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Prologue 16 The June 12 Panic 18 Politics: The Albatross 20 Judiciary: Standing Along on Crutches CO O CO to CM CO CO Health: Tongues of Politics Business: And they Groan Pro-democracy movement: Banners, Battered Banners

Family: Where is Daddy?

Nigeria: to More Questions than Answers A Cosmetic Vessel

Business + Economy A Year to Forget

Sports CO Poor Outings

Classy but Gutsy Champions f

6 Letters

8 Editorial Suite ► >

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 pari without permission, is foibidden. Printed in Nigeria by Academy Press Pic, Ilupeju. LETTERS

■ The Big Question Mark by NADECO at the initial stage, soon yet peace has eluded Liberia. melted into a mere appeal for it, resulting Joe Igbokwe, The composition of NADECO (cover, in the tragic detention of its prominent Lagos. May 15) puts a big question mark to its members. credibility. Apart from two or three Of course, I quite agree with Baba Surely, the rigour, pain and members, the rest are drawn from a Ajasin, in his concern to avert further perseverance that South Africans population of past leaders. Records bloodbath, should street demonstrations underwent to attain democratic rule is not * available show that our successive remain enforced by the people. But then, fpr the majority of Nigerians. governments in which these people served much asnoneof us is prepared to wastehis John A. hvori, in one time or the other, have left much to blood foolishly, such noble sacrifice Port Harcourt. be desired. Therefore, NADECO should however cannot be ruled out in the pursuit as a matter of exigency re-appraise its of a worthy course, especially such that There's no writing off the National objective, tell its members to return to the has to do with the life of a people. Democratic Coalition. In the one yea r of its state all the wealth they acquired Emmanuel Egwu, existence, its impact has been very much illegitimately while in office. Akinyemi Lagos. felt at home and abroad in spite of the said in his letter that the calibre of repression, intimidation and incarceration Akinrinades ( a former Chief of Defence of its members by the government. Staff), Oyeguns ( a former Federal Clmx Azuonwu, Permanent Secretary and a former civilian Abuja. governor), Akinyemis ( former Federal Minister of External Affairs), Falae ( former It is gladdening to read about your Secretary to government) etc., NADECO professional decision not to allow cannot be accused of irresponsibility. But Newswatch magazine to be used by anyone suffice it to remind Akinyemi that those as a propaganda rag sheet. I identify wholly names could only mean something to with your insistence over time on this Nigerians if they were credited with highly principled and professional nay records of excellence, in terms of ethical posture. Yet I am stirred to state governance. What matters is what they unequivocally that one of the good things achieved while they held those offices and that happened to this beleaguered nation not the offices themselves. of ours in recent time is the birth of National Confucius, the late Chinese Sage, said Democratic Coalition. The coalition may that when leaders have lost their way, the suffer certain limitations in areas of finance, citizens become rootless. Our leaders, past operation and acceptability to a broad and present have lost their way. Hence, we section of the country, yet the fact remains need a new crop of leaders, from the ward that members of the coalition are not crying level to the national level, who are wolf where there is none, neither is their determined to change the status quo, and patriotism comparable to that of their to re-orientate the populace with the basic NADECOisa great institution thrown country men and women whose pa triotism tenets of modern . This task is up by history to fight for social justice and is expressed through their allegiance to too-herculean for NADECO, most of its equity thathaveeluded Nigeria since 1957. the king-maker for the favour they curry members being part and parcel of the NADECO is not happy because Nigeria's from him. augean stable we aggressively want to public sector spent $115 billion between Tai Sanni, clean. 1973 and 1990on projects and programmes Onipaanu, Lagos. Ukonu Kalu Agbai, that could have been executed for $35 Aba, Abia State. billion. NADECO is in a stateof desperation Inasmuch as the masses look forward to bring sanity to Nigeria because between to a democratic rule, they are cynical and This calibre of people that signalled 1973 and 1995 Nigeria earned seven times wary of these "fire-breathing" proponents their interest in the democratic group at the total amount of money (12 billion of democracy with military backgrounds the initial stage, infused hope and dollars) that went into the US Marshall or who have had deep romances with the encouragement in Nigerians. We had Plan for the reconstruction of Europe (16 military. These former political military thought that NADECO had envolved a countries from Iceland to Turkey) after the personnel, military apologists or military consolidated strategy and a reliable Second World War and yet 23 years after supporters have taken their present stance platform on which to fall back upon, and all that money Nigeria is still yearning for perhaps, just because they have fallen out still remain persuasively relevant in the reconstruction. NADECO wants of the power play at the moment. They will pursuit, should the worst come from the democracy and rule of law in Nigeria be ready to jump ship at any slightest junta in reaction. But there was no such because between 1989 and 1995 Nigeria favourable disposition to their private arrangement in place. Instead, what could spent N320 billion (4 billion US dollars) in interests by the government; evidence: the pass for abrasive demand for democracy a senseless peace mission in Liberia, and Jakandes, theOnagoruwas, theBabatopes.

Typed reactions to the contents of Newswatch, 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. Newswatch reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and brevity.

6 Newswatch, June 26,1995 ■LETTERS

The masses don't have faith in them. the country. The real monster however, is government is trying to discredit the They should not distract the Abacha that the military is not a national armed labour leaders in order to impose its hand­ government from initiating a transition forces. What we have is the youth wing of picked men on the union. But I strongly programme that will usher in civil rule. the Hausa/Fulani oligarchy, whose believe that it is ethically and pa triotically They are rather providing the excuse interests and right to the throne must be wrong to throw stones when one is aware (disorderliness) for the perpetuation of protected by force and subtlety. that he is living in a tinted glass house military rule, perhaps, simply because they In 1979, The Nigeria Armed Forces built on quicksand. Every Nigerian are enjoying grants from foreign sources worked together to return the country to should first remove the mote in his or her that derive pleasure from our democracy. The national military allowed eyes if we are seriously committed to the distabilisation, like the American National the judiciary determine what was two- faulty current campaign of moving, Endowment for democracy and others. third of nineteen states in a make-or-break Nigeria forward. And one probe too many The masses don't share these grants presidential election. If we had a Nigerian without results is not the best way with them so they should hold their "fire" military, it would not have decided in 1993 forward. and allow peace to reign so that we can go to scrap the elected legislature and Uche Sylva A. Ebere, about our daily means of livelihood and executives. Hit the nail on the head, Mr. Ozverri. also embark on a transitional programme. Dan!. Abari,Jerungwa, Young Obonna, ■ Yes, Death Pills Taraku, . Warri, . Ogoh Alubo's article on the menace NADECO and other dissident voices ■ Jim’s Age of fake, adulterated and sub-standard must continue the struggle to free drugs (column May 15) is a very good Nigerians. If the struggle continues, success I read with profound shock and utter contribution towards the eradication of is certain. disappointment your Newsliners (May 15) this monstrous problem. The case of the Rufus Abiodun, where you told the reading public that fake paracetamol and chloroquine syrups Mopa, Kogi State. Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, the is still very fresh in our minds, while current youths and sports minister of those of sub-standard ampicillin and My desk top piece on NADECO made Abacha was 45 years old on May 9. When other antibiotics are a daily occurrence. about a year ago was handy when I read Nwobodo was campaigning to be One would not have bothered to comment your presentations on NADECO. We must governor of the old Ana mbra State in 1979, on this issue but for the health hazard it agree that NADECO has failed in its basic he told us that he was 39 years old. From poses to our people and the damage it is major objective - to wrest power from 1979 to 1995 is 16 years plus, of course, 39. doing to the credibility of the pharmacists. Abacha and handover to Abiola. Is that This brings the figure to 55. In spite of all the efforts being made democracy? They have almost destroyed Isaiah Ogbue, by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, everything in Nigeria. They have almost Onitsha, . PSN, this problem has continued succeeded in alienating the world from unabated because those who perpetrate Nigeria. They could not repel the world • You are right. Nwobodo is 55not 45. it are the very rich, illiterate drug traders from Nigeria. The testimony is on the lips The printers devil reduced the ministers who use their financial superiority over of interested parties and friends. Any age without his peimissioh. the pharmacists (the legal custodians of system under the direct control of the all drugs and medicines) to import and or — Editor Yoruba is bound to wobble and tumble. manufacture these fake drugs. Several Achoja D. O. Ejenavi, campaigns aimed at educating the public Isolo, Lagos. ■ First, The Mote about the dangers inherent in consuming fake drugs have been mounted by the Labour Leaders For Probe (May 15) raises PSN. The latest effort which has met a ■ Missing Nail serious questions on how equity, justice legal blockade is an attempt aimed at and fair play have been bastardised to sanitising the drug distribution system protect few and punish many. If Pascal by making the ownership of In your Paths to Democracy (preface Bafyau and his men (women) did turn pharmaceutical business an exclusive May 15) you said "... forty-something years labour into fraudulent union, it is affair of the pharmacist. Despite all these ago our nationalists struggled against condemnable and they should face the efforts, the government has not foreign domination which denied us the wrath of the law. But it is morally wrong to demonstrated any genuine political will right to have a say in how we were probe and probably indict the leaders of to fight this problem. All we have are governed, now we struggle against labour when the government has refused ineffective task forces on fake and military rule which denies us the right to to release thé reports of the pçobe panels adulterated drugs. democracy in our country". Your term on the fire incident that destroyed the This is why I agree with Alubo that 'military', as used in contemporary defence headquarters; the Emmanuel fake drugs should be accorded the same Nigerian media, is a camouflage, which Abisoyc and Pius Okigbo reports on status witlvhard drugs. Come to think of though ugly, provides the only covering NNPC and the CBN respectively. it, fake drugs are more deadly than hard for the real monster. The perpetrators of We are all living witnesses to the facts drugs because more people whether rich the dictatorship are pleased by seeing that those panels made strong or poor are equally exposed. fingers pointed at just the 'military', which recommendations which the government Ahmed Yahaya, superficially has people from all parts of is merely wishing away. Perhaps, the Ikoyi, Lagos.

Newswatch, June 26,1995 7 or two years now, the addressed his supporters in Surulere, Nigerian news media have been From the Lagos, rode in a long motorcade to his preoccupied with one story and house in Ikeja and was arrested that night one man — June 12, 1993, and — June 23. His public appearances since , the man who.... You Editorial Suite then have been limited to his court knowF the rest. Last week Monday was appearances. As you know only too well, June 12, the second anniversary of the he is facing charges of treason. Local and election. Government feared that those who international interventions have failed so stand on or by June 12 would cause trouble for the rest of the far to secure Abiola's freedom. Our previous cover stories told country. It left nothing to chance. Well-known leaders of pro­ of these failed efforts and why they failed. On the legal front, democracy movements were put out of circulation. The police where the government insists the battle has to be decided, were combat-ready in our major towns and cities. State police progress is bogged by legal red herrings. chiefs repeatedly warned that those who refused to treat the In this special edition of the magazine, Nigeria's Cross, we day like any other work day would be in trouble. Everyone examine the lingering political problem in the last two years heeded the warning. Apparently, no one wanted additional and what it has done to . Joseph Ode, assistant editor problems to those imposed by the absence of the naira in many looks at its effect on the economy, Wale Oladepo, associate a pocket. There was no public remembrance of June 12. It was editor, deals with the politics of Abiola's health; Chukwuemeka the great non-day. Nats Agbo, associate editor, tells you about Gahia, associate editor, examines the role of the pro-democracy the day that disappointed expectations. The foreign news media movements, Mike Akpan, general editor, writes on the politics which waited ever so eagerly for the sound of explosion that of June 12 and why it remains an albatross on the neck of the would tear the fabric of the Nigerian nation had to content nation; Wale Akin Aina, assistant editor, writes on the waltzes themselves with rehashed reports and live interviews with the in the judiciary since Justice Ikpeme ruled in favour of ABN to doomsayers on the future of the country. Government must have stop the election June 10 chalked it up as one for it. and Jossy Nkwocha, Sunday last week also marked an anniversary. That day, assistant editor, examines one year ago, Abiola declared himself president of the Federal the effect of Abiola's Republic of Nigeria. Inexplicably, (at least no one had told the detention on his family public why) he went into hiding. He emerged after eleven days, and businesses.

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8 Newswatch, June 26, 1995 NIGERIA WÊÊ^^ÊÊ^^KÊÊIÊÊÊÊÊÊÊIÊIÊÊÊKÊIÊÊÊÊÊIÊÊÊÊ More Questions Than Answers The replacement of Ason Bur with Ahmed Gusau, a trade Unionist, as new sole administrator of the Nigeria Labour Congress raises some questions

By Joshua Edogbo

HEN ASON BUR become imperative to "inject new life" closed from his into the NLC secretariat for the great task Yaba office of the ahead. Nigeria Labour Until his new posting, Gusau was the Congress, NLC, secretary of the petroleum and Natural June 9, nothing suggestedGas to him Senior that Staff Association of Nigeria, Wwould be his last day as solePENGASSAN. administrator He had also been of the labour body. He heard the news of chairman of the NLC for his removal that evening on television. eight years and served in the same Said an aide to the former sole administ­ capacity in the Civil Service Staff Union, rator: "Bur was completely shocked and CSSU, for the same duration. He was embarrassed, especially by the way and deputy governor of Sokoto state in the Gusau: New role manner the information about his aborted third republic. The new NLC removal was released." sole administrator was given one month It was learnt that the former sole Unknown to Bur, Uba Ahmed, by the minister within which to prepare a administrator, for example, was not in minister of labour and productivity, had programme of action for full démocrati­ good working relationship with Salisu actually addressed a press conference in sation of the congress. Ahmed also named Mohammed, NLC's former head of Lagos that evening to announce his Ibrahim Faruk Gumel as the replacement information and public relations who was replacement with Ahmed Gusau, a trade for Gusau as PENGASSAN secretary. later appointed personal assistant to unionist. Three days before his removal, Bur's removal has raised some Ahmed, the minister. Bur doesn't think the former sole administrator had met questions. Why wasn't he informed? his removal has anything to do with his with Ahmed but the minister told him Had he fallen out of favour with the "perceived" sour relationship with nothing. "The minister never complained minister or the powers that be? Bur said Mohammed. He said Mohammed was about his performance, "one Bur's aide no. He told New swatch last week that he seconded to the ministry of labour at the said. No letter was served on him until had a cordial working relationship with ministry's request. Monday June 12 when he went to the Ahmed. "We have known ourselves for a Officials and staff of the secretariat, ministry to confirm the news of his long time right from his days as national Neuiswatch learnt, also levelled some allé- ’ removal. Lamented the aide: "They have secretary of the defunct National Party gâtions against their former boss. For used him to do all the work, now they are of Nigeria, NPN," Bur explained. He, instance, Bur was accused of high-hand­ asking someone else to implement what however, expressed surprise that Ahmed edness, arrogance, and also of introducing he has done." failed to alert him about the decision to "civil service mentality" into the admini­ At the same press conference, the remove him despite the many years of stration of the congress. He denied the minister announced the sacking of James their friendship. Bur said he had done his allegations. Bur said his insistence that Ajibola as NLC secretary and replaced best and was satisfied with his perfor­ every staff must be made to work and him with Michael Alodo. Ahmed said Bur mance as sole administrator of the NLC. justify his pay was irritating to the staff. and Ajibola were being replaced to allow Newswatch learnt last week that by "Does this amount to arrogance and civil them to take a "rest from the arduous trying to restructure the NLC in order to service mentality?" he asked. task" they have been saddled with since restore sanity to the administration of the Bur also dismissed allegation of their appointment. But he contradicted congress, Bur stepped on some toes favouring staff from his home state in himself when he said the change had within and outside the secretariat. terms of employment and promotion. He

Newswatch, June 26, 1995 9 ■ NIGERIA

said last week that only one principal the secretariat since he assumed duty was supposed to have presented the draft officer from Benue state had been there. "What I have done is the constitution to the unions' conference for employed since he assumed the restructuring of the various departments approval before sending it to the registrar leadership of the congress. Bur said of the and the movement of the most senior of trade unions. "This procedure was not four persons who attended the interview, staff in the departments to head them," followed and this made the registrar to three came from Benue and one from he said. return the draft constitution for confe­ Edo. He explained that the result of the He also denied the allegation that he rence approval," an NL.C official said.’He interview, conducted by highly qualified never consulted with the unions and the said the action showed lack of consul­ accountants from reputable financial various committees of the national tation by the former NLC boss. Bur institutions in Lagos, favoured one of the secretariat. However, the communication explained, however, that he sent the draft two Idoma applicants. "The boy from gap between Bur and the unions created constitution to the registrar of trade unions Tiv, my ethnic group came a distant some administrative problems for the for his comments and not for approval as second. If I wanted to be partial, I would congress. And this was used by congress alleged by union officials. He said that his have influenced the employment of the officials against Bur. For instance, they action was in compliance with the directive Tiv boy, who came second," he argued. say he breached the procedure for the of , former minister of Bur said he had not promoted any staff of registration of the NLC constitution. Bur labour and productivity.® A Cosmetic Vessel

A federal high court judge refuses an alleged coup plotter’s plea because he fears his order will not be obeyed by government

By Sam Olukoya

FEDERAL HIGH COURT uncovered. At the time of his arrest, it of them colonels. Others are A. Adeoye, a in Lagos refused last week was thought that he was being held lieutenant colonel, Francis Agbiti, a navy to stop the trial of Akinloye because his brother, Bolaji, Nigeria's captain and I. Abdulraham, a group Akinyemi, a retired major, former foreign affairs minister and a captain. by a military tribunal for an allegedNADECO leader, who fled into exile. Fred Chijuka, a brigadier general and involvementA in a coup plot. Victor However, that view changed when the director of defence information, said the Egbedion, the judge who presided over list of 23 people suspected to be involved Treason and other Offences (Special the case, said he could not make the order in the alleged coup plot was released. Military Tribunal) Decree of 1990, under because he was not sure that it would be Bolaji had told the BBC shortly after which the suspects are -being tried, obeyed by the relevant authorities. The the military released the names that the precludes the courts from hearing matters judiciary, Egbedion said, had become a retired military officer was only being affecting the tribunal. cosmetic vessel under the military. framed. He asked: "How can a man who Akinyemi's case will come for hearing But Rotimi Jacobs, the plaintiff was in detention in the custody of security on June 20. The fate of six other persons counsel, argued that the Treason and agents plan to overthrow a government?" detained in connection with the alleged other Offences (Special Military Tribunal) After Akinyemi was formally charged coup plot but who were not arraigned decree of 1990 which gave before the military tribunal before the tribunal was still unknown by life to the present tribunal headed by Patrick Aziza, a late last week. Among the six are had no ouster clauses. He brigadier general, Jacobs and , former head of state urged the court for a speedy two other lawyers from Gani and Shehu Yar 'Adua his former deputy. hearing and determination Fawehinmi's chamber Obasanjo was moved from his Otta home of the case in order to avoid rushed to the Federal High last Tuesday to an unknown location by miscarriage of justice against Court, Lagos, to halt his trial soldiers. His aides told Neivsiuatch no his client. He said unless the by the military tribunal. wordhad beenheard abouthis whereabout case was determined Joined in the suit are Michael by last Thursday. It was the second time urgently, Akinyemi could be Agbamuche, the attorney Obasanjo would be moved out of his Otta wrongly tried and executed general of the federation, home where he had been under house before the end of June. Aziza and other members of arrest. May 30, when the former head of Akinyemi was arrested the tribunal including state was moved from Otta, he was briefly six weeks before the Yakubu Abubakar, T.N. interrogated and later returned home. suspected coup plot was Chijuka Abdul and David Ndeso, all Reported by Janet Mba-Afolabi.

10 Newswatch, June 26, 1995 BUSINESS + ECONOMY A Year to Forget

It is no longer rumours. The CBN says the performance of the economy last year is the worst in recent times

By Jonah Achema

he central bank of fourth consecutive year, Nigeria's Nigeria recorded its worst economic Nigeria, CBN, has confirmed economic conditions worsened in 1994, performance since 1987. However, while that the performance of with further decline in the growth rate of the MAN report indicated a zero growth of the economy in 1994 was real Gross Domestic Product, GDP, an of GDP, the CBN report said the GDP the worst in recent times. In its 1994 increase in inflationary pressure and was 1.3 percent last year, a one percent AnnualT Report and Statement of Accounts persistent weakening of the external drop when compared with the GDP released la st week, the bank said Nigeria's sector." The CBN report agreed largely performance in 1993. economic and financial performance was with an earlier report by the Virtually all the subsectors of the grossly below expectation in 1994. Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, economy stagnated except for According to the report, "for the MAN, which observed that in 1994 agricultural output which maintained a TABLE LI SELECTED MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 (5) • U) (2) (3) (4) ci cri r-* r*-j O — SO Cl C4

Domestic Output and Prices 4 vq oc q ce ci cS ^ c O - i O T © Tt OS © ci C- Real GDP (Growth Rate 9c) .3

...... O I — m V) 9° 1 n -6.0

Oil Sector...... :...... t

* 2.4 Non-Oil Sectors...... cK rri — rC Oil Production (mbd)...... 1.91 30.4 Manufacturing Capacity Utilisation (%).,...... 4^ — 57.0 4- to — ’-J O' U* Inflation Rate (9c)...... 4 '4 bo H i - ci r- ci os ri r-~’ 0 Money and Credit (Growth Rate 9c) Ci r i 22232 —* 45.3 .1 91.4

Net Domestic Credit...... f*-, on .7 121.6 -f Net Credit to Government...... 82.9 WOO'

51.6 rr 23.7 .6 Credit to Private Sector...... :...... x —

s on .8 54.4 Narrow Money (Ml)...... 32.6 *

rr 32.7 .2 49.8

Broad Money (M2)...... so to Ju SO

External Sector h N X 4 oo CC O © ri Tt CC O © ri h N X 4 oo Current Account Balance (In Percent of GDP)...... -3.9 -0.9 -2.4 -5.4 Cl sO — p

I — rC I -4.9 -18.3 -5.1 -4.7 ?cc «ri c *t — c> « i - ^ — ci 2? c ci

Overall Balance (In Percent of GDP)...... Cl

Federal Go\ernment Finances (In Percent of GDP) 'S', — ci O' © p Os Cl T - ! C p 10.2 -7.9

Overall Fiscal Balance...... ^ x _ '» > Primary Balance...... -3.3 y Net Domestic Bank Borrowing...... 8.5 73) Domestic Debt Stock...... 31.5 38.1 External Debt Stock...... 98.9 72 *

Social Indicators GDP Per Capita tNi...... 1,042 1.069 1.066 1,069 1 .060 Population Growth Rate {9 >...... 2.1 2.1 3.2 2.1 2 1 I ife Expectancy at Birth (Years)...... 54 51 52 - 52 Adult Literacy Rate (9 )...... 52 54 54 55 55 Human Development Index...... 0.322 0.328 0.348 0.389 O 3m

Newswatch, June 26, 1995 11 ■BUSINESS + ECONOMY

steady growth observed in the last five developing countries was quite years. MAN too said the sector recorded satisfactory, especially in Asia and Latin an increase of 1.6 percent. It was this America. growth, according to MAN that What then went wrong in Nigeria? prevented the GDP from falling in 1994. The CBN noted .with dismay that the Developments in the financial sector economic measures adopted in 1994 were too were not cheering. The report said the designed to restore macro-economic pace of activity in the financial services stability, achieve a modest growth in industry was generally slow in 1994. More domestic output and employment, as well banks were in distress last year. In fact, as reduce significantly the pressures in the number of commercial and merchant the external sector of the economy. But banks in distress rose from 10 to 42, overall, the achievement of macro- excluding the four banks that were closed economic stability remained elusive, during the year. The situation was the largely because of the sustained financing same for mortgage and community banks. of the high fiscal deficit. According to the CBN, the banks in There was an estimated budget deficit financial distress accounted for N16.7 of N70,818.5 million, representing 7.9 billion or 10.3 percent of the deposit percent of GDP, compared with the liabilities of the banking system and N15.6 planned overall zero budget balance for billion or 15 percent of outstanding loans the fiscal year. The budget deficit recorded and advances in the banking system. in 1993, however, was N107,186.0 million, The manufacturing sector, judging equivalent to 15.4 percent of GDP. "The from both MAN and CBN reports had higher-than-projected deficit in the year the worst outing. 'There was a substantial reflected the shortfall of 35.9 percent in decline in capacity utilisation, the lowest the retained revenue of the federal since 1988," MAN had said in its report. government as well as a substantial Average industrial production level, increase in capital expenditure over the according to MAN'S statistics, was 28.39 level provided in the budget for fiscal percent in 1994, a drop of 3.49 percent 1994," according to the report. from the 1993 level of 32.33 percent. The The CBN also said two situations CBN statistics tell a more pathetic story worsened the national economy in 1994. of the sector. The average rate of capacity The first was the disappointing outcome utilisation in the manufacturing sector of the policy which sought to reduce according to CBN fell from 37.2 percent inflation and enhance productive in 1993 to 30.4 percent. Production level investment through the fixing of interest rose from 28.9 percent in the first quarter Ogwuma: CBN governor and exchange rates and "the prolonged to 35 percent in the second quarter, after political and labour unrest which which it dropped sharply to 25.2 percent composite consumer price index, CPI, in substantially disrupted economic in the third quarter but rose to 32.3 percent 1994 stood at 1,180.7, representing an activities." This, the CBN said exerted in the fourth quarter. Still, the share of the inflation rate of 57.0 percent. This figure serious pressure on the financial system manufacturing sector in the GDP fell from is, however, lower than the 57.2 percent whose overall financial conditions 8.5 percent in 1991 to 6.9 percent last year. rate of inflation in 1993. suffered further deteqoration. "In fact, The external sector also suffered a CBN attributed the pressure on the indications were that the financially weak significant decline. CBN noted: "the general price level to the huge and institutions suffered from a significant country's external position weakened persistent government fiscal budget 'flight to safety' on the part of depositors further owing to a combination of a deficit financed largely by the bank itself. and investors." decline in the volume of crude oil exports This, in turn, was said to have resulted in There was also the problem of and deterioration in the country's terms excess liquidity in the system and prohibitive production costs, which the of trade." It said total trade fell by 4.5 increased domestic aggregate demand. CBN report said arose from "high naira percent or N367,312.1 million. Crude oil Other factors, the report said, included value of foreign exchange," sharp rise in export declined from the 1993 level of the phenomenal increases in wages and salaries as well as in tariffs on N213,778.8 million to N2(X),936.1 million. transportation costs following the public utilities. Energy cost also rose by But not so for non-oil export. It increased upward adjustment of the prices of 129.1 percent when compared with the from N5,022.3 million (US$229.0 million) petroleum products. preceding year. in 1993 to N5,349.0 million ((US$244.4 In contrast to the Nigerian economy, That is not all. The report added that million). the report said that the world economy the poor performance of the productive The CBN report said that inflation recorded a stronger recovery than in the sector was due largely to the lingering which has been on the rise since the second preceding year. This assessment agreed political crisis. Besides, there was an acute quarter of 1991 continued unabated with that of MAN which had reported shortage of industrial raw materials and through 1994. The Federal Office of that the industrial economies witnessed spare parts as a result of inadequate and Statistics, FOS, figures quoted by CBN faster than expected growth in 1994. The delayed supply of foreign exchange showed that the average all-items CBN said that the performance in most during the year. ■

Newswatch, June 26,1995 SPORTS

I FOOTBALL Poor Outings

The Falcons, Nigeria’s female football team, crashes out of fhe World Cup in Sweden. The Super Eagles too are not Hamilton: No specific instruction 'The Nigerian coach cannot read matches. doing well in the USA When Nigeria was two goals down by half time, all the coach told the girls was By Dotun Oladipo 'go and play your game and play for me". No specific instructions were given". Tunji Ayansola, coach of Onireke Babes igeria did not do 8 loss to Norway in the opening match. Female FC of Ibadan says the loss "only well at two interna­ The team drew 3-3 with Canada in the shows that African women are still tional football cham­ second match and lost 2-3 to England in backward in the game... We still have a pionships last week. the last match. lot to do here". In Sweden, the Falcon Some football analysts saw the But Hamilton blamed the Mermaids' Mermaids, Nigeria's female national Mermaids' defeat coming. Eddington loss on biased officiating and the players' team,N were pushed out of the second Kuejubola, proprietor of Ufuoma Babes lack of international exposure. Hamilton female world cup in the preliminary of Warri, said he was particularly worried also said he played a team that could not round, questioning the quality of their because the team was technically pull out the ball from the flanks, pass preparation, coaching and play. In the deficient. Kuejubola's claim was accurately and take comer kicks properly. United States, the Super Eagles lost 2-3 to corroborated by an official of the Nigeria Ironically, these were the flaws pointed the underrated Americans at the USA Football Association, NFA, technical out to him before the team left for Sweden. gold cup championship. The Mermaids department, who said Paul Hamilton the But Hamilton was angry with Adegboye lost two of their group matches and drew coach had no specific instructions to give Onigbinde, chairman of NFA's technical one. But the most humiliating was the 0- ihe players. Complained the NFA official: committee, for pointing out the flaws. A FIFA official in Sweden said the Nigerian players were good individually but did not blend well during the matches. Beyond these, many see the bickering in the Falcons' camp before departure as having affected the team. The bickering led to the removal of Nkiru Okosieme as captain and her replacement with Florence Omagbemi, few days before the team left Nigeria. Yomi Durodola, a founding member of the Nigeria Female Football Proprietors Association, NFFPA, said. "One could change a captain at the beginning of a season or preliminaries of a championship not when the championship itself is about to begin". Sources in Sweden confirmed things didn't run smoothing for the team The Falcons: Crashed out of world cup especially with Bola Jegede, proprietress

Newswatch, June 26,1995 13 ■ sports

of Jegede Babes as welfare officer. Jegede the opening of the championship. was seen as a divisive force. Before the In the meantime, some player* team's departure, some of the players withdrew from the team because o: complained that she was more favourably inj uries and other personal commitments disposed towards the members of Jegede and , tht Babes in the national team. The situation two Ajax of Holland players complained did not improved in Sweden, sources of fatigue after a hectic season. Daniel told Newswatch last week. Amokachi and , the Bickering and shoddy preparations midfield maestros are getting married also dogged the performance of the Super this week and and Eagles at the USA gold cup. In their Emmanuel Amuneke are recovering from opening match June 12, the Super Eagles injuries. The professionals were replaced lost 2-3 to host, the United States, who are with home based players who could not regarded as underdogs in the blend before the championship started. championship. Amodu Shuaibu, Super Furthermore, , keeper and Eagles coach, blamed the loss on the captain of the team, has come under sharp unpatriotic attitude of the professionals criticism for poor quality of play. He is in the team. Shuaibu said all the likely to be replaced. The Super Eagles "professionals are interested in is how Shuaibu: Shoddy preparations will surely meet a tough opposition in the they will collect allowances even if Colombians who want to use the undeserved". the England tour, Torres did not arrive tournament to prove that they are still a Shuaibu's problem with the Eagles Nigeria to take up his job because of the team to reckon with despite their ouster began before their departure for the controversy over his appointment. When in the preliminaries of the 1994 world cup United States. NFA had shelved a planned it became clear that time was running out also held in the United States. Nigeria's tour of England by Shuaibu and the team to undertake a training tour, it was last opponent is Mexico which defeated because it felt Alberto Torres, the decided that the team should assemble in the Super Eagles in the third place match Brazillian contracted as technical adviser the United States to acclimatise before of the King Fahd cup held in Saudi Arabia for the team, would prefer Brazil for Super the championship. But the NFA could earlier in the year. Eagles' training. Weeks after shelving not secure visas for the team until a day to Reported by Kola Sonaike.

■ LAWN TENNIS Classy But Gutsy Champions The 1995 French Open tournament produces the best in clay court tennis

By Chuka Momah

As expected, the year's second grandslam and Australian Open titles was twice a Sampras, the current Wimbledon tennis tournament, the French Open was finalist at Paris (losing to Jim Courier and champion cut a pathetic sight as he filled with thrills. Played on slow red Andres Gomes) So he was intent on struggled on his least favourite surface. clay, the French Open exudes a typical winning the only grandslam title that The highly talented Sampras has never Parissiene atmosphere of romance and had eluded him this year. Initially, he gone beyond the quarter finals at the célébration. It is carnival complete with looked to be in great form despatching all French Open. lots of champagne and beautifully opponents with panache. Boris Becker the number three seed; dressed spectators etc. The number two seed, Pete Sampras, like Sampras is not a clay court master. Andre Agassi file world's top ranked was eliminated in the first round by the He simply detests the long slow rallies. player who held both the United States Austrian clay court specialist, Schaller. Winner of five grandslam tournaments,

14 Newswatch, June 26,1995 SPORTS

Becker came unstuck at the hands of a Steffi Graf fan at Hamburg had seemingly qualifier from Rumania called Voinea. put the women's game in a state of Boris appeared to take his exit in the stagnation. The drug consumption and quarter finals with philosophical shop lifting problems of the erstwhile resignation as he stalked off the court to heart-throb of the ladies game Jennifer be consoled by his black German wife Capriati did not help matters. It had got called Barbara Feltus. to a point where Steffi Graf was adjudged Goran Ivani Sevic, the fast serving winner of tournaments even before Croatian appeared to have a "death wish" commencement. The tennis world as he was dismantled in his first round mourned the absence of the flamboyant match. Michael Stich an acquaintance of but largely immature and childish mine who always has my support in his Monica. matches struggled to beat Arnaud Boetch But tennis was always destined to of France, but there was nothing he could survive. A few things happened. Aranxta do against the hammer blows of the 9anchez Vicario raised her game and irrepressible and dimunitive Michael became more competitive against Graf, Chang. Stich was well and truly so much so that she beat Graf in the 1994 dismantled. So were many others. Younes US Open final. Then Conchita Martinez, Elyanoui, made me proud as president of the Spaniard, started playing so well that the African Tennis Confederation, by she won Wimbledon on her least favourite reaching the fourth round before falling surface. Mary Pierce, the French goddess, to Agassi. Agassi himself was shown the overcame the burden of her abusive father way out by the humourless and Jim and dramatically lifted her game, so unemotional Russian teenage prodigy Agassi: Defeated much so that she destroyed Graf in the called Yevgeny Kafelnikov, called semi final of the 1994 French Open and Kalashnikov (a Russian gun) by players whipped, Chang conceeded the set 2-6. went on to win the 1995 Australian Open because of his heavy ground strokes. At this stage the statistics started coming beating Vicario in the process. Agassi's pretence at being injured didn't to mind. Before this final, Muster had So the 1995 French Open became an fool anyone. won 21 consecutive finals on clay. * open tournament in which Steffi Graf, Two time winner Jim Courier also fell The longest streak of 55 consecutive Sanchez Vicario, Conchita Martinez Mary by the wayside so did Andre Medvedev, wins on clay was compiled by the Pierce and even Iva Majoli were possible David Wheaton, and Wagne Ferriera of flamboyant Argentine Guillermo Villas winners. When the dust cleared, Steffi South Africa among others. And so did in the late 70's. Also Muster last lost a Graf faced Aranxta Sanchez Vicario in clay court specialist and two time winner, final on clay in 1990. Ironically, the 27 the finals. A seesaw first set ended with Sergi Brugera who was shown the exit by year old Muster was involved in a freak Steffi winning 7-5. Graf started the second Chang in the semi final. accident in which he was hit by a car. It set in supreme style breaking Vicario's Thomas Muster continued his streak appeared that his shattered knees would serve in file first game, holding serve she of clay court victories by unravelling end his career. Not so. A determined led 2-0. But back came Vicario with a run Kafelnikov in the semi finals. It was Muster was back after only six months. of 4 games to lead 4-2. The battle thereafter Muster's 34th consecutive victory on clay. The third set was more competitive as did great service to women's' tennis. In fact almost all of Muster's titles have Chang lifted his game by a notch. But Simply put, it was terrific. Vicario closed been won on clay. Precisely 27 of his 28 despite Chang's steely determination, out the set 6-4. titles, the only exception being his title in Muster, nick-named "the potter" ground The final set became an anti climax of Adelaide. Muster's streak took him to his out the third set 6-4 for the Austrian's sorts as an obviously tired Aranxta fell first appearance in a grand-slam final biggest ever victory. apart. Behind a stream of unforced errors where he met Chang. It was also Chang's With his French Open victory the she was mauled 6-0. Thus Steffi Graf won first grandslam final since he beat Stefan Austrian rose to the number three position French Open title and regained her Edberg at the age of 17 years to win the in the world ranking. The Austrian number one world ranking from Vicario French Open title in 1989. Chang's iron- Government has decided to honour and left to prepare for the Wimbledon will was bound to be severely tested by Muster by having the impression of his tournament. (The number one ranking Muster's intensity, almost robotic feet and hands in cement on a famous has changed hands six times this year physical fitness and near inexorable pavement in the "street of the victors" in between the two,) Graf's French Open mental strength. Speculation was that Vienna. victory produced her 16th grandslam title. this final was bound to be a collision of Muster has not been able to translate All the rumours about the 26 year-old tanks. The irresistible force colliding with his success on clay to other playing Graf's imminent retirement on account the immovable object. A determined surfaces. Since "the potter" does not play of injuries finally seemed to evaporate. Muster declared that he neither plays for well on grass, it is unlikqly that Muster An unusually emotional Graf shed money or the egotism of being a champion will participate in the Wimbledon tears of relief as she made her Victory but merely attempts to give the best of tournament which is the grandslam speech. Graf's fourth French Open title is himself while trying to have fun on court. event. special. Only a selec! group of ladies have From a 2-5 deficit in the first set he won 5 The ladies' game was no less compe­ attained that feat. The illustrious group straight games to take the set 5-7. In the titive than the men's. The long absence of includes Chris Evert who won seven second set, Chang became a puppet at the the former number one player, Monica French Open titles and Margaret Smith end of Muster's long string. Thoroughly Seles after being stabbed by a demented Court who won five titles.H

Newswatch, June 26,1995 15 PROLOGUE An Unlikely Democrat

By Dan Agbese

TryingtotumAbiolainto a symbol of democracy is like putting lipstick on a frog. — An unnamed "specialist in Nigerian politics" quoted by Time magazine in its issue of April 3,1995

N UNKIND CUT? MAYBE. BUT TRUTH BE told, Moshood Abiola was an unlikely candi­ date for confronting the military's usurpation of political power for 25 of the nation's thirty-five years of independence. He has no track records as a fighter for democracy or civil rule in Nigeria. Nothing he did or said in public marked him out as a particular hater of military rule. He wined and dined with the military. He was always their willing emissary in sticky situations. The military more or less made Abiola. He made most of his money through them. Umaru Dikko ( no love lostbetween them) accuses him of financing the 1983 coup against president . And the one against which brought his own friend, , to power. Discretion must have advised him not to deny the charge. The manipulation of the transition programme by the military enjoyed his overt support. His newspaper chain canvassed that position. It worked to his personal gain and gave Abiola the opportunity to contest the presidential election of June 12, 1993. He had refused to join either of the two political parties, NRC or SDP because he saidhe was through with politics. But by January, 1993, he changed his mind. Babangida's ban on all the 23 presidential aspirants cleared the way for Abiola. He joined the SDP for the singular objective of contesting the presidential election as the party's candidate. The party gave him the thumbs up. Many people saw a carefully choreographed ploy by the military to hand over power to their trusted friend, Moshood Abiola. It all looked like a sick joke. Not many people gave him much chance at the polls. They did not reckon with God's penchant for the mysterious. As it turned out, Abiola, the unfancied horse in the presidential race, sprang the kind of surprise that always brings the carefully stacked dominoes tumbling down. And the friend became the Nemesis, a fish bone in the throat of the military and a millstone on Nigeria's neck. Because of Abiola, Babangida left office in rather shabby circumstances. Because of Abiola , head of the Interim National Government, was in power all of three months. A record. Because of Abiola Nigeria has not quite known peace for two years now. And the nation feels like a countiy condemned to live under the Sword of Damocles. Abiola. Whoever thought this would happen, that twenty- Abioia: A bone in the throat of the military

16 Newswatch, June 26,1995 PROLOGUE

five years after the civil war to keep the to change an unhealthy, inhuman countiy together, Nigerians would still system to a healthy, human system. be wondering if their countiy is a We must settle fora middle ground. united nation or a patchwork of tribal The fight for civil rule in Nigeria enclaves held together with the thin centres on Abiola, the victim of a thread. Before June 12, 1993, the perceived political injustice. It was he political histoiy of Nigeria could have who contested and won (?) the election been written entirely with Abiola's which was annulled. You can't take name conspicuously absent. Unless, Abiola looms large in that from him. When labour went on of course, one took note of his role in its first political strike last year, the the Second Republic in diluting the the contemporary demand was for an Abiola presidency. political influence of that Yoruba icon, Pro-democracy movements, indivi­ the late Obafemi Awolowo. June 12, political history of duals and organisations, local or 1993, changed all that. Nothing has international, fight on his side. What­ been quite the same in Nigeria. Not Nigeria ever was his past, whatever was his politics. Not the economy. Abiola record, all its forgotten, all is forgiven. looms large in the contemporary To be sure, he is not a perfect political history of Nigeria. Talk of symbol for democracy or even civil disintegration? Abiola. Talk of rule. There is the taint of his rela­ confederation? Abiola. Humpty tionship with the militaiy and his loud Dumpty was allowed to fall and the silence on the democratic process in an prized wisdom of our politicians and endless transition. But more academics is at a loss for a satisfactory importantly, there is the vagueness of answer. Logjam. where he can be found in politics - with the hound or with the Luck? Fate? Whatever you choose to call it, it reminds us hare. No one knows for sure what he stands for in politics. that there is irony in the affairs of man. Change sometimes When he campaigned for the presidency, his manifesto was comes from unlikely sources. A dirt poor boy became a remarkable for its inarticulateness. He promised to banish wealthy philanthropist. And a dark horse was galloping poverty in Nigeria but he had no clue on how to work the home with the ultimate prize when the military struck with magic all nations would be glad to buy from him. His political the annulment. Oh, how it passes all understanding! ideology suffers from the same lack of definitiveness. In the Is Moshood Abiola a symbol of democracy? The answer Second Republic, he was in the National Party of Nigeria, depends on what you make of symbols. Positive, if symbol NPN. Right of centre. In the Third Republic, he was in the means someone as the fulcrum of a certain cause of action. Social Democratic Party, SDP. Left of centre. He moves, it Negative, if symbol refers to someone who has spent most of appears, where the spirit of political ambition pushes him. his life, a la Nelson Mandela, in the vanguard of a struggle for But no one can tell you not to buy a used car from him. the greatest good of the greatestnumber of people. Or, at least, In the peculiar politics of Nigeria, Abiola as a symbol of democracy is diminished by primordial politics and ethnicism. He is not the defining agent of a resu rgent democratic yearning in a country with its remarkable ambivalence about its form of government. As a symbol, he should enlaige the, Nigerian nation. Instead, there is a contraction of the nation imposed by the blurred vision of ethnicity. As a symbol, he should mean the same thing to most people. But he does not because the tribe refuses to make way for nationalism. His pronouncements have been those of an injured, tribal man. Not of a statesman. These stain the symbol. It is not his fault. It is in the peculiar habit of fate not to always have a banner without stain. But for Nigerians, even of time and circum­ stance distant from June 12,1993, the date and the man still remind us that even in the admittedly murky world of third world politics, there is sometimes not enough sand to cover Babangida, Shonekan: Lost power because of Abiola the murk.H

Newswatch, June 26,1995 17 SPECIAL REPORT The June 12 Panic

By Nats Agbo

N MONDAY LAST WEEK, HUNDREDS OF pedestrians were not harassed. armed policemen marched through the streets Although most banks in Lagos did not open for business on of Agege, Lagos. An armoured personnel carrier June 12, most government offices were open. At the federal drove alongside them. The policemen taunted secretariat Ikoyi and the secretariat, Alausa, workers possible protesters of June 12 to "come out and see whatwere we willin their offices. In Oyo, Osun and Lagos states, most public doO to you." schools were shut because their teachers Residents of the area stayed indoors. kept away from them. At the Obafemi Most of the streets and the Agege Motor Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, June Road were empty until 10 a.m. because 12 was declared a lecture free day. Also, commercial vehicle owners refused to students of the Osun State Polytechnic, release them for work. Iree and the College of Education, Esa A similar securitybuild up was also Oke were given a one-week holiday. heavy in several parts of Lagos, Authorities of the two schools had feared particularly Anthony bus stop, Mile 2, that the students may resort to violence Orile, Apongbon and the Mile 12 market. on June 12 if allowed to remain on At the Mile 2 area, policemen searched campus. vehicles on both sides of the Lagos- In several other university Badagry expressway. In central Lagos, campuses, anti-riot policemen were on more than 50 mobile policemen took patrol. Security presence at the Bauchi strategic positions at Apongbon. One road campus of the University of Jos armoured personnel carrier was was also heavy. Security reports said stationed there. A police pick-up van the university was a likely base for and lorry were also parked there. trouble should advocates of the Another set of about 10 policemen sat actualisation of the June 12, 1993 on benches on the foot of the pedestrian presidential election decide to be violent. bridge manipulating telephone sets. The It was learnt tha t two weeks before J une telephones were said to have been 12, security men visited the university installed there to monitor the security and harassed lecturers suspected to have situations in other areas. Motorists and Aklnyemi: June 12 a must sympathies for NADECO. Some of the lecturers were even asked to speak to the students and appeal to them against any violent protests. It was claimed that security men decided to focus on the University of Jos following reports that money was sent to some of the lecturers by some NADECO leaders to help organise violent protests against the government. Although security officials later discovered that the information was false, it was however, decided that all university campuses should be heavily policed. By midnight June 11, anti-riot policemen had taken positions in all the strategic locations in all the states. Some of them were strictly directed to guard public offices and others were instructed to watch out for arsonists and looters in areas that are usually targets of protesters. In all cases, policemen were Policemen inside police vehicles: Waiting in vain for protesters asked to shoot any protesters caught

18 Newswatch, June 26, 1995 SPECIAL REPORT looting or harassing people. Lagos State, broadcast a message to Lagos residents assuring Government decision to increase security at suspected them of security of their lives and property. He also directed trouble spots in the country was informed by two factors. The that suspected miscreants, often called "area boys," be swept off first were security reports which indicated that NADECO the streets of Lagos. Femi Adeoye, a major and chairman of the members were planning violent protests on June 12. Initially, Lagos State task force on environmental sanitation, told members of the coalition had planned a peaceful march through newsmen that 300 of such people were arrested by the task some streets in selected towns in the country. What security force. agents did not know was that the plan had been abandoned. So By mid-day on June 12, however, it was clear that the sit-at- the reports detailing plans by the group to unleash a reign of home order had only been marginally successful. There were no terror on the nation were sold to the government. It was on the protests of any kind anywhere in Nigeria. Some people who basis of such reports that the federal government ordered the heeded the call of the CD and stayed at home rushed to their arrest of several pro-democracy activists. A NADECO meeting offices when it was obvious that there were no violent protests which was to plan protest marches was aborted by the police in going on. Oyerinde and other pro-democracy activists were, Owo, , a week before June 12. Adekunle Ajasin, however, happy at the outcome of the order. In a press release former civilian governor of Ondo State, , issued on June 12, the CD leader claimed that observance of the former civilian governor of , Olu Falae, a former sit-at-home order was very impressive, adding that it was minister and more than 40 othèr members of NADECO at the evidence that Nigerians had resolved "to rid the Nigerian polity meeting were arrested on charges of holding an illegal meeting. of the huge menace which military rule constitutes." They have since been freed. Taiwo Akeju, a leader of NADECO in , told Olisa Agbakoba, president of Civil Liberties Organisation, Vanguard newspaper that the coalition cancelled the proposed CLO, and Beko Ransome-Kuti, leader of Campaign for protest march on June 12 to avoid any loss of lives. He, however, Democracy, CD, were arrested three days before June 12. commended those who he claimed respected CD's stay-at- While these arrests were going on, NADECO leaders in home order. Other NADECO sources also said leaders of the exile released a programme to mark June 12. The programme group shunned any confrontation with security agents because which was to last for eight days included prayer in mosques and in the past, "innocent bystanders were killed". Instead, Ajasin churches as well as protest marches to the Nigerian High called on all Nigerians to pray for the restoration of democracy. Commission in London and 10 Downing Street, official residence It was, however, at the international level that NADECO of the British prime minister. A rally was also planned for recorded some gains. In a special phone-in programme to mark Trafalgar Square in London as well as in front of the Nigerian the second anniversary of June 12, the British Broadcasting Embassy in Washington. Corporation, BBC, allowed the issue to be discussed by The eight-day campaign was to pressure the international prominent Nigerians and non-Nigerians. Chukwuemeka community to impose economic sanctions on Nigeria in order Odumegwu Ojukwu who spoke during the programme said to force the military government to free Abiola from detention pro-democracy activists in Nigeria were few, adding that the and restore democracy in Nigeria. A government source said: interest of Nigeria was greater than that of any individual or "It was the international angle that bothered the government." group within it. He said it was wrong to assume that the Yoruba The fear was that given international were marginalised in Nigeria,, because support, the proposed protests could the June 12,1993 election was annulled. become very violent. Senior government Said he: "Look at the composition of all officials were said to have been so the governments that have been set up worried about possible outbreak of by this military administration, there is violence that military administrators of a preponderance of Yoruba from the Oyo and Lagos states were directed to south western part of Nigeria." Former make special broadcasts on the radio external affairs minister and NADECO's and television to assure residents^ the spokesman in London, Bolaji Akinyemi, respective states of their safety. who also contributed to the programme Ibrahim Coomasie, the inspector- said the crackdown, on pro-democracy general of police, also lent his voice to activists was evidence that the the appeals, warning at the same time government was under intense that policemen were ready for any likely pressure. outbreak of viplence. Hesaid: "Wedealt In Washington, the campaign for with them last year; we are prepared to sanctions against Nigeria heightened. deal with them again this year." Members of TransAfrica, a pressure* Despite Coomasie's threat, the CD group in the United States continued which had co-ordinated sit-at-home their daily protests at the Nigerian strikes in the past two years issued a embassy. These activities led to several statement. Leaflets urging Nigerians to reports in the international media which stay at home on the same day were are damaging to the military freely distributed at bus stops and offices government in Nigeria. And as urging Nigerians to observe a one day Akinyemi told the BBC last week, the sit-at-home on June 12. Shortly after struggle is evidence that "June 12 has that statement was issued Olagunsoye come to stay in the history of Nigerian Oyinlola, military administrator ôf Ajasin: Detained politics."!

Newswatch, June 26,1995 19 SPECIAL REPORT The Albatross

By Mike Akpan

RDINARILY, THE MONTH OF JUNE OUGHT TO be as peaceful as any other month in Nigeria. But that is not the case. Ever since former President Ibrahim Babangida annulled the June 12, 1993, presidential election June 23 and Moshood Abiola, the assumed winnerO of that election declared himself president on June 11 and was arrested and thrown into detention on June 23 last year, the month has assumed a catastrophic significance. In the last two years, the month of June has come to be associated with protests, boycotts, terror, heightened tension, economic paralysis and crackdowns. Last year, the regime of general was boxed to a corner in June. The National Democratic Coalition, N A DECO, hurriedly formed to confront Abacha for going back on his words to convene a sovereign national conference, gave him a deadline which expired on May 31. The coalition wanted Abacha to either de-annul the June 12 presidential election and call on Abiola, to form a national government or face its wrath. At first, Abacha ignored NADECO and its ultimatum. The situation changed after it effectively mobilised the voters to boycott the ward delegates election to the constitutional conference held on May 23, last year. As the May 31, deadline drew closer, Ibrahi m Coomassie, the inspector-general of police, issued two statements in two consecutive days. The first described NADECO as an illegal organisation and warned Abacha: Crackdown on pro-democracy activists against any plan to confront the federal military government in anyway. The second statement warned against the consequences who were lucky to escape arrest fled into exile in Europe and of Abiola or any retired officer of the armed forces forming a America where they are co-ordinating the activities of NADECO. parallel government in the country. These warnings were In fact, their activities abroad have raised international ignored by both NADECO and Abiola. consciousness of anti-democratic posture of the Abacha On June 11, Abiola proclaimed himself president of Nigeria government in Nigeria. This consciousness has sustained the at Epetedo, in central Lagos, and went into hiding. He re- campaign to restore democracy in Nigeria. emerged in Surulere on June 22, and rode triumphantly from Within the country, the crackdown on pro-democracy there in a long convoy to his Ikeja residence after addressing a activists has failed to kill the spirit of June 12. As an official of the rally where he enunciated his programme of action otherwise coalition, put it last week: "No crackdown can kill our spirit to known as "The Way Forward". At 1.30 am on June 23, Abiola fight injustice". Wole Oke, Kwara state secretary of NADECO, was arrested. agrees saying: "No arrest and detention would deter NADECO That led to a NADECO—government confrontation. from fighting for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria". NADECO succeeded in mobilising oil workers and the Nigeria Added another NADECO leader: "The spate of arrests will not Labour Congress, NLC, for a long-drawn industrial action stop our fight for democracy. We are still going ahead to which paralysed economic and social life for several weeks. The organise a peaceful demonstration to mark the anniversary. nation lost several billions of naira from the strike. Our resolve to get justice cannot be broken". They didn't. Abacha responded to the face-off by disbanding the na tional Olawole Osh un, acting general secretary of NADECO, issued executives of the NLC and the National Union of Petroleum and a statement in May on the state of the nation which touched on Natural Gas of Nigeria, NUPENG, and the Petroleum Senior various issues ranging from Abacha's CNN interview to the S.taff Associa tion of Nigeria, PENG ASSAN. The national leaders continued ban on certain newspapers and magazines. Oshun of PENGASSAN and NUPENG were later arrested and deta ined. lamented the collapse of the economy and education. He also For now, the NLC, NUPENG and PENGASSAN are run by sole disagreed with Abacha's statement that the courts annulled the administrators. June 12 presidential election and that there were no human Abacha also descended on NADECO leaders and pro-June rights abuses in Nigeria. He gave a list of political detainees to activists. Most of those arrested are still in detention but those prove his point.

20 Newswatch, June 26,1995 SPECIAL REPORT

Oshun also outlined NADECO's plan to celebrate its first "The Way Forward", he ordered the restoration of all dismantled anniversary between June 7 and 9 as well as the second democratic structures, he said. anniversary of June 12. But apprehension over a possible repeat Asikpo Essien-Ibok, a political scientist, also sees NADECO of last year's political crisis compelled government to take a as a problem. Argues Essien-Ibok: "The first thing NADECO pre-emptive action. would have done would have been to get a central organisation On May 16, Wada Nas, minister for special duties, said that before giving the May 31 ultimatum last year. Unfortunately, pro-June 12 groups were planning to unleash anarchy in parts those who conceived the idea of NADECO decided to put the cf the country. He said it was to start during the Eid-El-Kabir cart before the horse. An ultimatum was given to the Abacha public holiday. He said the groups planned to launch the new govern ment even before branches of NADECO were established offensive by first distributing pamphlets through unnamed for grassroots mobilisation. That was a minus for NADECO Muslim and Christian leaders. Part of the plan, he said, included because the ultimatum only succeeded in putting the the launching of the NADECO endownment fund. government on red alert. For that reason, NADECO needed a Nas alleged, these were being co-ordinated by a former more formidable force than that of the government to actualise foreign affairs minister, a retired army general and an influential June 12". third republic politician. The minister's allegations drew hostile Apart from structural defects in organisation, NADECO reactions from religious and NADECO leaders including lacked the resources to push out the government. Said Essien- Michael Ajasin, national chairman of NADECO, Anthony Ibok: "Because NADECO has no central organisation from Enahoro, NADECO vice-chairman and Titus Ogbonyomi, where it could draw resources, it depended on individual bishop of the church of Nigeria resources of members whereas Anglican Communion in Kaduna. government has a lot of resources at They all challenged Nas to prove his its disposal to fight NADECO. Those allegations. who had the resources were not sure The minister's allegation was NADECO was committed to the made based on security reports cause it set out to fight. submitted to the government on the Moreover, those who should plans of NADECO towards June 12. have stuck out their necks to carry On the strength of the report, the on the fight were afraid of betrayal. office of the chief of general staff, "They were even not sure Abiola CGS, Abuja, issued directives to state would not chicken out at the critical military administrators to take stage". Essien-Ibok referred to the chargeof security operations in their mutual suspicion among many area. The directives warned that they members of NADECO saying many would be held responsible for any of them do not even believe in an breakdown of law and order in their Abiola presidency and are busy states. pursuing their individual pro­ NADECO leaders and pro-June grammes beyond June 12. 12 activists across the country were Others, he said, regard hunted, arrested and detained for NADECO as a political party-in- various charges. All forms of waiting and are scheming for political, ethnic or cultural meetings strategic positions. These per­ were banned. Security a t the borders ceptions have put off many genuine was tightened and, in addition, supporters of June 12 and hinder Nigerian security operatives were NADECO from sufficiently sent outside the country to monitor mobilising the putative structures the activities of NADECO leaders in Enahoro: Hostile reactions on the ground to give a meaningful exile. These, and other panic challenge to the military. measures taken to forestall a repeat of the June political crisis, There is also lack of total commitment among pro-June 12 according to Bolaji Akinyemi, former external affairs minister activists. As Arthur Nzeribe, leader of Association for Better and a NADECO leader-in-exile, showed that the Abacha Nigeria, ABN, said at a Neivswatch summit last year, "most of government was under severe pressure. the people there had nothing to offer mentally, materially or But the question is: If the spirit of June 12 lives on and the even as activists." Nzeribe said although many of them Abacha regime is under severe presure, what is responsible for shouted "On June 12 we stand" what they were actually talking the non-actualisation of June 12? The reasons are many. about was "On June 12 we chop". He said many of them According to Balarabe Musa, former governor of , abandoned June 12 when they could no more derive material NADECO is part of the problem. He argued that NADECO benefits from Abiola. undermined June 12 by linking it with restoration of dismantled Nzeribe was apparently referring to the way and manner political structures. "Most of the state governors and local some pro-June 12 activists encouraged a military take-over of government chairmen were corrupt and many who should the Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, ING, have supported the fight for the actualisation of June 12 were and how they quickly abandoned June 12 to join the military put off because they did not want their corrupt or inefficient government. Top on the list of deserters of June 12 are Baba governors and local government chairmen restored", he Gana Kingibe, Olu Onagoruwa, , , explained. Abiola also lost support of such people when, in his , and Ebenezer Babatope. They now

Newswatch, June 26,1995 21 SPECIAL REPORT

say, they support the principle of June 12 and not Abiola's claim of a federal character to his electoral mandate. commission, a re- ^ . Jakande has formed Egbe Omo Yoruba, to work against examination of the Afenifere, a Yoruba group that is pressing for the actualisation of legislative list and June 12. transfer of some Abiola himself, others argue, is also part of the problem. He functions of the was confused about what he really wanted to do with the June federal government 12 mandate and failed to utilise the opportunity created for him to the states and en­ when a Lagos high court declared the ING illegal in October trenchment of the 1993. He turned down the advice of his close friends to proclaim principles of revenue himselfpresidentimmediatelyafterthatcourtjudgment. Instead, allocation specifying he encouraged Abacha to take-over the government when, as the minimum per­ Kingibe said in his letter to Bill Clinton, United States president, centage to be allo­ last year, Abiola was told bluntly that a military government cated to the principle would not restore his mandate. He lost a lot of supporters of derivation. through that indiscretion. When he finally declared himself Some deba tes and president in June last year after 12 months, many saw his act as decisions of the suicidal and refused to fight for his cause. They also accuse him conference have re­ of fleeing the country on August 4,1993, on the pretext of going inforced fears in the outside to canvass international support to actualise his mandate south that the north is instead of staying back to confront Babangida just because of a not committed to true rumour that he was to be arrested or killed. federalism. These Abiola's friends also play politics with June 12. One of them include opposition to is Lamidi Adedibu, who claimed to be an apostle of June 12. His rotational presidency hypocrisy about June 12 was exposed in some of his letters as a permanent con- Jakande: Abandoned June 12 published by the African Guardian last year. In one of the letters, stitutional arrange­ Adedibu supported the annulment of the presidential election ment as well as an equitable revenue allocation formula, and praised Babangida for his courage. He regretted that he was resistance to transfer of certain functions of the federal misled into believing that Abiola's presidential bid enjoyed his government to the states and abolition of the two- party system (Babangida's) support. In another letter, he implored Abacha to which made it possible for Abiola to win the June 12 presidential take over from Shonekan emphasising that "the armed forces election. The return to multi-party system is a return to ethnic are the last hope of the common man". He supported Abiola or regional party politics of the first and second republics. The publicly but worked secretly against him. conference also took many anti-democratic decisions. One of The pro-democracy groups which paralysed economic and them is the terminal date for Abacha. social activities in Lagos and the entire south-west zone in July Ironically, June 12 which gave rise to the conference was not and August 1993 are currently in disarray. For instance, the discussed as an item on its agenda. What went close to June 12 Campaign for Democracy, CD, is embroiled in a crisis over the was the decision that future governments must uphold the will allegations that someof its leaders were accomplices in the coup of the people as expressed in elections. Sam Ikoku, a delegate that brought Abacha to power. At present, pro-democracy from Abia state said it was not discussed because June 12 was groups cannot mobilise for an effective challenge of the military an illegality insisting that the election was held in spite of a court to actualise June 12. order stopping it. For now, the only way out of the political impasse is dialogue Peter Odili, a delegate from , said "June 12 was but Abacha insists the Constitutional Conference is where to one of the several injustices that have happened in the country". dialogue. Although pro-June 12 activists have no faith in the What the conference looked at, he said, was the fundamental conference, some of the decisions taken by it have really defined role it played and dealt with it. Dayo Abatan, a delegate from how Nigerians should live in future. Besides, the conference has , said: "There was no way June 12 can be actualised reaffirmed faith in the unity of Nigeria despite pre-conference in the context people are calling for because the structures on acrimony and hard lines of many delegates. which it was built have been dismantled". Specifically, the conference recommended the creation of Kudira t, Abiola's senior wife, argues that the intrigues of the more states and local governments, abolition of winners-take- -defunct National Republican Convention, the Yar 'Adua faction all practice in Nigerian politics, drastic reduction in the number of the Social Democratic Party, and some Yoruba were of legislators in the House of Representatives and the states, a responsible for the seemingly endless political crisis. "Without one-term of five ÿears for the president and multiple vice­ actualising June 12, this country will not move forward", she presidency. Other decisions include mandatory declaration of warned. assets by the president, governors and other public office holders She is right. The unresolved political crisis has had a telling before assumption of office and mandatory asset declaration effect on the national economy. Western nations and creditors after leaving office, the right of Nigerians to request for and have made it difficult for Nigeria to re-schedule its debts or obtain a copy or copies of assets declaration of public officers borrow more money. Sustained bad publicity against Nigeria in from the Code of Conduct Bureau and the establishment of a the western press, is turning international opinion against the constitutional court. government. Britain has threatened to suspend Nigeria from On power sharing, the conference voted for a rotational the commonwealth. presidency between the north and the south, the establishment Reported by fossy Nkwocha.

22 Newswatch, June 26,1995 SPECIAL REPORT B The Judiciary Striding Along On Crutches

By Wale Akin Aina

he dilemma of the judiciary began june 10,1993, less than 48 hours to the presidential election of June 12 that year. Bassey Ikpeme, a judge of the Abuja High Court, ordered the National Electoral Commission, NEC, and Humphrey Nwosu, its chairman, not to holdT the elections "pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court." „ The suit was brought by the Association for Better Nigeria, ABN, then campaigning for the extension of the Babangida presidency. ABN had levelled allegations of corruption against three former Social Democratic Party, SDP, governors at the convention of the party in Jos. Ikpeme said that the allegations were "the greatest shame in the history of Nigerian politics" and that NEC would be wrong not to investigate it. Ikpeme's ruling was to generate controversy. By thé Presidential Election (Basic Constitution and Transitional Provisions) Decree No. 13 of 1993, the courts had no powers to force NEC to comply with any order. Section 19(1) of the decree states that "no interlocutory order judgment or decision made by any court or tribunal before the commencement of this decree, in respect of any intra-party or inter-party dispute, or any other matter before it shall affect the timing or date of an Nwosu: Ignored court ruling election of the performance of the commission or any of its functions under the decree or any of its guidelines issued by it interpreted as a fine example of judicial doublespeak, Ikpeme in pursuance of the elections." declared that she had the right to make the ruling but that the Matters became more confusing when, in what is now decree encourages NEC "to disregard any ruling." Certain legal and moral issues are therefore raised by that action. Are judges supposed to make judgments in vain, in the face of ouster decrees? What is the place and effect of ouster clauses on judicial rulings? The issue of ouster clauses and the independence of the judiciary was brought to the fore. Section 6 (1) of the 1979 constitution provides that "judicial powers of the federation shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established for the federation." But the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) Decree No. 1 of 1984 states in section 5 that "no question as to the validity of this or any other decree or of any edict shall be entertained by any court of law in Nigeria." This makes the action of any military government, through the instrument of decrees, fjj unchallengeable in courts. This, plus the ouster decree 13 must have informed the decision of NEC to ignore the order of Ikpeme. On the face of it, it would appear that Ikpeme was Ayonrinde, Bello: Discordant tunes on the judiciary enforcing the independence of the judiciary. But other

Newswatch, June 26,1995 23 SPECIAL REPORT cases show that the bench chooses to uphold ouster decrees as it suits them. For instance, when in July 1993, Abiola and Baba G ana Kingibe, his running mate, sought to make government release the results of June 12 election and also restrain Babangida from handing over to the Interim National Government, Akin Fernandez, a judge of the Lagos high court, declared that his hands were tied by decree no. 1 of1984. The same argument was used when 14 attomeys-general of SDP-con trolled states went to the federal high court to seek the same relief. A day after Ikpeme's judgment and barely 24 hours to the elections, Nwosu announced that NEC had decided to ignore the court order in view of the provision of decree 13. Sumbo Onitiri and Babatunde Adejumo also obtained an order from Justice Moshood Olugbani of the Lagos high court compelling NEC to go ahead with the election. Two days after the elections were held and while NEC was still in the process of declaring the results, Dahiru Saleh, the chief judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on June 15 ordered NEC not to release the results. His order came after results of 14 states had been declared. ABN had urged the court to charge NEC for contempt for disregarding Ikpeme's ruling. In Lagos, Onitiri and Adejumo again went to the high court and got another order compelling NEC to release the results. In Benin, J.O. Sadoh of the Benin high court also gave a similar order. NEC filed an appeal against the Abuja high court ruling at the FederalCourt of Appeal, Kaduna. The orders and counter-orders began to give judicial decisions a political colouration. The conflicting judgments were clearly against the judicial term of estoppel by judgment. In plain English, this precludes a court from entertaining any subject matter that has previously been heard and decided by another court of concurrent jurisdiction. That the decisions of the judges seemed to reflect the political leanings of certain interest groups was obvious in the way the judiciary reacted to the disobedience to its orders. Also the conflicting orders issued by courts of co-ordinate and concurrent jurisdiction became worrisome. High courts, both in Abuja and Lagos, gave orders that were not binding on those beyond their areas of jurisdiction, thereby beclouding the political atn\osphere. It was in this state of judicial ding-dong that the government on June 23 annulled the elections. According to the government, it was compelled to do so "in order to rescue the judiciary from intra-wrangling. These steps were being taken in order to Abiola: In court amidst tight security protect our legal system from being ridiculed and politicised." Government stopped all court proceedings relating to the October 1993, he said the judiciary was the only avenue for the election; repealed the Transition to Civil Rule decree no. 3 and peaceful resolution of the political problem. "But for the no. 5 of 1992 as well as the presidential election decree no. 13 of draconian decree issued overnight to tie the hand of the judiciary, 1993. Government also suspended NEC. justice would have been done," he said. In his broadcast to the nation June 26, Babangida said that As event were to show, contradictory rulings by courts of government took the action because it was concerned that eqiial jurisdiction continued to bedevil the political scene. political conflicts and breaches had been carried to the courts. Dolapo Akinsanya, a judge of the Lagos high court, in her "It must be acknowledged that the performance of the judiciary now famous "no room for sentiments" ruling, declared the on this occasion is less than satisfactory," he said. Babangida Interim National Government of Shonekan illegal on November said that the government could not continue to watch while the 9,1993. Babangida, she declared, had no legislative powers as high courts carried on "their long drawn process and pf the mid-night of August 25,1993, to sign the decree which contradictory decisions while the nation slides into chaos." He was promulga ted August 27, a day after he left office. Akinsanya accused the courts of submitting to manipulation of the political set in motion the machinery for the operation of the 1989 process and vested interests. constitution. Shonekan promised to take the matter to the But Abiola, the man mainly affected by the annulment of the Supreme Court. But he also expressed worries over the judiciary. election, still believed in the judiciary. When he received some At the judges' conference in Port Harcourt a few days after the members of the defunct National Assembly in his Ikeja home judgement, he cautioned the judiciary to be wary of being

24 Newswatch, June 26,1995 SPECIAL REPORT

politicised as it could lead the country The court cases continued and at into chaos. He said that the judgment every turn, brought more drama. against the Interim National Shortly after the incident, Mustapha Government was political and could withdrew from the case. Mustapha's militate against the political withdrawal came after an altercation development of the country. He in court with Abiola where he had promised to restore the integrity of said that he would have to consult the courts. other judges around the country on But even within the judiciary, the whether or not he was competent to action of the courts had begun to try Abiola's case. worry judges and lawyers alike. He was replaced by Chris Selong. Mohammed Bello, the chief justice of Selong himself was to run into stormy the federation, said at the judges' waters when he was accused by conference in Port Harcourt tha t some Godwin Ajayi, Abiola's lawyer, of judges had stained the integrity of being a card-carrying member of the the judiciary by their attitude during defunct National Republican Con­ the crisis of the annulment. "It is vention, NRC, the rival party to regrettable that at the beginning of Abiola's SDP. the presiden tia 1 election s, some j udges Ten days after Mustapha's caused their courts to be intimidated withdrawal, Babatunde Belgore, and subjected to manipulations of the chief judge of theFederal High Court, politicalprocessand vested interests," withdrew from Abiola's suit he said. challenging his detention and arrest. Ligali Ayorinde, late chief judge of Lagos State, said in Belgore's withdrawal was as a result of the voteof no confidence January 1994 that though the previous year had been a trying passed on him by Abiola's lawyer, Femi Falana. Falana said time for judges, they sailed through a storm "and though that Belgore had addressed a press conference denying the battered, landed safely ashore." He said that judges were no order made by Mamman Kolo, another judge, on the case gods but were bound to make mistakes. He added: "We have between executives of the National Union of Petroleum and not disappointed anybody." Not everyone would agree with Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and the federal government. that. Falana claimed that the press conference reversed Kolo's order Shortly after taking over November 17, Sanni Abacha, the and that Belgore's action was unethical. head of state, set up the Kayode Eso panel on the judiciary. Aga in a t the Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Muri Okunola, one Abacha expressed his lack of faith in the legal system. He of the four judges hearing the appeal filed by Abiola challenging attributed the battered image of the judiciary to the polarisation the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to try him, withdrew. of the judicial system along ethnic and political lines. "The He gave no reason. On November 5, last year, die Court of judiciary is far from being independent adjudicator of partisan Appeal in Kaduna finally granted Abiola bail. The court conflict. The judiciary seemed to have embarked on an odessey dismissed the argumentof TochukwuOnwugbufor, die solicitor- of self-ridicule which abridged and cast aspersions on its general, that Abiola should not be given bail because he had integrity," he added. rejected an earlier bail given him by a lower court. Justices Even with the promise to overhaul the legal system, judicial Mahmud Mohammed, O. Opene and Umar Abdullahi all said waltzes continued to bog down the resolution of the political Abiola was wrongfully denial bail when he had initially applied impasse. On June 11,1994, the eve of the first anniversary of the for it before Mustapha. But government again appealed against annuled election, Abiola declared himself president and was the ruling. The Appeal Court also granted a stay of execution of arrested. On July 6, he was charged to court in Abuja for its ruling to government treason. Abiola proceeded to the Supreme Court. On May 16, eight Court cases instituted by his lawyers to free him at the justices of the court withdrew from Abiola's case when Ajayi federal high court and the appeal court, both in Lagos, witnessed pointed out that there was the likelihood the justices may be another round of conflicting orders. The court of appeal under biased against Abiola. His reason: Mohammed Bello, Sylvester Justice TajudeenOdunnowo ordered a stay in the proceeding of Onu, Abubakar Wali, Idris Kutigi, Emmanuel Obioma, Alfa the Abuja court, but the high court said it lacked jurisdiction to Belogre and Mohammed Uwais had sued Weekend Concord and listen to the case. On August 10, the Abiola case witnessed a Concord Press of Nigeria, owned by Abiola, for libel. strange twist. Abdullahi Mustapha, the trial judge who was on With the withdrawal of the eight justices, the court cannot recess, was flown to Abuja late that night where he granted the form a quorum to hear Abiola's case. It needs five justices to detained politician bail. The bail was arranged by Jibola hear appeals. There are now only four, one of whom, Adolphus Olanipekun, who was until then not a member of the team of Karibi-Whyte, is chairman of the constitutional conference. lawyers defending Abiola. At a recent interview with the CNN, Abacha said that the The petition was without Abiola's knowledge, his lawyers courts annulled the June 12 elections. Chukwudifu Oputa, a or members of his family. Olanipekun claimed he was acting on former justice of the Supreme Court, replied: '1 wonder why the behalf of one of Abiola's daughters whom members of his blame has been shifted to the judiciary." In the legal system family said they had never heard of. The bail was on condition where the judiciary suffers from ouster clauses, and operates that Abiola should stay in Nigeria and not participate in politics under an intense political pressure, it has become a convenient or attend political rallies. Abiola refused the bail. whipping boy.H

Newswatch, June 26, 1995 25 SPECIAL REPORT H Health Tongues of Politics

By Wale Oladepo

ERE MOSHOOD ABIOLA TO WRITE HIS defecating and that because of this Abiola ate less food to avoid auto-biography now, the low points of his constipation and pain. He also said Abiola was experiencing life would not be his early years when he was weakness and numbness of his right leg and so limps. He said selling fire wood to pay his school fees or when his examination revealed an absence of reflexes on Abiola's Whe was playing the local agidigbo music to eke a livingright but legthe and numbness of his right muscles for which he past one year in detention on charges of treason. He declared diagnosed "prolapsed intervertebral disc (PID) with nerve root himself president of Nigeria June 11 last year, about 12 hours compression syndrome" and hypertension induced, possibly before the first anniversary of the June 12,1993 election which by stress. He, therefore, recommended a chest x-ray, x-ray of the he is believed to have won. thoraco-lumbo-sacral spine, a CT scan of the limbo sacral spine Abiola has fought for his freedom on two fronts - legal and and myelography. health. The health front began two months after his arrest. On The compression of the nerve root at the level 4 and 5 (back August 23, last year he suffered back bone injuries in a scuffle bones) leads to prolapsed intervertebral disc or radiculopathy. with Isa Katsina, a deputy superintendent of police over access The CT scan is a computerised system through which the extent to newspapers. Ore Falomo, Abiola's personal physician who of nerve root compression and neurological damage can be was in Abuja a few days after the incident began what was to determined. The myelography on the other hand would visualise become a campaign to release the spinal cord from where Abiola on health grounds. the nerves take their origin. Abiola being in pains from Abudu's report prompted the incident, sent for Charles the NMA to write to General Ogwuma, a police doctor who Sani Abacha, head of state, stood in for Falomo whenever stating that something urgent he was not in Abuja. But should be done to avoid a security officials did not allow calamity. "It is worrisome that the police doctor to see Abiola. the police is deceiving the Abiola resorted to self- public that all is well with medication and eventually Bashorun Abiola, even in the took an overdose of pain face of the glaring findings of killers. By August 26 when the consultant surgeon who Falomo was in Abuja for his examined him," the associa­ routine visit, Abiola's blood tion wrote. The association pressure had shot up to 210/ warned the government 140 from his normal level of against the disastrous effect 140/80. of Abiola dying in detention Falomo returned to Lagos or suffering a paralysis. for discussions with a number The NMA's letter to of doctors with whom he Abacha and its seven-day agreed that the best solution ultimatum led the govern­ was to get the Nigeria Medical ment to allow Abiola access Association, NMA, to to Aso Rock clinic for intervene. The NMA decided examinations which in­ to brief some experts on variably confirmed Abudu's orthopaedic surgery to go and findings. A team of doctors assess the extent of the damage comprising Ade Bailey, the to Abiola's spine and report Falomo: Campaigning to release Abiola on health grounds nation's foremost ortho­ back. Isola Abudu, a paedic surgeon, Seye Roberts, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, accompanied Falomo to Abuja a consultant neurologist, Abudu and Falomo were called in to to examine Abiola September 2. His report of September 3 examine Abiola September 7. The NMA team then asked for alarmed the NMA. what has since proved impossible: Abiola should be released Abudu confirmed in his report that Abiola complained of for further medical examination and appropriate treatment. persistent backache which had rendered him almost confined The association also informed Chris Senlong, the trial judge to his bed. The pain, he said, was worse on coughing or who took over from Justice Abdullahi Mustapha that he would

26 Newswatch, June 26,1995 SPECIAL REPORT be "trying a man who is very ill A fears raised by NMA and Falomo and almost a near corpse." The over the possible irreversible NMA told Senlong further that damage or death that Abiola may "Abiola has been instructed by the suffer as a result of government medical experts to confifte himself refusal to let him receive adequate strictly to bed pending the surgery for his radiculopathy and definitive investigations and the now aggravated case of blood probably surgical intervention. pressure, and oedema, one of his Senlong did not heed NMA's à American doctors spoke up. The appeal as a result of which he drew man, Michel C. Feinman, sent a theireof the association. The NMA report to Nigeria confirming that launched another attack stating Abiola, being his regular patient, that the failure of the judge to issue stands the risk of death if no further the required order and of the police examination and treatment were to carry Abiola in a stretcher or allowed. Feinman is a rheuma­ wheel chair "presage disaster tologist in Washington DC. In his because the continued use of the medical report on Abiola dated lower limbs without the required March 17 this year, he said he saw investigation and treatment may Abiola on March 8 and April 28, lead to irreversible neurological last year, for his complaints on damage and consequent paralysis high blood pressure and pitting of the affected limb." oedema of the lower extremities. The NMA dramatised its He said a physical examination of protest in a way that aroused Roberts: Examined Abiola him revealed a blood pressure government suspicion that its . initially of 140/100. "I ordered actions were more political than medical. Its members went to laboratory tests which revealed a potassium of 3.2 glucose of Abuja with a stretcher and a wheel chair to carry Abiola to court 138, a mildly decrease hemoglobin and hametocrit, 12.3 and publicly. Abiola was not allowed to use either of them. The 37.3 respectively and magnesium of 1.3. " He said "the perception association went to warn that forcing Abiola to use his weak at that time was uncontrolled hypertension, probable venous right leg would worsen his condition and it would amount to insufficiency, and excess salt intake with hypokalemia, "torture," which is against international conventions. hypomagnesemia and an elevated blood glucose. I placed the From all indications the NMA's alarm over Abiola's health patient on procardia XL 30 one per day and questioned whether was exaggerated. In this, it shot itself in the foot. Government he might have hyperglycemia." easily picked holes in the association's intentions and ignored He said he was alarmed to hear that Abiola "has been them. Early this year, the presidency said that Abiola's ailment incarcerated in Nigeria under very unfavourable conditions," could be treated in Abuja and that the NMA's comments were adding: "In view of the patient's history of uncontrolled politically motivated. But the NMA fought back insisting that it hypertension and lower extremity oedema, I fear that if he does has "published up to date medical reports on the state of health not receive his medications on a timely basis, he is at risk for an of Bashorun Abiola and the need to urgently allow him to go early stroke or hypocardial infarction." overseas for complete medical investigations and treatment The report was circulated by Randall Echols, Abiola's lobbyist because facilities to completely investigate and treat him are not on Capitol Hill, Washington. Government apparently dismissed available in the country." The NMA added that it was "stating this as part of the political propaganda by the NMA. There was this authoritatively as the custodians of the people's health." a good reason for its reaction. If the report existed why did it Even before he was detained, Abiola saw his doctors take the doctor so long to make it available to the government regularly for his high blood pressure. He often travelled abroad, or the public? especially to the United States for check-ups. At the peak of the In March, Abiola went on hunger strike to force the government to allow Falomo to see him. Even then, he was allowed only 10 minutes with Abiola and on the condition that Falomo would not communicate with his patient in Yoruba. No By August 26 when Falomo major medical examination was allowed to be carried out on Abiola. Falomo had wanted to take samples of Abiola's urine, was in Abuja for his routine blood and stool for- examination which he said was vital to assessing his health. He wasn't allowed to take the samples. But visit, Abiola 's blood Falomo added a twist to the tortuous tale of Abiola's health. He said Abiola was already going blind for being continuously pressure had shot up to 210/ kept in a room without enough light. There is no independent confirmation of this. 140 from his normal level of So far, as on the legal front, Abiola has failed to win his freedom through the health front. Falomo insisted that "only 140/80 the grace of God is still keeping Abiola alive. I have decided not to talk on Abiola's health again." Reported by Olu Ojewale

Newswatch, June 26,1995 27 SPECIAL REPORT And They Groan

By Joseph Ode

he one-year-old detention ofmoshood therefore, could not supply power for industrial and domestic Abiola, undeclared winner of the 1993 presidential use. Industries could not resort to the use of their standby election, is basically a legal and political matter. But power generators because they, too, could not find diesel. its repercussions on the country's economy have Workers who were not on strike were forced to stay at home been most profound. Business and economy became a major because there was no fuel to run private or public transport. The victimT of various actions taken by individuals and groups to situation forced many companies to close down. At the peak of pressurise government into installing Abiola as president or, at the crisis in early August, it was easier to count the companies least, set him free. The whirlwind of strike actions aimed at which opened for business than those that closed shop. forcing the hand of government disrupted business activities The scarcity of aviation fuel also grounded the aviation across all sectors of the economy and created so much uncertainty industry and airlines could not operate their scheduled flights. about when and how it would all end. Some airline officials estimated daily losses from cancelled "Political uncertainties," said Garba Ja Abdulkadir, chairman flight on domestic routes at an average of N2 to N3 million. This of John Holt Pic. at the company's annual general meeting May comes to about N40 to N60 million daily for about 20 airlines 18, "unleashed on the country a most crippling industrial crisis operating domestic scheduled or chartered flights in the country. which affected the banking and petroleum sectors, and virtually Activities at the sea-ports were similarly paralysed by the paralysed economic activities for a substantial part of the year." Raymond Obieri, chairman of Nigerian Inter-continental Merchant Bank, also recently bemoaned the effects on banking business of the crisis precipitated by Abiola's incarceration. "The lingering crisis," said he, "further aggravated the negative effects of re­ regulation on the economy and, especially, the banking sector." It all started early July, a couple of weeks after Abiola's arrest and detention when oil workers, under the umbrellas of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, PENG ASS AN, began an indefinite nationwide strike demanding Abiola's unconditional release and installation as president. They were joined about a month later by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the umbrella organi­ sation for all labour unions in the country, which called all workers out on a two- day strike. The oil workers' strike, which lasted for two months and that of the Atypical filling station scene during oil workers1 strike last year Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which began mid-August, were by far the longest and industrial crisis, particularly that of the employees of shipping, most destructive to social and economic life of the country. clearing and forwarding companies. For the 22 days which that The oil workers' strike virtually brought all economic strike lasted, it was estimated by that over 3,000 activities nationwide and across all sectors of the economy to a imported vehicles could not be cleared and that N13.2 million standstill because petroleum products which oil the engine of was incurred as demurrage. industry and commerce almost completely dried up. For The financial sector where workers also went on strike was instance, the National Electric Power Authority, NEPA, was equally badly hit. Of the 117 banks in the country then, only unable to get gas to run its electricity generating plants and, about 40 percent opened for business in July and up to mid-

28 Newswatch, June 26,1995 SPECIAL REPORT

August. Some banks shut their gates to customers to prevent annual general meeting May 18: "1994 was particularly charged panic withdrawals. Many businesses could not function for politically and the disruptions caused to the socio-economic life lack of access to their banks. The crisis also led to the suspension of this country by the political crises and industrial unrest in the of the Open Market Operation ( a market where government's third quarter remain, perhaps, quite fresh in our memory." debt instruments are traded) in the first week of August. The crisis, he said, resulted in a decline in average capacity The impact was no less severe on the oil sector itself. Various utilisation of 28 percent for the 500-member NECA. Other accounts have indicated a sizeable loss in the output of crude repercussions of the industrial crisis on employers, according to oil, the source of over 90 percent of the country's foreign Giwa, were the dissolution of the executive committees of NLC, exchange earnings, Shell Petroleum Development Company, PENGASSAN and NUPENG which heightened industrial Nigeria's largest oil producing company was forced to reduce tension and hardened unionists "in the culture of violence and its output by 40 percent and gave overseas buyers of its oil general lack of respect for the rule of law and particularly the notice that it would no longer be able to meet its side of the grievance and dispute procedures, the law of no-work-no-pay supply contracts for about five days in August. and the sanctity of collective agreements." Chevron, the second largest producer also cut its output by The gloom cast on the economy by all these developments an unspecified amount. So did other producers - Mobil, Elf, served to discourage new foreign investments and led to Agip and Texaco. Don Etiebet, the then minister for petroleum divestment. Although, statistics on this are not available, the resources said last September that financial losses to Nigeria tempo of divestment by foreign business partners in a number resulting from the oil workers strike amounted to $200 million of local industrial enterprises, according to the Manufacturers (N4.4 bill ion then). Besides, so much money was spent importing Association of Nigeria, MAN, "is a measure of the degree of petroleum products to meet the shortfall in local supplies urgency of action that must be taken to restore a conducive created by the industrial crisis. investment climate which a virile private sector needs to thrive." As businessmen and women, institutions and government The political crisis, coupled with the reversal of some reforn take stock of their fortunes or misfortunes in the last one year, programmes last year (for example, fixing of exchange and all they contend with are statistics that are shaped mostly, but interest rates) strained Nigeria's relationship with foreign not completely, by the political crisis induced by Abiola's creditors represented by the World Bank and the International declaration of himself as president June 11 last year. According Monetary Fund, IMF. This stalled negotiations for debt-service to the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, and other reliefs also denied the country of new fund from other man-days lost to strike activities in 1991 and 1992 were three foreign institutions. Even with partial return of deregulation of million and one million, respectively. In 1993, apparently as a the financial system in the 1995 budget, the relationship has result of protests against the annulment of the presidential hardly improved. "It is unlikely," said the Economic Intelligence election, man-days lost jumped to 10 million. Last year it was Unit, a London-based publication, "that Nigeria has gone far 234 million! enough in its liberalisation programme for the IMF, in particular NECA also said that there were 111 days of work stoppages on exchange and interest rates and the continued unsatisfactory in 1993 as a result of "political strikes", but in 1994 the figure progress towards democracy may continue to deter many rose by 42.3 percent to 158. During the period, man-days lost to bilateral aid donors from granting relief." this type of strikes jumped by 246.5 percent from 10.6 million in The economy as a whole, like individuals and corporate 1993 to 36.9 million last year. According to NECA, the figures organisations has paid dearly for the political crisis of the past represent only the second half of 1994. Said Rufus Giwa, NECA year. The 1994 budget was torpedoed, partly by the crisis. For president and chief executive of Lever Brothers Pic at NECA instance, revenue projections were premised on a cautious estimate of growth in the manufacturing sector. But "partly due to the social dislocations and political problems during the period as well as other factors," said Sani Abacha, head of state, in his budget speech, "the manufacturing sector recorded a negative growth of five percent compared with the budget expectations of 3.3 percent." It also affected government's efforts at inflation control. Inflationary pressure, for instance, moderated during the first ha If of the year at 53.5 percent in June which compared favourably with 57.2 percent at the end of December 1993. However, said Abacha, this encouraging trend was reversed by the second half of the year which recorded a higher rate of inflation. This was due mainly to the adjustment in theprices of petroleum products introduced in October. But other factors, Abacha said, "were the depreciation in the value of the naira and the industrial unrests which adversely affected some key areas of the economy." On the whole, the economy could only manage "a marginal growth." Said Imonitie Imoisili, director-general, NECA: There appears to be an obvious link between the economic problem and the lingering political crisis. "Therefore, unless there is a major breakthrough in the latter in 1995, we may be heading for Abdulkadir, Imoisili: Political crises affect business an economic crash."H

Newswatch, June 26,1995 29 SPECIAL REPORT I Pro-Democracy Movement Banners, Battered Banners

By Chukwuemeka Gahia

N 1994, THE OWLS OF JUNE 12 ESCAPED AGAIN dictatorship subsequently intensified. In this, it was helped in from the abyss, casting an ominous shadow. A wave of no small measure by a.festering restiveness in urban centres and riots swept through Lagos and south-western, and eastern a nascent militant press that sought to cash in both on the cities. Threats of war and national rupture loomed and general flux and the uncertainty about the future of the country. for the first time in nearly three decades since the end of the civilBy the time former President Ibrahim Babangida reneged on his war,I Nigerians were again fleeing in droves to their home January 3, 1993 handover date, CD was just about the only regions in anticipation of yet another national implosion. grassroots organisation to be properly spoken of as a credible 1994 was the year the country's smoldering pro-democracy platform for resistance to military rule. It contributed greatly to struggle turned into an inferno. The pro-democracy struggle in pressures and mass action that greeted the annulment of the Nigeria had its beginnings in the random activities of the June 12 presidential election and helped drive Babangida from human rights groups that emerged in the late 1980s and the office. crusade of a few gritty dissidents. Under the control of the The initial action to actualise June 12, was a call for a 3 day Campaign for Democracy, CD, an umbrella organisation of stay-at-home protest beginning July 5, 1993. Thousands of human rights groups, and later the National Democratic people responded to the call. Business and social activities Coalition, NADECO, the work of these group gained especially in Lagos, Benin and the rest of the southwest were considerably in scope and effectiveness through a series of paralysed. The protest was the way through which Nigerians protests that left the country paralysed for much of the year. expressed revulsion at the manner in which Babangida aborted CD, launched in 1991, was just an isolated group of dissidents, democracy. CD's campaigns were also part of the pressures that radicals and outspoken elites whose relevance grew as the accounted for the collapse of the short-lived Interim National sham in the Babangida transition programme became more Government led by Ernest Shonekan. They contributed to the clearly perceived and as the popular struggle against his massive boycott of the election to the Constitutional Conference,

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Protesters: A continuing resistance to military rule

30 Newswatch, June 26, 1995 SPECIAL REPORT

and have been part of a continuing resistance to military rule. improprieties. In a Subsequent protests were only partially successful or totally a six-page statement flop. In February, 1994, a new programme of action against the released to the press, Abacha regime was announced. This did not kick off until May he alleged that Ran­ 9 when the CD called for another 3-day nationwide stay-at- some-Kuti invited home protest. The call was totally ignored. Offices, schools, internal auditors to markets and filling stations remained open even in the traditional look through the strongholds of Lagos and the southwest. Many of those who books without con­ ignored the protest call were workers who had been threatened sulting other execu­ with a sack if they did not report for work. Among them also tives members. He were traders and market women who had suffered losses said Ransome-Kuti during the previous stay-at-home protest and did not want to then took over the see that happen to them a second time. Thirdly, government secretariat located in propaganda had proven effective by then in making the June 12 his private building struggle appear as a struggle aimed at achieving narrow ethnic and began using it to power interests at the expense of other nationalities. frustrate those op­ This considerably constricted the CD's support base and posed to him, in undermined the effectiveness of all subsequent protests. Worse addition to blocking still, CD had somehow limited its strategies entirely by then to programmes that arousing public spontaneity and was hardly in a position to were not in line with enforce its will outside that method of struggle. Yet, up-till that his own agenda. He Ubani: Resigned from CD time the CD was a dreaded mass organisation that had given the accused him of not Abacha regime nightmares. Because of its position and prestige allowing mobilisation to be carried out outside Lagos and the in the pro-democracy struggle, the abortive, poorly-organised southwest. He alleged that Ransome-Kuti was holding private protest of February 1994 was seen as a costly mistake that only meetings with the government on behalf of the organisation served to boost the morale of the regime. CD agreed that the without consultation.

protest had not "gone smoothly." RansomeTKuti said he suspected that Ubani was being used Olusegun Maiyegun, the group's research and mobilisation to destabilise the CD. Abdul Oroh, executive director of the officer, said the protest was sabotaged by the government. He CLO, one of CD's affiliates, told Newswatch that for Ransome- alleged that the government pumped over N200 million to Kuti, the issue was not whether he spoke with the military sabotage the campaign. He said several ministers went round leaders but that some people went to the press to condemn the distributing money to local government council and ward action. He continued: "Beko said they should have come to him leaders in Lagos. to iron out the differences before making it public." Ubani said The refusal of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to join the Ransome-Kuti was still in detention at Kuje near Abuja in protest contributed greatly to its collapse. In a statement issued September 1993, when he met with Shonekan. The rancor soon by Salisu Mohammed, its former chief of information, the NLC grew deep. said it believed the CD was being used by external forces to Developments in CD since Ransome-Kuti's release from cause confusion in the country. The CD, in turn, accused the detention increasingly showed that the organisation had lost NLC of "naked opportunism". It alleged the services of the the moral steam to pursue the goals for which it was founded congress at national and state levels were used to sabotage the three years ago. 'The internal organs of the organisation had protest. been destroyed and relegated into oblivion," said Gloria Kilanko, The key problem, however, was the series of internal crises former treasurer of CD. She also accused Ransome-Kuti of CD was passing through when the new initiative was launched. taking sensitive and grave decisions which now threaten the The source of one of these crises was the appointment of Olu very existence of the CD in collaboration with a tiny clique led Onagoruwa, a constitutional lawyer expert and a leading CD by Femi Falana and one Owei Lakemfa whom you (Ransome- figure as federal attorney general and justice minister. Kuti) employed to engage the CD in dirty divide-and-rule Onagoruwa had subsequently backed the Constitutional tactics, in order to frustrate all well-meaning opposition to Conference. The CD preferred a sovereign national conference subvert the very goals and principles behind the formulation of that would renegotiate the terms of the federal union. Chima the pro-democracy coalition." Ubani, former CD secretary general, said there were sharp Lakemfa, a journalist, told Newswatch that Kilanko and the differences between Beko Ransome-Kuti, its chairman, and others failed to understand Ransome-Kuti who identifies only other executive committee members on the question of whether with people that appeal to his sense of reason. "I was accused of Onagoruwa should be openly critised over the promulgation of always having my way with Beko, but that is because I decrees with ouster clauses. Ransome Kuti said he never tried understood this aspect of him," he said. "I know he did not like to shield Onagoruwa. thoise who were politically biased in the positions they took. If In November 1993, Ransome-Kuti was detained by security you can convince Beko that your idea is rational, that is all. But men who alleged that he received N5 million from Abiola, these people didn't understand this." He said Ransome-Kuti which he passed to an ex-senator for the bombing of government handled the organisation's funds in the same "stingy manner" installations. He had dismissed the allegation as a set-up and he handled his own personal finances. Lakemfa said it was the later turned over statements of his bank accounts to the police military that first approached the CD. He said prior to the to buttress his claim. Police freed him without pressing charges. takeover by Abacha, the military carried out wide-ranging In January 1993, Ubani, continued the charges of financial consultations with a cross-section of the Nigerian society,

Newswatch, June 26, 1995 31 SPECIAL REPORT

including the press. "Many people knew weeks before the politics was simply out of the question and that in the event actual takeover. I am sure Ubani did not know about it." available mass organisations and mass actions had to be It was Onagoruwa, according to him, who brokered the first strengthened. formal meeting between the CD and the military. "He told us Inside the NADECO itself, the CD had the experience of Diya wanted to see us. And we said since these are the people leading the most advanced militant current. However, the who have been making these contacts, there is no problem. That coalition has to be understood in its entirety as a limited was why we went". programme based on an open liberal reformist agenda. It had It was in the wake of these internal wranglings that the CD immediately issued Abacha with an ultimatum to return the held its national convention in Ibadan in February, 1994. It had country to civil rule by May 31, 1994. Abacha ignored the split into two factions. The group led by Ubani and Chom Bagu, ultimatum. NADECO did not have the organisational skills former deputy chairman, tabled a motion asking for the censure needed to fight the military. It therefore limited itself to an open of Ransome-Kuti and others for alleged misconduct and campaign aimed at sensitising the populace to the need to generally for having "acquiesced in a coup that demolished all oppose military rule and struggle for democracy. democratic structures and returned the country to a full fledged But as to how this struggle was to be waged or how the dictatorship." patriotic fervour that was to be elicited by its agitations was to The motion was defeated, 45-21. Ubani, Bagu, Kilanko, be channelled or harnessed, NADECO offered no clues. Faseun Titus Mann, who co-ordinated activities in the Middle Belt and isnot disappointed all thesame.Tohim,NADECOhasachieved Ishaya Daniel, deputy internal auditor, walked out of the méeting its aims. He calls it the only object standing between the present and later announced their resignation military government and fascism. from the organisation. Ransome-Kuti was NADECO has remained consistent in re-elected. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, defending the June 12 mandate. To it currently being detained, replaced Ubani. belongs part of the credit for Abiola's Oroh believes, however, that the resurgent resolve to fight for his mandate. organisation has not been able to recover NADECO has contributed immensely to from the leadership crisis. He said the Abiola's personal transformation in the leadership of the group is "tired and struggle to actualise June 12, all the way fatigued". Said he: "You see, there was a from the Epetedo declaration to his current delegates conference which was profiles in travail. It has done much to terminated abruptly. A sizeable number construct a coalition around his struggle of those who were very active in CD were and to provide the leadership necessary alienated and had to leave. The CLO had for focussing it. In July, 1994, labour unions, not been active in the CD since the Ibadan led by National Union of Petroleum convention." National Gas workers, NUPENG, and the Oroh said the crisis had so weakened Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff it that it is virtually ineffective today. "I Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, think it may have served its purpose". began a political strike to force the The underlying crisis was the problem of government to actualise June 12. NUPENG the difficult adjustment that had to be called on the military to quit power made in the light of intensified state Faseun: “Force respects force” permanently, restore dismantled demo­ repression and organisational limitations cratic structures, call on the acclaimed dictated by the prescribed level of mobilisation. Oroh said that winner of the last presidential election to negotiate a peaceful if CD knew its onions> there would have been no need for handover of the reins of government and to satisfy "theyeamings NADECO. of teeming millions of Nigerians who voluntarily gave him that Frederick Faseun, former presidential aspirant and a leading mandate." NADECO figure who also spoke with Newswatch underlined PENGASSAN also asked for the same things and the some of the problems the CD faced, the most critical being that convening of a sovereign national conference. Later, the NLC it embraces a spectrum of people with varying methods of joined the strike. It said the inability of the government to end political practice. He disagreed, however, that its "dynamic the political crisis aggravated the country's economic problems nature" was a sign of leadership crisis. He said it is basically and worsened the plight of the workers. It also demanded the concerned now with the need to avoid bloodshed. Argued unconditional release of Abiola. Faseun: "Life does not mean anything to the present military Although the strike had serious effects on the economy, its government which can shoot to kill anybody whether men or impact on the government was negligible. It was later called off women." He said the CD has mobilised the people. "And we are with none of the demands being met. The government began a capable of bringing out the people to protest but because of the full-scale clampdown on dissidents, including NADECO violence of the state and the method they adopt against harmless members, after the collapse of the oil workers' strike. Several people, CD has decided not to demonstrate in a way that wea­ pro-democracy activists were driven into exile. Reports show pons of war will be unleashed on the people." He, however, said that the activities and agitations of the exiles are creating a lot of that while CD will not achieve democracy through violence, international pressure for the government. Internally, however, "we are aware that violence respects violence and force respects the pro-democracy movement appears to be in limbo, its efforts force." limited to press reports. CD's later affiliation to NADECO would appear in this Reported by Olu Ojewale sense to underscore a conscious realisation that insurrectional and Emmanuel Ugwu

32 Newswatch, June 26, 1995 SPECIAL REPORT Where Is Daddy?

By Jossy Nlcwocha

adi abiola, eight-year-old son of after my children". Jamesina has a masters degree in food and

Moshood Abiola/ wakes up crying, and asking nutrition. She lamented that "no concrete plans were made for his mother, Kudirat, why his daddy has not been the upkeep of the family before he (Abiola) took that decision" released. He keeps asking questions which his to declare himself president. mother hardly answers satisfactorily. Sometimes, he refuses to Abiola's personal staff are also complaining of difficulties. eatH or go to school "until daddy comes back home". Hadi is "When daddy was with us, we never depended on our monthly always moody and easily irritated. His performance in school salary. Whenever you had a problem, he gave you money to has dropped. Abiola's children miss him because he is very solve the problem. Now, many of us are knowing for the first close to them. time the extent of hardship in the country", said an aide. The adults miss him too. One of Abiola's wives who requested The biggest problem in. the family, according to sources, is not to be named, spoke of the emotional problems she has gone the in-fighting among the wives especially between Kudirat, through in the pa stone year. She told Newswatch: "It'sbeen very and Doyin, managing director of Concord Press of Nigeria Pic. traumatic for me. I've been emotionally devastated. As a young One of the wives told Newswatch that she was always worried woman... you understand. It's not been easy. It's not as if I am with the level of bitchiness, politics, distrust and competition desperate, but for a young woman to miss her husband for a among the wives. She said that when they went to Abuja one whole year... Most of the time, you feel like crying. One has been day to see Abiola, seven of them were asked to wait in one room. tempted too many times. It's only through the grace of God that For the period they stayed together, they didn't talk to one one has overcome". another. "In this She has not seen kind of problem we her husband since are in, we needed a December last year united front. We when the police in needed to show love Abuja stopped her to one another. We from visiting him. needed to appreciate Kudirat said that all each other. It has not the Wives and been so," she children have been claimed. stopped from seeing The other wives him. "Since October accuse Kudirat of last year, I have not being authoritarian seen him. Really, it's as the current been very traumatic", "head" of the family. she said. They also allege that For the wives and she pushed Abiola children and other s into declaring dependants of B himself president Abiola, the "June 12" because she wanted episode has become *t| to be first lady. They an albatross. Since Kudirat, Doyin: Troubled home front also accused her of General Ibrahim "talking too much" Babangida, former president, annulled the election, precipitating especially to the press, thereby making Abiola's case more the current political crisis in 1993, his family has not known complicated. Kola, Agboola and Deji, three of Abiola's grown­ peace, cohesion, comfort and financial stability. These problems up sons, children of late Simbiat, Abiola's first wife, are said to have escalated, according to one of the wives, who said, Abiola share these views. A family source said "they do not see eye to has about 40 wives and 120 children. "Chief spoilt all of us with eye with Kudirat". money. He was too generous. In fact, many of us abandoned our But Kudirat told Newswatch she has a cordial relationship businesses. Since he has not been around, many of us have had with all the wives, including Doyin and their children. "The to beg to earn a living", she said. problem is that some people do not want to take their turn", she Jamesina, another wife of Abiola told Quality magazine in said. As the most senior wife, she said, she had tried her best to January this year that the financial problem had become so harmonise the family. She denied pushing Abiola into trouble, serious that she was scouting for a job "to raise money to look insisting that Abiola was not the kind of person that anyone

Newswatch, June 26,1995 31 SPECIAL REPORT could push around. Kudirat also stated that as the official spokesman of the family, there had been the tendency for some people to accuse her of seeking cheap popularity or "talking too much". She said Kola has not been talking because he is the one handling Abiola's businesses. The squabble in the family, Newswatch learnt, has polarised the wives and children. Ore Falomo, Abiola's personal physician and Femi Falana, the family lawyer, are said to have intervened to settle the disputes but with little success. Kudirat told Newswatch that government was not only trying to destroy Abiola politically, but also destabilise his family. She said, they received a message from the commissioner of police in Abuja, during the last Ramadan that government had approved Kola, Deji: Running the business that two of the wives, Adebisi and Doyin, should come and stay with Abiola for the period. Kudirat said a presidential order to withdraw the licence after Abiola had it was a ploy to pitch the two wives against her. But she was used one of his planes to fly out of the country in the heat of the happy that Abiola rejected the arrangement on the ground that June 12 crisis in 1993 without necessary air clearance. Concord "it was not healthy for his family." "They want to ruin Abiola, airline has lost more than N100 million since the licence was not only in the political angle but his home and business," revoked. Kudirat insisted. Abiola Bookshop Limited in Yaba, is only struggling to stay She may be right. The June 12 crisis has almost ruined afloat. Its book press in the premises of African Concord maga­ Abiola's businesses. His companies are in financial difficulties. zine along Oshodi-Isolo expressway was locked up with the Contracts awarded them by government have been revoked. proscription of the magazine. The press, colour separation and Debts owed to them by government have not been paid. Abiola colour printing sections was a major source of revenue for made most of his money through government contracts. Abiola. "We have lost more than N10 million from there", one Summit Oil, Abiola's company involved in oil prospecting of its officials said. and lifting was allocated 20,000 barrels of oil per day lifting Abiola Bakery, makers of Wonder Loaf bread, is out of contract in February 1994. In July 1994, after Abiola had declared business too. The bakery shares the same premises with the himself president, the allocation was cancelled. Newswatch was Concord newspapers which were proscribed about a year ago. A told that this costs Summit Oil, about US $100,000 monthly. source there said that a large quantity of flour in stock was The ITT Nigeria Limited and Radio Communications Nigeria already wasted. One of Abiola's aides said the bakery has lost Limited, RCN, all owned by Abiola, have also suffered the same about N5 million in terms of raw materials and equipment fate. An ITT contract under the National Telecommunications wastage, and in lost sales. Implementation Project, NTIP, for the provision of telephones Kudirat said even her own business has suffered. Her all over the country has been revoked, according to company warehouse has been closed down. She hardly goes to her office sources. The contract involved the digitalisation of the Nigerian on Opebi, Ikeja. She said she can hardly concentrate to do any telephone system. The company now wants to lay off some of business. "All my staff are there doing nothing", she said. its staff. The proscription of the Concord Group of Publications, — RCN won the contract to supply walkie-talkies, radio re­ National Concord, Sunday Concord, Business Concord, Weekend ceivers, etc., to the ECOWAS Monitoring Group, ECOMOG, in Concord, African Concord and Science Monitor, has been Liberia. The contract has been revoked too. Mohammed Sadiq, devastating for the staff. Doyin, managing director of the its general manager, was involved in a fatal accident in which Concord Press Pic. was away on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca he lost his wife and daughter. RCN could not raise enough when Newswatch wanted to interview her on this matter but a money to fly him to London for adequate medical treatment. top official of the company simply said the Concord publications Kudirat told Newswatch that the licence for Concord Airline had paid a big price for the June 12 struggle. Mathias Okorocha, has also been revoked by the federal government. The aircraft an estate agent also said Abiola must have lost more than N1 have been grounded and the staff rendered redundant. But top million in real estate considering the escalating cost of land and officials of the Federal Civil Aviation Authority, FCAA, building in Lagos. headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, claimed they were not aware of Kola Abiola who is now running the companies declined an such action. In any case, they said it was the duty of government interview with Newswatch. A family source said he had been to issue or revoke licences. FCAA c:\iy issues safety certificates. instructed not to talk to the press "to prevent what happened to They said the matter was a political issue which should be Concord from happening to the other companies". Kudirat said directed to the ministry of aviation. the family members never expected that the June 12 crisis was At the ministry, Okedinachi Okemiri, chief press secretary going to last this long and take a heavy toll on the family and to the minister, told Newswatch that the licence had not been businesses. revoked. Sources in the ministry, however, said that there was Reported by Moffat Ekoriko

34 Newswatch, June 26,1995