrial Estate, P.M.B. 21499, Ikeja, Lagos. AFRICA I LIBERIA Another Wild Goose Chase Liberian factional warlords reach another deadlock raising fears of the resumption of hostilities By Emmanuel Ugwu ope for a peace- chairman of the council. Under the ful resolution of December 21, 1994 peace accord, the Liberia's five-year old collective presidency will run the country civil war appears till elections in November. Ghana has dashed following the already bemoaned the failure of the peace collapse of the latest peace talks in Accra, talks it hosted. Obed Asamoah, Ghana's Ghana.H The peace talks hosted by Jerry foreign minister, described the failed Rawlings, Ghana's president, collapsed peace talks as "very frustrating and last Tuesday when the factional leaders disappointing. We had thought their in the civil war failed to agree on who personal ambition will be subordinated should head the six-man council of state. to the overall interest of Liberia." The personal ambitions of the warlords Asamoah said. stood between them and peace. For most observers of the Liberian All the participants at the talks, except crisis, the failure of thepeace talks did not Tamba Taylor, a respected traditional come as a surprise. Right from the start, chief, nursed personal ambition to be the the warlords stumbled from one dis agreement to another, raising fears that the talks were doomed to fail. The first stumbling block was the issue of filling the fifth slot in the five-man council of state. Attempts to cross the hurdle by expanding the Taylor: Still intransigent governing council membership to six failed. Some of the war among the factions heightened the lords objected to the expansion feelings in the camp of the AFL, and its on the grounds that it would coalition forces, the Lofa Defence Front, proliferate the factions. But LDF, and the Central Revolutionary Hezekiah Bowen, a general and Council, CRC, who could not agree on leader of the Armed Forces of who should occupy the fifth seat allotted Liberia, AFL, supported the to them. proposed expansion and even The second hurdle which faced the wanted two additional seats for participants at the peace talks was the traditional rulers. Observers choice of a chairman or president of the believed that Bowen's proposal governing council. It was the most would have given him undue contentious and intractable issue which advantage if the council finally became the Waterloo of the Accra chairman was to be chosen by peace talks. Initially, only Charles Taylor, election. leader of the National Patriotic Front of Rawlings: Wasted peace efforts The lack of concession Liberia, NPFL, and Oscar Quiah of the 24 Newswatch, February 13, 1995 ■ AFRICA Liberia National Congress, LNC, had first phase of the peace talks on January expressed their interests for the top post. 14. It is feared that the inability of the But as the talks progressed, the political warlords to secure peace in Accra this stakes were raised and the interest of all second time around may spark off another the factional leaders were aroused for the found of angry protests, leading to chairmanship post. anarchy and a possible escalation of Taylor had argued that it was his hostilities among the warring factions. right to chair the council since, according Rawlings had arranged the Accra to him, his organisation had been denied peace talks in his capacity as the chairman the headship of previous ruling councils. of the Economic Community of West Other factions at the talks rejected Taylor's African States, ECOWAS. The desire of demands. He quickly withdrew from the the Ghanaian leader to help the factional race but proposed that another NPFL leaders to resolve Liberia's lingering crisis member should get the post. To break the made him convene a mini-summit of deadlock, Ghanaian mediators put some ECOWAS presidents on January forward their own formula under which 24. The leaders in attendance were those Taylor, the traditional chief, would be the believed to hold the ace in resolving the president with Taylor, the NPFL leader crisis. They included Blaise Campaore, and G.V. Kromah, leader of the United president of Burkina Faso, Sani Abacha, Liberian Movement for Democracy, Nigeria's hèad of state, Lansana Conte, ULIMO, as the first and second vice- Guinean president and Henri Konan presidents respectively. The Çhanaian Bedie, thelvorien president. The meeting formula, too, was thrown out by the Bedie: Joined the peace-makers of the five leaders, including Rawlings, factional leaders. To compound the the host, still could not break the deadlock problems, some factions even objected to After seven days of wranglings and in the choice of the person to head the the nominees of other factions. bickerings among the warlords, the collective presidency. Even their recom Francois Massa, leader of LDF, said bubble burst over the peace talks and the mendation of a sixth slot in the governing the Ghanaian formula was not feasible mediators once again told them to go council was rejected. because it placed the NPFL leader in a home and continue the search for peace. As the Liberian warlords headed for vantage position to become president They were also advised not to violate the home to continue the search for peace, eventually. Massa argued that Taylor, December 28 cease-fire agreement. indications were that ECOWAS might the traditional chief, being 90 years old, is The abortive peace talk was a give up further attempts at making peace almost senile to function effectively in continuation of the peace meeting which among them. According to Asamoah, the exercise of executive powers. He began in Accra on January 11 and ended "nobody feels encouraged to arrange any argued further that in the event of the in a deadlock three days later. Before it more talks unless there's any other president's death, the NPFL leader, being was reconvened on January 23, the compelling willingness" on the part of the first vice-president, would become warlords had been put under pressure to the warlords to achieve peace for their the president. "This cannot work. It is achieve peace following the angry war-ravaged country. totally unacceptable" Mossa warned. protests which attended the failure of the ■ SIERRA LEONE A Pain 1In The Neck Strasser’s government in Sierra Leone sweats as the rebels adopt guerrilla warfare tactics By Wale Oladepo WAT HEN IT TOOK OFF IN of days. It was not to be. The flame of war salary to push out Momoh. Today, as the M J March 1991, spitting kindled by the guerrilla band not only crisis deepens, Sierra Leone, one of the fire in Sierra Leone, the consumed Momoh in 1992, it has made five poorest nations of the world, is fast w W Revolutionary United governance nearly impossible for becoming another Liberia. Front, RUF, was like a band of rag tag Valentine Strasser and his National Reports said between 5,000 and 7,000 army which the professional soldiers of Provisional Ruling Council, NPRC, which people have been killed in the j ungle war. Joseph Momoh would disband in a matter cashed in on the non-payment of soldiers' But the focus shifted last week to the Newswatch, February 13,1995 25 I AFRICA whereabouts of seven Europeans and one and a Brazilian nun were reportedly Before he was toppled, Momoh Australian who were kidnapped by RUF released January 24 and 26. But the Britons committed the entire resources of the about two weeks ago along with seven kidnapped recently are still in captivity. country to finance the war. This made it other Sierra Leoneans working in a Swiss- The rebels have intensified their impossible for him to pay salaries of owned mining company in the southern attacks since the beginning of the year soldiers fighting the war. There was a part of the country. The disappearance piling excessive pressure on the capital. mutiny among the soldiers which Strasser followed three days of fierce fighting with Homes in Ferodogu, a town of about cashed in to remove Momoh. Strasser the government troops in the Mokanji 3,000 people located 50 km to Freetown himself is now on a totem pole. Hills region where the mine is located. haVe come within shelling range of the Aware of the import of its action in Search for the hostages has been rebels. The RUF has in recent weeks the international community, the RUF is hampered by sporadic clashes between undertaken operations in Moyamba 100 reaching out to the world. In a recent the rebels and the government forces in km south-east of Freetown, at Gbinti, 90 release sent to Newswatch by Alimany the south-eastern part of the country. km north-east and Kamba, 80 km north Bakarr Sankoh, RUF, foreign relations In sporadic radio contacts between confirming that it is capable of striking officer, the rebels said the aim of the British embassy in Freetown, the Sierra throughout the country even near the "Opera tion Liberate the Motherland" was Leonean capital, and the rebels, Foday capital. "not only to abolish tyranny, oppression Sayebanah Sankoh, the rebel leader, was The RUF attacks do not only bring and dictatorship, but also to set the pace quoted as having demanded a ransom in diplomatic problems for Strasser's for political freedom in Sierra Leone." the form of arms, ammunition and government, they also affect the very But even as it tries to reach out for medicaments in return for the hostages. base of the nation's economy. Sierra support, so is RUF piling blames for the The development has caused uneasiness Leonean economy is based on tourism war on foreign interven tion. Specifically, in diplomatic circles. Already, families of and mining of diamond, gold, iron and it accused "former* American President British envoys a re being repatriated while other rare ores all of which have been George Bush and the US administration, the Lebanese and Syrian communities made difficult by the war. Strasser Britain, Nigeria, Guinea, United are getting jittery. The RUF has equally commits 90 percent of the country's gross Liberation Movement for Democracy in demanded the withdrawal of all foreign domestic earnings including foreign aids Liberia, ULIMO, and ECOMOG of troops. About 1,000 Guinean soldiers are to fight the war leading to the diversion invading Sierra Leone with the intent to fighting the rebels alongside government of scarce resources meant for exterminate the RUF." The RUF forces who are backed by the Nigerian development. The European Economic spokesman stated further that'the airforce. Since May last year, kidnapping commission, the Asian Pacific Economic countries and forces also "perpetrated of expatriates has been added to the Council and the United States Foreign the recruitment, training and guerrilla warfare. So far, 18 foreigners Aid Department, have all imposed transportation of mercenaries whose sole have been captured. Eight of the foreig sanctions on the war-ravaged country to visible intent is to inflict wanton ners made up of one Russian, six Italians end the crisis. destruction on lives and property in Sierra Leone." RUF blamed the crisis in Sierra Leone today on the seed of discord sowed by Momoh's All People's Congress, APC. "This was as a result of APC's policy of authoritarian rule and terror, disdain for the rule of law, corruption and gross mismanagement of the economy, as well as the elevation pf a particular ethnic group over the rest of the Sierra Leonean society." The rebels expressed disappointment that while Momoh was creating a military consisting mainly of his Limba tribe with whom he surrounded himself, diplomats in Freetown failed to report it to their home governments. According to the rebels, had the diplomats in Freetown made "more responsible, unbiased and objective reports, our country and helpless people would be spared the reign of continued foreign aggression and occupation." The rebel statement accused Strasser of rejecting RUF cease-fire declaration after receiving assurances of continued military political, economic and diplomatic support from Nigeria, Strasser: Trouble in the land Sankoh: Spreading terror Guinea and elsewhere in the region.I 26 Newswatch, February 13,1995 BUSINESS + ECONOMY adequate security. He was said to have got an overdraft in the name of N-L Finance in June 1992 without any security. Haven For Worse, he abandoned the account before the facility expired in March 1994. As at June 1994, the debit balance on that overdraft stood at N3.25 million. Azar also allegedly got an overdraft of N9 million for Metalloplastica in June 1993 with a security valued atNl million. That Fraudsters account was dormant six months later. As at last June, the debt plus interest had risen to N15.4 million. Halifax Nigeria Limited, also owned Malpractices by directors, management and by Azar, got N3 million credit facility without any security in December 1992. staff have brought Savannah Bank of Its debt on that facility was N5.98 million by the middle of last year. The N500,000 Nigeria Pic to its knees. Central Bank of which Brightstar Fisheries, also owned by Azar, took with the guarantee of a Nigeria says the bank is “technically sister company has risen to N751,076.77. The Lebanese African Finance and insolvent* Trading S.A. of Paris which has 23.3 percent shares, the highest single shareholding in SBN, is owned by Azar, By Moffat Ekoriko whicfTexplains why he has been able to secure loans from the bank for his other four companies without adequate AVANNAH BANK OF loans from the bank without providing security guarantees. Nigeria Pic., SBN, is adequate security. For instance, they Ibrahim Sanusi, an executive director "technically insolvent." noted that Mansour Azar, a Lebanese of the bank, according to the report, also That is the verdict of the director, used four companies to secure got an overdraft of N3.5 million using Central Bank of Nigeria, various loans from the bank without LSN Metal Industries Limited, Kano. He CBN, after studying the report of its used a mortgage Sexaminers who scrutinised the records of debenture as a the bank between August and September guarantee. As at last last year. According to the report the June, that account had bank's adjusted capital showed a negative a debit balance of N2.2 decline of N460 million as at June 1994. million with SBN. So For the bank to stay afloat, it requires did Gbolahan Dada, an injection of N871 million immediately, another director, who although its management appears not to was alleged by the have the capacity to raise such a stagger report to have taken an ing amount of money. Tony Ede, CBN overdraft of N2.9 mil spokesman, told Newswatch that the CBN lion through Joe Han will take "necessary actions in the interest Network Marketing of depositors." Limited even though A dependable source said that the the legal mortgage for extent of the financial malpractices found that loan was not per by its examiners is such that the CBN has fected. The loan is yet finalised plans to take over the manage to be repaid although ment of the bank because of its belief that its deadline expired last the present team cannot perform any March. Like Dada, the miracle to turn it around. Said a source: legal mortgage which "Nothing short of a thorough clean-up of authorised Chichi Savannah Bank can save it from going Ashwe, another direc under." tor, to draw a term loan CBN examiners, in their reports, of N2 million was heaped the blame for the financial according to the exami predicament of the bank on its directors, ners not perfected. The management and staff. Specifically, they account according to accused some of the directors of taking them, has now been Newswatch, February 13, 1995 27 ■ BUSINESS + ECONOMY abandoned. department sought advice from the le The N5 million overdraft which I. department on the matter. The lej Yahaya, another director, got from the department advised the bank to sigi Kaduna branch of the bank in the name of tripartite agreement binding Premier, K Fintex Nigeria Limited was not repaid by Ventures and the bank. It also advis March 1994 when it was due. By June last that adequate security be obtained befo year, the debit balance on that overdraft granting the‘loan but warned again had jumped to N5.7 million. The CBN using the rice as security because "it has already penalised the bank for the not a durable item and cannot be store facilities offered its directors in for too long." contravention of the banking and Based on the legal advice; th financial institutions decree. The law advances department sought manage prohibits the granting Qf unsecured ment approval to impose the nev credits of more than N50,000 to any bank condition on the facility. Ali Sheriff, th* director. managing director of the bank, turned As if taking a cue from the directors, down the request saying: " as the facility the staff of the bank also indulged in is cash against documents, additional reckless disbursement of unauthorised security may not be necessary." He credits without the knowledge of the forwarded the memo to the other bank's management. According to the executive directors, each of whom agreed examiners' report, the Nnewi branch with him but cautioned that the loan manager granted unauthorised credits of should be within legal limit. Thomas ltd, N185 million between November 1993 executive director, administration, said and January 1994. Some of the credits "if overdraft is not yet drawn, lending exceeded the statutory lending limit of should be within our legal limit as we the bank. Gabros Limited got a loan of recently discussed in our meeting with 1^33.7 million, nearly N9 million above CBN officials." Savannah Bank's limit of N25 million. Although the bank's limit is N25 Oclemsco also got N25.5 million and million, the management can only Dinco Construction got N23.6 million. Of approve loans of N5 million and below. the 43 companies which benefited from Coker: His plea failed The board must approve all facilities the loan spree, only 22 have paid back. above N5 million but the N35 million The rest of the loans amounting to N88.5 credit to a customer. For example, was approved by the management million are still to be recovered. customers with accounts at the Zaria without its knowledge. Worse, the only Like the Nnewi branch manager, his branch went to Kaduna and Kano security was the shipping documents for counterparts in Makurdi and Zaria also branches and withdrew various sums of the rice import. But when the loan was granted unauthorised loans. The N19 money. The cheques were sent to Zaria not repaid as stipulated, management million granted by the Makurdi branch for clearing but the branch returned them informed the board formally in December manager has not been recovered. The unpaid. Kaduna and Kano did not debit 1993. Even though the board approved facility was extended even without the their books, neither did Zaria debit the the overdraft at its 93rd meeting on March knowledge of the bank's area manager, customers' accounts. The three branches 22, 1994, the facility was queried by the central. When it was discovered, 'the kept tossing the cheques from one bank CBN. branch manager was placed on to the other. The customers' accounts Toye Coker, chairman of the bank suspension. This did not deter his were finally debited after the head office said in his reply to the query that the colleague in Zaria from following his intervened. But the unauthorised credits "ratification was given based on the example. He too extended N6 million in of N20 million have not been recovered. condition that the rice is to be released to credits to 33 companies. In Kano, the Ado At the top management level, the story buyers after payment of funds into Bayero Road branch manager granted an is not different. Although the statutory customer's account or receipt of one unauthorised overdraft of N36 million to lending limit of the bank's management million dollars in SBN's account. one customer, but the bank was lucky to is N5 million, it granted a loan of N35 Unknown to the board, the managing recover the money. It was equally lucky million to Key Ventures Limited under director actually released the shipping to recover the N20 million overdraft questionable circumstances. The Key documents without fulfilling all the granted by Lagos Street, Kano branch Ventures affair started in July 1993 when conditions precedent." The CBN was without any security. Premier Foods Nigeria Limited got a angry with Sheriff and did not mince The procedure employed by the presidential approval to import rice but words in itsquery to him signed by Victor branches to grant the credits are had no funds to do so. It approached SBN Odozi, deputy governor. Argued Odozi: practically the same. They either issued for a credit facility although it was not a "The failure to obtain a tripartite bank drafts on unfunded accounts or customer of the bank. The request was agreement and warehouse the rice as suppressed cheques sent for clearing and fumed down. However, Premier Foods recommended by the advances interbank settlement letters. The method decided to use its sister company, Key department at the processing stage has was so common place that some times, Ventures, a customer of SBN to apply for put the bank's interest in jeopardy." up to three branches colluded to extend the facility. Confused, the advances In his reply, Sheriff claimed he thought 28 Newswatch, February 13,1995 ■ BUSINESS + ECONOMY the management limit was N10 million the value of the cheques at the clearing out N30 million through Chartered Bank and the bank's statutory limit, N40 house. and Victory Merchant Bank. The fraud million. This defence alarmed CBN and The most interesting of the cases succeeded partly because Chartered Bank Coker. Coker wrote the CBN: "It is involved N77 million executed through did not caution Savannah on the cheque. difficult to believe that the managing Equatorial Trust Bank and Pacific Efforts to recover the money through director of a bank does not know the true Merchant Bank. The fraudsters paid two CBN was aborted because Victory lending limit of the bank he is managing cheques for N42 million and N35 million Merchant Bank's account with CBN then especially having been an executive into their accounts at Pacific Merchant was heavily overdrawn. Savannah Bank director of the same bank for several Bank which sent them through Equatorial had to call in the police which blocked years before being appointed as Trust Bank for clearing. Equatorial was, Nil.6 million of the money in various managing director. Any claim of such however, suspicious of the cheques and accounts at Nigeria-Arab Bank, United ignorance, in my opinion, amounts to alerted Savannah Bank, although it still Bank of Af**^a Pic., and First African gross dishonesty." Coker also denied Trust Bank. The Nil.6 havingprior knowledge of the transaction million was given back and pleaded with CBN not to penalise to Savannah but the the bank because the board was deceived balance of N18.1 million by the management appointed by the was lost. CBN against the wishes of shareholders. Savannah almost lost His pleas fell on deaf ears. CBN eventually another N42 million penalised Savannah Bank. Recovering the through Broad Bank at loan is a problem. As at the last CBN the clearing house. The inspection, interest charges had brought fraud was detected a day the loan to N47.4 million. before Broad Bank's Apart from poor credit management, licence was suspended large-scale fraud has also contributed to by the CBN in 1993. the dwindling fortunes of the bank. E.O. When the licence was Olufidipe, the bank's chief inspector, restored, Savannah made identified at least 13 major cases of fraud a claim on Broad Bank totalling N337 million in the bank as at and got the amount April last year. The biggest fraud which refunded in March 1994. involved N189 million was committed at CBN examiners also the Nnewi branch. Olufidipe alleged in discovered 31 other fraud his report to the board of directors that cases involving N33 Adol Chijindu, the Nnewi branch million in local and manager, A. Agbor, platform officer, and foreign currencies. The M. Ozoike, local remittance officer, biggest involved N9.2 connived in the fraud. million at the head office Although the officers used 50 finance department. A companies to carry out the fraud, fraud of $213,955 or N3.6 Olufidipe said N156.5 million, was given million also succeeded at to nine companies. The beneficiaries were the international depart Odensco Motors/Dinco Construction, ment. At the Trade Fair Judike Indus tries/Jeckey Limited, Gabros branch, Lagos, N1.16 International Limited, and A.C. Nwosu Odozi: Queried SBN MD million was taken out of Brothers/Elosel International Limited the bank's vault by an which gotN44 million, N45 million, N33.7 forwarded the cheques for clearing. At officer who had sole control of the safe million and N13.9 million respectively. the clearing house, SBN's staff declared against banking procedures. The National Others are Prince Chuks Enterprise, the cheques lost after CBN had debited Fertilizer Company, NAFCON, at Qnne which got N5.2 million; Fourth Formation its account with the two cheques. The was defrauded of one million naira in Limited, N4.2 million, Nicoy Enterprises/ bank's representative at the clearing two separate cases at the Port Harcourt Choko Merchants/Agric Organisation, house went underground immediately branch of the bank. N4.6 million, Onik Industries Limited/ after the fraud was perfected. He has not Another dimension to the frauds Tonik K-H Limited, N3.2 million, and C. surfaced ever since. When the fraud was involve illegal withdrawals from Ogonna and Company Limited, N2.7 discovered, Savannah Bank officials customer's savings accounts by officials million. reported it to the CBN and the two banks, of the bank. In Jos, the bank had to refund The bank also lost N149 million Equatorial and Pacific were asked to N10,000 to Pauline Thomsine after the through fraud in the interbank clearing return the money to the bank. The bank's money was stolen from her account on house. Fraudsters with the connivance of saving grace, according to Olufidipe in a January 6,1994. S.D. Maidama also had SBN staff opened accounts in other banks memo to the board, was the caution letter N35,000 withdrawn from his savings where they paid in SBN cheques. Such sent to the bank by Equatorial.. account at the same branch in August cheques were destroyed by the conniving But Savannah was not so lucky when 1993. In Port Harcourt, N470,340 was staff after the CBN has debited SBN with fraudsters used the same method to take withdrawn from the savings account of Newswatch, February 13,1995 29 ■ BUSINESS + ECONOMY one Owowo. sourcing for funds to pay back the $2 CBN examiners blamed the banl Savannah Bank's officials also million and take over the LAFTRACO woes on poor management. For instanc engaged in sharp practices in the shares. This would give the company they held that the bank's internal contre management of the bank's foreign asset. permanent control of the bank. were weak and "failed to deter fraudste The most scandalous was the LAFTRACO Some malpractices were mind- or provide early warning signals placement. Savannah Bank placed $7.06 boggling. Take the Byblos Bank affair. management in respect of continuir million in LAFTRACO, the bank's largest Byblos Bank of London owed Savannah fraud." CBN identified at least 10 laps* shareholder. The fund was treated in the $7.2 million or N158 million. It paid just in the management of the bank includin bank's books as placement in a foreign $3 million or N66 million and Savannah the inability to reconcile balance in th bank when LAFTRACO is a trading bank accepted this as full settlement of suspense and hold-over accounts company. Besides, the placement was the debt. The bank went further and Consequently, some uncleared items ij converted in the bank's books at the rate the account were as old as five years of N4 per dollar against the prevailing % Interbank branch reconciliation was als< exchange rate of N22. It took CBN's not done promptly giving room fo intervention to adjust the record from malpractices. Savannah could not evei N33.2 million in the general ledger to Some malpractices reconcile its accounts with CBN not tc N153.8 million. talk of other banks. Its accounts with th* On March 9, 1994, CBN instructed were mind- apex bank have uncleared items of N7S4 Savannah to repatriate the money but the boggling. Take the million. In-house, its books do noi bank refused saying it had lost contact balance. A difference of N2.5 million was with LAFTRACO since January. The Byblos Bank spotted by the CBN in the head office falsehood was exposed when ledger. LAFTRACO's representatives attended affair. Byblos bank To compound its distress, as much as the bank's 93rd board meeting on March of London owed N141 million of the bank's N359 million 22, 1994, 13 days later. CBN officials fixed assets are financed with depositors' wondered how they got the invitation for Savannah $7.2 funds. Shareholders fund in the book is the board meeting when they could not just N218 million. CBN officials told be located to repatriate the funds. CBN million (N158 Newswatch that the bank is "distressed was also alarmed that the bank cut a deal on all known bank indices" and to sell LAFTRACO's shares losing its lien million). It paid depositor's fund would be lost if nothing on them and therefore, the chance of just $3 million is done in the next few days. recovering the money. The placement Sheriff shunned Newswatch request has since been classified as doubtful credit (Nj56 million) and for interview on the plight of the bank. with 50 percent loss provisions. CBN On Tuesday, January 17, a Newswatch insists that LAFTRACO, as a trading Savannah Bank reporter went to the bank's head office at company, cannot hold foreign placement. accepted this as Broad Street with a letter requesting for Consequently, it gave the management an interview on the allegations of fraud up to January 31, 1995 to recover the full settlement of and malpractices in the bank. Bola money or lose its foreign exchange Fashina, public relations manager, dealership licence. the debt. The bank collected the letter and asked the reporter The LAFTRACO placement led to to come back the following day because another malpractice in the Bank of Africa, went further and Sheriff had gone to Abuja. After eight London account of Savannah. Newswatch renewed its repeated visits, Fashina said Sheriff did learnt that the bank's management cut a not want to discuss the allegations. deal with LAFTRACO to sell its shares correspondent Newswatch gathered, however, that for $2 million and keep the $7.06 million the Federal Investigation and Intelligence placement. Rather than find a new buyer relationship with Bureau, FIIB, is currently investigating for the shares, Savannah Bank transferred Byblos the malpractices. Last month, the National $2 million from its bank of America, Council for National Awareness, NCNA, London account to LAFTRACO. The in a paid newspaper advertisement, called bank's management refused to allow for the resignation of the bank's bank examiners access to that particular management and immediate action by statement of account. CBN examiners renewed its correspondent relationship CBN to salvage the banks. remarked: "During the field examination, with Byblos. CBN queried this and called Ede hinted that the CBN will soon act all efforts to obtain the relevant statements for the cancellation of the relationship. but did not say when. of the nostra account for the period 1st Furthermore, the management of all the Newswatch: Will the CBN act only January, 1994 to 30 September, 1994 were 21 foreign accounts of the bank was after all depositors' funds are lost and the either frustrated or rebuffed despite the fraught with irregularities. While bank collapses? evidence of availability of the statements Savannah Bank's records showed the Ede: We have a responsibility to with a top management staff. " An official balance in the accounts as N268 million, depositors and would take necessary of Savannah Bank told Newswatch that CBN reconciliation showed it was N361 action to protect their money, just wait." the full-time directors of the bank are million, a difference of N92.9 million. The waiting game continues. 30 Newswatch, February 13, 1995 I BUSINESS + ECONOMY Different Strokes For some states, small budget is big enough, while for others, a big one is even better By Jonah Achema ver-ambitious N1.97 billion, as against N1.92 billion in attracts N179.39 million, and N122 million budgets do not 1994. Says Bako: "My administration has in Bauchi and Ogun states respectively. work. This is the decided to be honest with the people and Imo State is to boost education with N598 lesson Rasheed Raji, a is, therefore, not prepared to play to the million while Lagos State is to support navy commander and administrator of gallery by announcing ambitious but road construction with N308.6 million. BauchiO State learnt from operating the unrealistic targets of capital receipts." Kogi State's priority is transport in which state's 1994 budget. It was a deficitbudget. Other states are to spend far more, it promises to invest N184 million. In the state's 1995 budget, which he than they did last year. For instance, Edo Budget analysts are, however, not sure announced recently, Raji decided to State's "budget of hope," went up by 67 if states' budgets are indeed imple- maintain a less ambitious estimate of N2.2 percent, Anambra State's by 115.28 percent, mentable. Do tun Philips, a professor and billion, seven percent lower than N2.3 Ogun State by 73 percent, Ondo State by 41 director-general, National Institute for billion of1994. This, he said, is to enable his percent while Rivers State's budget of Social and Economic Research, NISER, administration combat, "the imbalances "continuity and consolidation" is N689.2 Ibadan, said in Lagos last week that a recorded in last year's budget, with million more than last year's budget. situation where states depend heavily on emphasis on strict adherence to a balanced Several states, however, failed to take the federation account to finance their budget." their cue from Sard Abacha's "budget of budgets was unhealthy. Indeed, most sta tes Yakubu Bako, a lieutenant-colonel and renewal" which gave agriculture a pride depend on the federation account for more administrator of Akwa Ibom State also of place. So far, only Kwara, Bauchi and than 50 percent of their revenue estimates. chose to be realistic. The state's 1995 budget, Ogun states have given priority allocation "If the federal government cannot meet its tagged "budget of realism," is almost at to agriculture. Kwara State is to commit revenue estimates, the states will have par with 1994 budget. The state is to spend N219 million to agriculture while the sector problems," said Philips. STATES' BUDGETS AT A GLANCE EXPENDITURE INCOME S/No. States Total Recurrent Capital Internal Capital Federation Others Budget Revenue Receipts Account 1. Abia N2.2b N1.6b N1.12b _ _ _ _ 2. Akwa Ibom N1.97b N 1.67b N299.41m N318.18 - Nl.llb N240m 3. Anambra N2.8b N1.6b N1.2b --- - 4. Bauchi N2.2b N1.002b Nl.lb N1.179m - Nl.Ob ~ 5. Cross River N1.54b N914.2m N631.2m N236.1m - Nl,628,956 - 6. Delta N2.5b Nl,459.6b Nl,121.3m N588.9m N517.3m N1.473m - 7. Edo N2.8b N1.8b Nl.Ob N490m N756.2m N1.6b - 8. Enugu N2.1b N1.2b N918m N560.8m --- 9. Imo N2.4b N 1.46b N1.05b N499.8m N761m N1.2b - 10. Kwara N2.01b N891.4m Nl.llb N136b --- 11. Kogi N 1.84b Nl.lb N679.7m N260.4m N260.4m N993.5m N141.1m 12. Lagos N5.7b N4.3b N1.4b --- - 13. Ogun N3.02b N1.596b N1.128b N1.21m N339m N1.3b - 14. Ondo N2.9b N1.7b N181m - - - - 15. Osun N 1.89b N122.6m N667m N745m N370.2m Nl.Ob - 16. Oyo N2.3b N1.3b Nl.lb N716.6m N82.98m N960m N1.9b 17. Rivers N3.107b N1.8b N1.3b --- N1.9b 18. Ratsina N2.16b N1.07b N1.096b N224.2m - N1.56b - 19. Kaduna N2.9b N 1.06b N771.4m N1.2b - N918.1m - 20. Plateau N2.8b N1.3b N1.4b --- Newswatch, February 13,1995 31 SPORTS I LAWN TENNIS one player while Mary Pierce moved to the number three position. If Pierce hones her skills and plays to her full potential, she could well be the dominant female player of 1995 Thriller Pierce became the first French player to win a grand slam event since Francois Durr won the French Open in 1967. The much talked about mouth-watering prospect of an Down Agassi-Sampras rivalry got off to a cracking start at the same Australian Open. While Andre Agassi enjoyed a dominant smooth-ride to the finals without dropping a set, Pete Agassi: Talented Sampras had to endure all sorts Under of adversity. His coach, Tom Gullikson suffered a stroke and had to be flown back to the United States. This incident made an emotional Sampras shed tears freely during his epic struggle against Newswatch sports columnist takes a look his friend Jim Courier. Also his girl friend Delaino Mulcaby had an accident in at the recently concluded Australian Tennis Australia and broke her hand. However, by the final against Andre Open and declares it: exciting Agassi, all the stress appeared to have' taken its toll on Pete Sampras, as he lost in By Chuka Momah four sets to the rejuvenated Agassi. This is not to take anything away from Agassi for his excellent display in Australia. N RECENT TIMES, How mistaken! Mary Pierce had It has always been apparent that Agassi international women's suffered terrible abuse from her father Jim, is very talented. His ground strokes are tennis has come under severe an ex-convict. It became so bad that Jim some of the best in tennis. What has criticism for its lack of thrill, Pierce was banned from WTA always been questionable is his excitement and suspense. The tournaments. However, it was left to the commitment to the game. Sure he made monotony in the ladies' game set is resourceful Nick Bolletieri to put all the lots of money from advertisements on principally because of the absence of theelements together. I account of his flamboyant, if controversial controversial Monica Seles. To At the 1995 Australian Open, Bolletieri image. He blew his first three grand slam compound the problem, the delightfully experienced disappointment when his finals, losing the US Open final to the 19- nubile Gabriella Sabaitini hit a bad patch ward, Boris Becker, was surprisingly year-old Pete Sampras in 1990, as well as in her game and failed to win a title for beaten in the first round by Patrick two French Open finals to Jim Courier many months. She eventually won the McEnroe, younger brother of the great and Andres Gomes of Ecuador, a veteran Virginia slims championships late in 1994 John McEnroe. Bolletieri had managed on his way out of his game. and another tournament in Australia champions in the past including Monica After that loss, critics severely early in January 1995. Seles and the flamboyant Andre Agassi, questioned Agassi's will. Thegreatjimmy The back injury which has plagued both of whom he split with acrimoniously. Connors derided Andre Agassi as a Steffi Graf and which may have It was left to Mary Pierce to put a smile on player who became a star without contributed to her loss to Aranxta Sanchez the "old" man's face in the 1995 Australian winning a major title. Agassi's reply was Vicario in the US Open final of 1994 and Open. With power hitting characterised to win the Wimbledon title on his least which made her withdraw from the 1995 by discipline and variety, Pierce destroyed favourite surface grass, by beating the Australian Open, did not help matters. Sanchez Vicario in two astonishing sets 6- Croatian Goran Ivani-sevic in five Aranxta Sanchez Vicario, the wily, gritty, 3, 6-2. Pierce still has a lot to learn about thrilling sets in 1992. Again unseeded resourceful, diminutive Spaniard with tennis. She rarely volleys and most times after a severe slump caused by a wrist an improved game, appeared the only when she should hit a smash, she plays a injury, Agassi won the US Open title in light at the end of the dark-tunnel of drive volley. Also, with her height (5 ft 11 1994. What Agassi's triumph achieved in women's tennis. Many felt that her will inches), her serve could be much more Australia was exactly the wish of Sampras. power was too suspect for her to be potent than it is now. regarded as a genuine threat in women's In spite of her loss, Sanchez Vicario A monumental rivalry between Agassi tennis. replaced Steffi Graf as the World'snumber and Sampras is indeed in the works now.B 32 Newswatch, February 13,1995 BOOK REVIEW righteousness refused to see the Shagari "monarchy" as a reproach. They struck on December 31, 1983 and sent Dikko and his NPN colleagues scurrying abroad Here Comes for safety. In Britain to where Tie fled, Dikko, that rare politician who would not chew his words before uttering them began a verbal 'jihad' to mobilise his fellow countryman to chase away the interlopers. It was in furtherance of this mission Dikko Again that Dikko set out that morning of July 5, 1984, from his Porchester Terrace residence in London, for an interview appointment with a Ghanaian journalist. A new book by Newswatch London bureau A few metres away from his home, he was forcibly abducted, anaesthetised, chief tells the how and why of the attempted crated as diplomatic baggage, and taken to Stansted Airport to be air freighted kidnap of Nigeria’s formertransport minister home. The attempt, though botched, resonated throughout the world. Overnight, Nigeria had joined the league Title: Diplomatic Baggage - certainly because there were no leftovers of international brigands. MOSS AD and Nigeria: in the dustbins. Ten years after, Kayode Soyinka, The Dikko Story Add to that his haughty carriage, his Newswatch's London bureau chief, has Author: Kayode Soyinka air of omnipotence, his peculiar ability-to returned to the subject with a book, Publishers: Newswatch Books Ltd. arouse suspicion of corruption to himself Diplomatic Baggage - Mossad and Nigeria: Reviewer: Godwin Agbroko even as he tried to cut the picture of a man The Dikko Story. more sinned against than sinning, then With Soyinka's help, the why and how ven as a practising Dikko was clearly a throw-back to the era of the Dikko saga can now be stitched muslim, Umaru Dikko as a of the divine right of kings, where the together reasonably firmly. In the politician could do with monarch could do no wrong; and a bad author's hand, the tale acquires a fresh Christ's admonition that it king was a reproach for a people for their life, taking on new meanings in the tell is not what goes into the sinful ways. For Nigerians, Dikko was ing. For sure, he is a journalist, not a mouth that defiles a man, but what comes the symbol of all that was vile in the historian, and when he tells of an episode, outE of it. At a time the citizenry was being Shagari administfation. he does not so much reproduce it as pauperised by his ruling National Party Of course, the military in their self- reconstruct it. In that reconstruction, of Nigeria, NPN, Dikko chose to make Photo by Matthew Faji 1 his now infamous ^^aoMBS^yaurcr^ rebuttal that there was no hunger in the land. His evidence: DR OUSO10 $«RfiK Nigerians had not 5'i*rk; :,; DR UH1£RU u’IKKw started to eat from » ' t «HI lSTTU* ThCr^S . r;jv fkpu K the dustbins! --£?i5ï£ « *CC*i (SUAC 3;£35 US35 ^ .- &: *,. : r t As a senior MC30AM minister in govern ment and the man charged with pro curing rice for Nigerians, Dikko's choice of logic was not only impolitic, it was insensitive. Nigerians at the time may not have been scavenging the dustbins for food, not because they had a choice in the matter, but most Agbroko (standing) reviewing the book while Dikko (second right) and others listen Newswatch, February 13,1995 33 ■ book review Diplomatic Baggage takes the reader on a of International Affairs, NIIA. To — Alexander Barak, a diamond dealer cinematic, breezy journey of discovery, confound the situation, the ministry's and MOSSAD operative; Felix Abithol, a the eloquence finding expression in the research department, by the decree clothing importer; and Lev-Arie Shapiro, literary technique of narration and establishing the NSO, was brought under the anaesthetist who drugged Dikko. explanation. the intelligence organisation as its external Although Shapiro may have thought that Revelation for the reader begins with wing and renamed the Directorate of he was working for Israel through the the question, why Dikko alone? Why not External Intelligence. As if that was not MOSSAD, probably because of the Augustus Akinloye, the chairman of the bad enough, Rafindadi, as chief intelligence connections of Barak, the man NPN reputed by the military, though intelligence officer, was a member of the who recruited him, there is no hard evi untrue, to own a vineyard abroad for supreme military council, the highest dence to suggest that this was so. Barak making his own choice champagne? Why ruling body, while the external affairs himself testified on trial that he carried not Bello Maitama Yusuf, the Czar of the minister was not. Of course, it would be out the plot on behalf of certain busi import licence regime? As the author less than human given the situation if the nessmen who wanted Dikko back on trial. shows quite early and rather persuasively, NSO director-general did not feel superior Denial is not, however, a refutation. Dikko was a victim of the fabulous myth to the minister. As Gambari himself put The fact that the abductors entered a of his own life, a man condemned in the it, "he (Rafindadi) appeared to have seen guilty plea foreclosed enquiry on many eyes of the military and Nigerians by his himself as a member of the supreme fronts. And in a failed enterprise of this own mouth. military council with the supervisory role nature, Barak's denial and that of Israel is The same persuasive argument over this ministry — a view I did not to be expected. But given the pervasive connects the government of Muham- accept. Worse still, some senior officers presence of the MOSSAD later in Nigeria, madu Buhari to the kidnap attempt. in our ministry were fond on currying its role in the Dikko affair, and Calling in evidence the role of Nigerian favour with the NSO boss and attempted subsequently in Nigeria's intelligence diplomats and military intelligence to involve him in personal or policy outfits the issue merits more critical officers; the behaviour of the Nigerian decisions." attention. government and its high commissioner In such a situation, anyone, Diplomatic Baggage is not all about to the court of St. James before and after particularly the NSO director-general, Dikko. In a way it is a miniaturised history the event; and Dikko's own activities as was capable of taking advantage of the of the Shagari era, its 286 pages running minister and exile in Britain. Diplomatic confusion where the ministry of external a wide gamut. Its sweep covers the Baggage provides compelling evidence, affairs exercised administrative super background to what the author refers to even if circumstantial, to make the vision over the staff of the department of as a madness; the kidnap attempt itself conclusion of Nigeria's complicity external intelligence while operational and the ensuing diplomatic face-off; the inescapable. control was with the mother agency, the expensive extradition process and why it Yet the question lingers. To what NSO. Given the criminal zeal of the NSO failed; and the debauchery of the time extent was the Nigerian government at the time, was it not possible, as the tagged the Fourgerolle affair. It ends on a involved? At the highest level? As yet, author suggests, that Rafindadi may ha ve poignant note in the reversal of fortunes the answers are inconclusive. Still, like all suborned Peter Oyedele and Okon Edet, that saw to Dikko's home coming. Hear seminar works, Diplomatic Baggage the two Nigerian diplomats involved in Dikko in 1991 as an exile: "I appreciate provides strong clues to which other the abduction, in order to shore up his more the value and quality of law. The researchers may have to turn to unravel credentials as a crack intelligence law saved me here, so I have a greater the answers. The most compelling of the manager in a regime that was already respect for law. These years of exile have clues is the theory that the National pre-disposed toward arbitrariness? assisted me to see the beauty of Security Organisation, NSO, may have Unfortunately, the answer must await democracy; to see the value of liberty; to planned and executed the kidnap, neither the fullness of time. understand more the value of freedom. with the knowledge of the ministry of As to this, there is no doubt. Even if Here, they render their business based on external affairs, nor with the imprimatur Rafindadi were to have acted on his own, the rule of law. That is what is called a of the head of state. the Buhari regime, in providing the refined society. That is what I want my That could have been made possible enabling environment by its own society to become." Dikko on his way by the structural jumble that defined, arbitrariness, was vicariously guilty of home in 1994: "Tell him (Buhari) some rather ambivalently, the relationship the crime. So too must Nigerians share in people are already calling my arrival in between the NSO and the external affairs the blame. By their vengeful spirit and Nigeria the latest political coup." ministry on the one hand, and the condemnation of the political class That is the kind of repartee that makes personalities of the heads pf the two without proven guilt, they unwittingly the reader look balefully into nothingness, organs on the other. Mohammed Lawal encouraged the wholesale abridgement stamp his feet repeatedly on the ground, Rafindadi, newly-appointed director- of fundamental human rights and the and mutter to himself, "There goes Dikko general of the NSO, was an envoy of subsequent brigandage abroad. again." In a way, Dikko symbolises long-standing who had capped his When we come to the MOSSAD Nigeria's political class who like the foreign service career as Nigeria's connection, we are on a less firmer Bourbons have learnt nothing and ambassador to Bonn. Obviously, he knew ground. Of the four men arrested and forgotten nothing. more about the internal workings of the tried for Dikko's forcible abduction, only All in all, Diplomatic Baggage is a bold ministry than Ibrahim Gambari, who, one, Mohammed Yusuf, a military attempt at reconstructing the events of prior to his appointment as minister was intelligence officer was a Nigerian, the the time, and putting them in perspective director-general of the Nigerian Institute others, Israelis. They were the ringleaders for the records.® 34 Newswatch, February 13, 1995 SPECIAL SECTION Diplomatie Baggage MOSS AD & Nigeria: The Dikko Story By Kayode Soyinka PART TWO in the newspapers lambasting the Nigerian Government. It was Diplomatic Stand-off natural, therefore, for the Buhari administration to begin to believe that perhaps the British Government under Margaret A stand-off between Britain and Nigeria seemed as inevi Thatcher had given tacit approval to the exiles' fulminations table as death, even before Dikko was kidnapped. For as soon against it. Although the British Government's answer was that as the military coup of December 311983 took place, many of the it did not have any control over its country's press, the doubt political actors in Nigeria found sanctuary in London and as still lingered in Lagos as to its sincerity in this respect. Even if it stories of the pillage of Nigeria began to proliferate, the names had no control over its press, surely it could at least set some of many of these exiles appeared in the British press. They guidelines for the exiles if it found that their words and actions included Chief Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye, former were capable of souring the relationship with a friendly country. chairman of the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN); Dr In no way, however, could the verbal excesses of the Nige Joseph Wayas, former President of rian expatriates justify in the eyes of the Senate, Senator Uba Ahmed, the British public the attempt by secretary-general of the NPN; Alhaji foreign agents to abduct one of them Bello Maitama Yusuf; Minister of on a London thoroughfare. This Commerce, Malam Ali Makele; outrage was clearly articulated by Minister of Steel Development, c former Prime Minister James Emmanuel Osamor; Minister for f Callaghan: "I ask you to recognise the Police Affairs, Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim;. § deep sense of shock that the British a businessman and leading financier J people had when they heard that of the NPN; and Alhaji Umaru Dikko | somebody on their soil was himself. kidnapped, put into a box and an It was evident that to be able to get £ attempt was made to take the man to the root of Nigeria's economic and •§ out of the United kingdom. That was political decay, the new military £ an affront to Britain. And the British government would have to question people felt that that was an affront, these exiles; and in doing so, they however big the miscreant."32 would also have to seek the co The three Israelis and the Nigerian operation of the British authorities in army major arrested for the kidnap extraditing them. That co-operation offence were tried in London and could not be taken for granted, for in sentenced to various lengthy jail 1962 when the Nigerian Government terms. Alexander Barak, the of Prime Minister Sir Abubakar ringleader, got 14 years; Lev-Arie Tafawa Balewa asked for the Shapiro, the anaesthetist, and Felix extradition of veteran opposition politician Anthony Enahoro, Messaud Abitbol, got 10 years each. Mohammed Yusufu, the who was accused of treason, it took a lot of diplomatic Nigerian, got 12 years. When they tried to appeal against their manoeuvring for the fugitive offender to be extradited from harsh sentences, their leave to appeal in the Appeal Court was England. But relations between the two countries were never as refused. Lord Justice Croom-Johnson who presided said that it cold as they inevitably became in the wake of the Dikko Affair. had been submitted that this case was unique and that it should Britain and Nigeria had always had heated disagreements, remain so. The judge declared: "There are very many exiles but rarely had things been so bad as to cause them to reduce living in this country whose governments may change with diplomatic relations below that of full ambassadorial level, as rapid frequency. But people who come to live here must remain now happened after the Dikko kidnapping attempt. Nigerians free from any threat that they might be taken back forcibly. We felt that ty have a sizable body of political exiles from their have no view about alleged prior events in Nigeria. All we country residing in Britain was detrimental to the relations know is that a very bad attempt was made to kidnap Dr Dikko between the two countries; but these exiles did more than just and this kind of thing must be discouraged. It was an affront to sit around. Dikko appeared regularly on British television and this country and to the rule of law and to its sovereignty which Newswatch, February 13, 1995 35 ■ SPECIAL SECTION we are not willing to tolerate."2 The British public were all the readier to feel indignant a t the George Carman, QC, who represented Barak, one of the attempt since this was the second occasion within two months Israelis, had told the judge that there was an "inevitable that an outrage had been perpetrated on British soil by foreigners assumption that the kidnap had the consent and approval of the claiming diplomatic immunity: the Dikko Affair had a Libyan friendly Commonwealth country of Nigeria." What he meant dimension. A London policewoman, WPC Yvonne Fletcher, was that the sentencing judge had failed to distinguish between had been killed by shots which came from a gun from the "this unusual crime" and "the average kidnapping". If the Libyan People's Bureau in St James's Square. All the diplomats appeal had been allowed, the kidnappers would have argued in the People's Bureau had been allowed to leave Britain without that they had acted for "the patriotic purpose of returning their diplomatic immunity being waived. Had it been, it would Nigeria's most wanted man" to his home country to face justice have enabled the police to search and possibly to have discovered for alleged corruption. But Lord Justice Croom-Johnson was the killer's gun. As an undoubted consequence of this incident not impressed. He himself had stated categorically that there pressure was put on Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe to be was nothing in the evidence before his court to suggest that the tough on the Nigerian Government, especially after it had been Nigerian Government or the Nigerian High Commission in made public thatpolicehad established from their investi gâtions London had been involved in the plot. that members of the Nigerian High Commission in London Of course, the Buhari Government had equally vehemently were involved in the kidnap attempt and that action against protested its innocence. But it was transparently clear that the them "would be inevitable". British Government did not believe a word of it and, for all the When Sir Geoffrey Howe eventually acted, he expelled diplomatic euphemisms, it, like the British public at large, from Britain the two Nigerian envoys, Peter Oyedele and Okon pinned the kidnap attempt on Nigeria. Edet, found at Stansted Airport with the wooden crates con How could the Nigerian Government be in the clear when taining Dikko and his three abductors. The Foreign Secretary Nigerian Airways aircraft had been involved in the attempt to revealed in his statement to the House of Commons in an airfreight the cargo containing Dikko to Lagos? emergency debate on the affair on July 12 1984 that Major- Or that Okon Edet, the Nigerian diplomat, had claimed General Anthony Hannaniya, the Nigerian High Commissioner immunity to the Customs officers when the freight,was seized to London, who had already been recalled to Lagos for and forced open, on the grounds that he was an official courier? consultations, would not be welcomed back to Britain. Sir Or that the crates themselves in which Dikko and his three Geoffrey told the House: "Police enquiries also disclosed kidnappers were contained were sent (as marked on them) evidence which appeared to implicate members of the Nigerian from the Nigerian High Commission in London to the Ministry High Commission. It was in those circumstances that the of External Affairs in Lagos? Nigerian High Commissioner was asked to allow the police to Or that Major Yusufu, not only identified himself as an interview members of the Nigerian High Commission staff. I officer of Nigerian Military Intelligence, but carried a Nigerian have to inform theHouse that the Nigerian Government declined diplomatic passport as well, and was one of those found inside to comply with this request. Accordingly, the High the crate with Dikko? Commissioner was seen again yesterday. He was told that we Or, finally, the fact that the Nigerian Government refused to had noted the Nigerian Government's denial of any involvement allow any of its diplomats to be interviewed by the British in Mr Dikko's abduction. However, in the light of the police? circumstances that I have described, he was told that a Apart from all that, on July 121984, a report published in the Counsellor, Mr Peter Oyedele, and an attaché, Mr Okon Edet, Israeli press revealed that Dikko's abduction had actually been must leave the United Kingdom \vithin seven days, that is, by financed by three Israeli businessmen with commercial interests next Wednesday July 18. The High Commissioner stated that in Nigeria. Even though Nigeria has no diplomatic relations his government were recalling him for consultation. He has with Israel, several Israeli companies, such as the construction now left the country." company, Solel Boneh, operate in Nigeria. The press report said There were vehement protests from MPs who were not that the Nigerian Government's debt to these three companies satisfied and wanted tougher action from the British Govern was in the region of $120 million. It was suggested that they ment. But Sir Geoffrey urged them to join him "in expressing the might have sponsored the kidnapping in the hope that, if it were hope that these events will not inflict lasting damage to our successful and Dikko were returned to Lagos, the Nigerian long-term relationship with Nigeria, a Commonwealth country Government might recover his alleged ill-gotten wealth and with which we have had good relations over many years." He then be in a position to repay or at least speed up the repayment said the present situation "is not of our making but . . . Her of its huge debts to these Israeli companies. This cast some Majesty's Government are bound to take the gravest view of further doubt in Britain on the Nigerian Government's claim any evidence which appears to implicate members of diplomatic that it knew nothing about and was not involved in the missions in serious crimes in this country." It was a measured kidnapping. response from the British Foreign Secretary who obviously was Colin Galloway, a PhD student in the Department of Politics, treading a diplomatic tightrope, careful not to make the situation University of Glasgow, who has done extensive research on the worse than it was. His caution, however, did not prevent a tit- Dikko Affair, has this to say: for-tat from Lagos. "What cannot be doubted is that there was Israeli and When the crisis occurred, Nigeria's. Minis ter for External Nigerian involvement in the kidnapping and that, if the Nige Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Gambari, was in Europe attending the rian Government did not directly order it, there was surely International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa backing from individuals in high places in Nigeria. Although (ICARA) in Geneva. He had been kept, through the High not proved, complicity of some sort by the Nigerian govern Commission in London and the British Foreign Office, con ment was and is generally held likely in Britain."3 stantly informed about developments there. But he had to 36 Newswatch, February 13, 1995 ■ SPECIAL SECTION return to Nigeria hurriedly when Sir Geoffrey made it clear to These were the underlying developments that led the him in direct conversation that he would be making a statement Nigerian Government to summon the British High Commis on the crisis in the House of Commons in which he would be sioner to Nigeria, Mr Hamilton Whyte, to the Ministry of duty bound not only to give a full report of the situation, but also External Affairs. He was told that his continued stay in Nigeria announce some punitive measures his govemmenthad decided while his counterpart in the UK had been declared persona non to take, such as the expulsion of the two Nigerian diplomats. Sir grata by his government in Britain "was inappropriate and Geoffrey made it known to Dr Gambari that the two Nigerian would soon be regarded as untenable".6 So, British High envoys would have to be expelled on the grounds that they may Commissioner Whyte was asked to leave Nigeria. "For many have "engaged in activities incompatible with their status as informed Nigerians, that was a small price to pay for the need diplomats/' The decision to arraign the kidnappers for their to show the British that, after aljçnost 24 years of independence, attempted abduction of Dikko was at the same time conveyed we were no longer content to be treated as their house boys. to Dr Gambari. Indeed, patriotic feelings were running so high in Nigeria that Dr Gambari had been a scholar of international relations for several calls were made to break diplomatic relations and over 20 years prior to his appointment as Nigeria's External downgrade our economic relations with Britain," said Dr Affairs Minister under General Buhari. Of the nine incumbents Gambari.7 Mr Whyte, (who died on July 20,1990, aged 63) was of that responsible post, he was the first with the relevant a high-flyer in the British diplomatic service. An expert on academic qualifications, training and experience. So, in refusing African trade, he had, before coming to Nigeria in 1983, served the British Government's request for him to grant permission to in New York, Austria, Thailand and the Congo. Along with Scotland Yard to interrogate Nigerian High Commission staff him, two other top members of the British High Commission in — and that would have included the High Commissioner Lagos, the head of chancery, Mr John D. Harrison, and an himself—Dr Gambari knew and explained to Sir Geoffrey that administrative attache, Mr Stewart J. L. Evans, were also asked "such a request by the British authorities would have amounted to leave Nigeria. to a waiver of diplomatic immunity and was therefore consid Despite the "controlled reaction" from both sides, one ered unacceptable." obstacle remained: Britain still held the Nigerian Airways This is how he had reacted to the news of the abduction: "We freighter found at Stansted Airport. Nigeria responded by are determined not to allow the matter to get out of hand. The recalling to Lagos a London-bound British Caledonian aircraft British Government feels much the same way but they have a which was still within Nigerian airspace. In fact, it was this parliament and public opinion to worry about. (Although) we action that began the string of diplomatic tit-for-tats which do not have a parliament (at this time) we surely have a vocal finally led to the High Commissioners in Lagos and London public opinion, too. What remains now is the matter of the being recalled by their respective governments. detained (Nigerian Airways) aircraft and crew members." But after being briefed by Sir Geoffrey on the substance of the statement he would be making to the House of Commons, Dr Gambari urged the British Foreign Secretary to delay his How British Intelligence planned Commons statement for a day or so to allow him to cut short his participation in the refugee conference in Geneva and Tried to get Dikko out of return to Lagos to plan the Nigerian Government's reaction to the impending expulsion of the two diplomats, a step which Sir Britain Geoffrey had intimated to him he intended to take. Suspecting that Sir Geoffrey might extend such action to include the A formal request for Dikko's extradition to face criminal expulsion of the Nigerian High Commisioner himself, Dr charges in Nigeria was not made by the Nigerian Government Gambari told Sir Geoffrey that Hannaniya had been recalled to until January 10,1985. It was one month before the start at the Lagos immediately for consultations. He said the action was Old Bailey (February 11, 1985) of the trial of the four men taken "so that we could use his input in the Nigerian charged with the criminal offence of kidnapping the former Government's comprehensive review of the entire situation". Nigerian Government minister and administering him with a Dr Gambari then added that it remained Nigeria's hope "that stupefying drug. Sir Geoffrey's statement in Parliament would be made in the After his recovery from the heavy dosage, Umaru Dikko spirit of our joint determination, constantly expressed, to limit knew exactly what he must do to obtain greater security for any adverse effect of the situation on the long-term relationship himself and prevent another possible attempt on his life — he of our two countries."4 must apply quickly to the British Home Secretary for political Sir Geoffrey's statement, when he finally made it in Parlia asylum. ment; was generally satisfactory to the Nigerian authorities in The British Home Secretary at the time of the Dikko Affair Lagos, but was very disappointing to them in one aspect, the was Leon Brittan. The government departments most affected unfortunate remark that "as the extent of the Nigerian High by the crisis were the Home Office and Sir Geoffrey Howe's Commission's involvement had not been determined, it would Foreign and Commonwealth Office. MPs were becoming in be inappropriate for the High Commissioner to return to Lon creasingly impatient with the "controlled reaction" of the British don after his consultations in Lagos." That "off-the-cuff re Government to the crisis. Brittan had to make a decision on mark," said Dr Gambari, "amounted to a questioning of the Dikko's future that would, on the one hand, not make matters credibility of the Nigerian Government in its constant denial of worse than they already were between Britain and Nigeria and, any involvement in the kidnap attempt. We also felt betrayed on the other, propitiate MPs and the public who were looking by the British Government for failing to maintain our jointly to him and Sir Geoffrey to demonstrate the sincerity of the declared intention to defuse the crisis."5 promise they made after the Libyan Embassy incident to impose Newswatch, February 13, 1995 37 severe punishment on diplomats who violated British laws. was seen as a stopgap. Brittan's dilemma was that he would have to decide on Dikko's Britain knew that the coup that would install General Ibrahim application should he exercise his right to seek political asylum. Babangida to power in Nigeria was imminent. The Thatcher Normally, Dikko's application should not have raised any government, having suffered from the aftermath of the Dikko question. After all, he would not be the first controversial Affair in relations with Nigeria, was ready to seize the earliest politician from another country to seek political asylum in opportunity to embrace the new regime. Sir Geoffrey Howe Britain. There are several political refugees walking freely on was on standby to visit Nigeria. Even though that trip had been London streets, mostly defectors from dictatorial and authori scheduled while Buhari was still in power, some observers held tarian regimes in African, Asian, Middle-Eastern and Far East firmly to their belief that it was deliberately requested because ern countries. Whatever problems the Dikko Affair had caused, London knew that it was only a matter of days, not weeks, most Anglo-Nigerian watchers were convinced that they were before the Buhari government would fall. Having put everything temporary. Some moderate politicians and friends of Nigeria in in place, and ready to welcome General Babangida immediately Britain took every opportunity to try to convince government as the new Nigerian leader, Dikko's continued stay in Britain ministers that they should not view Nigeria, despite the Dikko remained an outstanding obstacle to talks about normalisation affair, in the same light as Muammar Gadaffi's Libya, which of relations which were expected to follow after the new regime had been terrorising Britain before Dikko's sensational had settled down. Something had to be done about him. The abduction. Butbecause of Britain's economic interests in Nigeria, preferred way for him to go was considered to be to persuade and Nigeria's strategic and political importance to Britain and him to look for another country that would give him asylum. the West in general, to grant Dikko refuge in the UK officially The possibilities of this were being considered even before the would cause embarrassment to the British Government when Buhari government was overthrown. the time came for the two countries to restore diplomatic Shortly before that government's demise, Dikko was ap relations to the level at which they were before the kidnap. First, proached by two members of British Intelligence who urged the Foreign Office in London, then the Foreign Secretary Sir him to name a country of his own choice; they would negotiate Geoffrey Howe himself, made it clear that Britain would not with that country and do their utmost to make sure he was allow the kidnapping of Dikko to come between the two accepted. They promised him that his passport, which was still nations. with the Home Office, would be returned to him. The men from Even before the excitement the kidnapping had created had the Intelligence service were introduced to Dikko by the head of died down, businessmen and influential people in both countries the security service which protected him after the kidnap. They involved in Anglo-Nigerian trade, had started urging the two held meetings with him at his Porchester Terrace house and governments to start the process of normalising relations. At tried to convince him that what had happened to him, despite this particular period, it was clear that both countries needed its gravity and its criminal nature, would not necessarily each other. If Britain's need is Nigeria's lucrative trading market, guarantee him political asylum in Britain. They wanted Dikko Nigeria needed the help and influence of Britain in both the to consider what would happen to him if the British Government Paris and London Clubs of official and unofficial creditors. Its eventually decided not to grant him asylum. huge official and commercial debts were due for rescheduling At this time, Home Secretary Leon Brittan had two applica and Britain had made it clear that it would not advance a penny tions before him to consider: Dikko's application for political more to Nigeria until it reached an understanding with the asylum and the Nigerian Government's request seeking his International Monetary Fund (IMF). extradition which had by now been filed. Brittan had to make a If relations between London and Lagos had been good there very delicate decision. On the one hand, he could not afford to should not have been much difficulty in this area. But the send Dikko back to Nigeria after all that he had gone through in regime in Lagos, ever since the failure of the Dikko kidnap, London at the hands of his abductors. That would reflect on the continued to be anti-British. It was the British point of view, government's humanitarian image. On the other, Britain's fu therefore, that the most desirable thing to do was to get a new ture relationship with Nigeria hinged on the Home Secretary's face in Nigeria so that the two countries could start all over decision. Should he grant Dikko's application, "his action was again. Indeed, Britain's desire for a change of government in unlikely to improve Anglo-Nigerian diplomatic relations," as Nigeria predated the Babangida coup of August 271985. Long one Nigerian chronicler put it.1 So it became not only imperative before it happened, many powerful British politicians and civil but logical to consider other ways by which Dikko could be servants had openly expressed dissatisfaction with the way the persuaded to leave Britain willingly for a third country and the civilian regime of President Shehu Shagari was carrying on; so Intelligence service, not the British government, was best it was no surprise when after that regime was toppled some of equipped to carry this out. them openly agreed that the Shagari government had collapsed I had stumbled on these facts before meeting Dikko himself in a welter of incompetence*and corruption. The soldiers who for the scheduled interview for this book. When I asked him to came to power were welcomed in London because they were confirm or deny that this approach was made to him by British seen as the people with the necessary force and determination Intelligence, his immediate reaction was an expression of to bring about discipline and produce order out of chaos. But surprise. He described my source as "the source of sources". He they were faced with one major problem: the wrong man admitted that, yes, he was approached by members of British became Head of State. The British in particular, and several Intelligence, two of them, who asked him to select a country of Western governments, had expected a Babangida-led govern his choice, other than Britain and the United States, and that ment in Nigeria. So, immediately General Buhari was installed they would get him there. He said they had told him that they as Head of State the question that was often asked in Westminster wanted to help him "because what had happened to me was and Whitehall was not how long the Buhari regime would last very inhuman, that many people had sympathy forme, and that but when the next coup would take place. The Buhari regime they wanted to help me through a certain organisation (MI5 - 38 Newswatch, February 13,1995 ■ special section KS). They said if I did not feel secure enough here (Britain) or if that he had to leave the country immediately. He could appeal I did not feel happy, if I had any reservations or if there were against that decision, which from all indications he was well another country that I would prefer to be in, they were quite equipped and prepared to do. The frustration and anger of prepared to help and they would go all out to make arrangements British Government officials and politicians that their system for me to be there because, according to them, nothing could be still allowed Dikko to remain in Britain until the result of his more disheartening than being persecuted." appeal, or determination of the extradition request from Nigeria, The men, said Dikko, went on and on. At the end of their was expressed to me by Ivor Stanbrook whom it will be recalled appeal and offer of help, Dikko said he thanked them but asked is chairman of the Britain-Nigeria All-Party Group in Parlia if he could sleep on it. That did not please them. They asked ment.* "Dikko," said Mr. Stanbrook, "must be an embarrass Dikko if he would not be disturbed if the Home Secretary ment to the British Government because he has not been given refused his application for political asylum. "So, why give him the status of a political refugee. He's not got political asylum; all (the Home Secretary) the opportunity?", they asked Dikko. But he's got is a court order which says that, after a certain date — he still did not play ball. He insisted that the men should give December 1988—he would have no protection against depor him time to consider their offer. Before they left, they gave him tation even had he been given political asylum. In other words, a telephone number where they could be contacted as soon as the magistrate at the Immigration Appeals Tribunal left it open he had made up his mind. But Dikko did not call them back. for extradition proceedings to take place and, if they do, then After waiting for two days, they came to see him again. the issue of political asylum could arise in those proceedings This time, Dikko told them frankly that he had thought and the finding of being a political refugee in the other court will about the offer and considered all the risks and other options not then automatically cancel and invalidate any decision by and had resolved it would not be in his own interest and safety the new court. But the question is whether one should try to leave Britain. He told them he had made up his mind to stay extraditing him; at the moment, with Decree Number 3, of and await the reply to his application for political asylum from course we know that it wouldn't be possible in law to extradite the Home Secretary, no matter which wayrit went. him. But I don't think the British Government are happy about Dikko explained to me why he refused to accept the offer of having him here while he is being actively sought by Nigeria." British Intelligence to move him to another country. He said he Margaret Thatcher herself may not have had any personal took the decision because of his experience in politics. "You see, opinion on Dikko. Sources close to 10 Downing Street at the in politics, you can give any interpretation to any given situation. time say that she relied on advice given by Sir Geoffrey Howe, First of all, I didn't know them from Adam, how could I have Lynda Chalker, then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and known whether it was not, in fact, another plan to kidnap me? her own personal Foreign Affairs Adviser, Charles Powell. The So, to go and put myself in the hands of people I didn't know... Prime Minister relied primarily upon them, but also upon How could I be sure it was not the same gang of kidnappers personal impressions. For someone who initially did not take trying out another plan?" close interest in African affairs, it surprised many Anglo- Again, he wondered what his enemies would say suppos Nigerian observers when Mrs. Thatcher swiftly became the first ing he had agreed to leave Britain: "Now, he is even running Western leader to congratulate General Babangida after he had from England. That shows that he is guilty. How could I explain ousted General Buhari. The news of that coup and the successful that?" change-over of government in Nigeria brought a sigh of relief in It was as a result of these reflections, he said, that he decided London. that he would stay on in Britain to await the answer from the Though the Dikko case still remained unresolved, Mrs Home Office, "because I know there is the rule of law here, Tha tcher extended an olive branch. She sent Sir Geoffrey Howe nobody can just say things arbitrarily. Wherever these men to Lagos for the visit which had been scheduled before the fall might have been from, they did not succeed because with the of General Buhari. It was the start of a serious diplomatic experience I have gleaned as a politician I don't fall so easily into gambit to normalise relations with Nigeria. The new regime a trap." had yet to appoint a Minister for Foreign Affairs and it was Sir The ploy did not work. Dikko did not leave and the British Geoffrey's arrival in Lagos in the early days of the Babangida Government and politicians were chagrined by his continued administration which helped speed up the appointment of Dr stay in the country. Pressure was mounting on Mr. Brittan to Bolaji Akinyemi, a professor of international relations in the reach a decision on the applications. On Dikko's application for department of political science at the University of Lagos as the asylum, he told the House of Commons on June 6,1985, that he new Nigerian External Affairs Minister. had refused it on the grounds that he was not satisfied that Professor Akinyemi had been the director of the Nigerian Dikko had "a well-founded fear of persecution in Nigeria for Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos since the reasons of his political opinions. " On the Nigerian Government's regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. He was on his way to own application for Dikko's extradition, he said he was still Cambridge University to take up a fellowship when his minis considering it. terial appointment was announced by General Babangida. A Dikko had not quite got what he wanted; in fact, he had belated and well-deserved appointment, Professor Akinyemi never expected political asylum would be granted without him abandoned Cambridge to respond to the national call, and was having to fight for it in the courts. But for the Nigerian Govern able to meet with Sir Geoffrey before he returned to London. ment it was good news: at least this would pave the way for the The gambit paid off handsomely for Britain. Relations visit to Lagos by Sir Geoffrey Howe requested by the British improved and the way was paved for the exchange of High Government and tentatively planned for either late June or Commissioners to replace those who were recalled at the height early July 1985.2 of the Dikko Affair. However, though rejected, the Home Secretary's decision And Dikko? He still remained in Britain, pending extra not to grant Dikko political asylum did not necessarily mean dition .H Newswatch, February 13,1995 39