How A SelfSuccession Bid has Turned Nigeria into Page 1 of 15 How A Self-Succession Bid has Turned Nigeria into "Animal Farm" By Mobolaji Aluko, PhD Burtonsville, MD, USA It is "déjà vu" all over again! If you have read the George Orwell’s book "Animal Farm", then you will understand why I have chosen it to characterize the ongoing Ota Farm "Obasanjo Self-Succession" parade, which bears all the hallmarks of late unlamented Abacha’s "self-succession" parades to Aso Rock of almost exactly four years to the day. Under Abacha, we had the following twenty-five groups "earnestly asking" him to self-succeed: Group Initials – Full Name (Leader) NMPC - National Mobilisation and Persuasion Committee (Godwin Daboh), NMPS - National Movement for Peace and Stability (?) YEAA - Youths Earnestly Ask for Abacha '98 (Daniel Kanu) UAN - United Action for Nigeria (Godwin Daboh/Dr. Asuquo) NEC - Northern Elders Committee (Abdulrahman Okene) GESAM - General Sani Abacha Movement for Unity and Stability (?) GESAM '98 - General Sani Abacha Movement for Peaceful and Successful Transition Programme (Chief Yomi Tokoya) ASOMO - Abacha Solidarity Movement (Alhaji Chief, Dr, Abayomi Owulade), NACYAN - National Council for Youth Associations of Nigeria (?), MIDIA - Movement for Indigenous Democracy (Alh. Mohammed I. Hassan) RLC - Radio Listeners Club (Alh. Shuaibu Zakari) NBYO - Nigeria-British Youth Orgnisation (Mr. Segun Adeyemi) NYDD - Nigerian Youth Democratic Diplomats (Abdulraheem Barry Etuke) http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/harticles/how_a_selfsuccession_bid_has_tur.htm 7/18/2008 How A SelfSuccession Bid has Turned Nigeria into Page 2 of 15 NLGCCF - Nigeria Local Govts' Chairmen Consultative Forum (Apostle S. B. Bello) NAMAP - National Movement for Abacha's Presidency – (Chief Femi Aluko) MID - Movement for Independent Democracy (Dr. Nya Asuquo) 21st Generation Insist on Abacha (Barrister Ladi Alao) Vision '98 Abacha for President (Chief Sheudeen Adesina) The Abacha Committee of Friends (Chief Nelson Chudi) Youths for Consensus Abacha '98 (Hassan Saleh Hassan) Agenda '98 (Chief Sergeant Awuse) NANS for Abacha (Oludare S. Ogunlana) All-Nigeria Youth for Abacha '98 (Mallam M. Sani Akwashiki) Vision 2010 for Abacha (?) On March 2 – 3 1998: Million-Man-March for Abacha Now, so far, for Obasanjo’s self-succession, we have "registered" the following seven groups so far: Group Initials – Full Name (Leader) MONAC - Movement for National Consensus and Accommodation (Arthur Nzeribe) VOA - Vote Obasanjo and Atiku 2003 (Jasper Jumbo) OACMG - Obasanjo-Atiku Continuity Mandate Group, (E.A. Adeoye) OASM - Obasanjo-Atiku Success Movement (Hassan Umoru) ISO - Integrated Supporters for Obasanjo (?) YAO - Youth Alliance for Obasanjo (Sasanya Gbolahan) OAPDP - Obasanjo-Atiku Peoples Democratic Projects (Catherine Acholonu) C2003 - Coalition 2003 (Funmi Omosule) Pilgrimages to Aso Rock and Ota Farm asking Obasanjo to "Run, OBJ, Run!": Tuesday, June 5, 2001 – YAO (Sasanya Gbolahan) – Aso Rock Monday, January 21, 2002 - PDP Women’s Wing (Mrs. Josephine Anenih) – Aso Rock Sunday, March 24, 2002 - South-South PDP Leaders and Governors (Chief Tony Anenih) – Aso Rock Thursday, March 28th,, 2002 - North Central party faithfuls (Chief Solomon Lar) – Aso Rock http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/harticles/how_a_selfsuccession_bid_has_tur.htm 7/18/2008 How A SelfSuccession Bid has Turned Nigeria into Page 3 of 15 Monday, April 1, 2002 – PDP SouthWest and YCE (Archdeacon Alayande; Rtd. Commodore Olabode George) Ota Farm Tuesday, April 2, 2002 – Senior government ministers and PDP Governors (Tony Anenih, Solomon Lar, etc.) – Ota Farm Thus in sheer numbers, Abacha is still ahead! More seriously, I can almost swear that President Obasanjo, being in Abacha’s prison at the time, was not aware of all that went on under Abacha over his self-succession plans, otherwise how would he (Obasanjo) be allowing this charade to go on in Ota Farm, thereby making the comparison with Abacha’s self-succession bid so glaring? Will nomination not be through the normal party mechanism – declaration, caucus meetings, nomination, intra-party contest, declaration of party flag bearer, general election contest with opposing candidates, etc.? So why the public spectacle, the charade? What the heck is this? What kind of civilian democracy is this? If President Obasanjo does not know how ridiculous all this public campaign for self-succession is, then I fear for him: somebody better call President Obasanjo aside and tell him about the "body movements" of Abacha before June 8, 1998. Please read the following archives on – and enjoy! Bolaji Aluko Shaking and scratching his head, At the Ongoing Aso Rock/Ota charade. I just don’t feel fine. Obasanjo’s self-succession drive Post Express Wired Re-Election Fever: Nigerians on the Tenterhooks PostExpress 07/14/2001 http://www.vanguardngr.com/news/articles/2001/July/20072001/pl1200701.htm DESTINATION 2003: Obasanjo: A president and a second term Vanguard 20th July, 2001 http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/harticles/how_a_selfsuccession_bid_has_tur.htm 7/18/2008 How A SelfSuccession Bid has Turned Nigeria into Page 4 of 15 http://allafrica.com/stories/200201220351.html Obasanjo's Re-Election Campaigns Newswatch (Lagos) January 21, 2002 http://allafrica.com/stories/200204010525.html One Million-Man March for Obasanjo Daily Trust (Abuja) OPINION April 1, 2002 http://www.thisdayonline.com/news/20020402news01.html As Yoruba Leaders Converge on Ota... 2003: I'll Take a Stand in Two Weeks - Obasanjo April 2, 2002 ThisDay Online http://www.allafrica.com/stories/200204020125.html 2003: Obasanjo Begins 14-Day Fasting Daily Trust (Abuja) April 2, 2002 http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news2/nn853501.html Governors, leaders, ask Obasanjo to run in 2003 Guardian, Wednesday, April 3, 2002. http://www.thisdayonline.com/news/20020403news01.html As PDP Leaders Storm Ota... 2003: 19 Govs Urge Obasanjo to Run This Day April 3, 2002 http://www.thisdayonline.com/news/April%203/page1.jpg Abacha’s Self-Succesion Drive June 1997 – April 1998 06/07/97 Abacha Versus Pro-Democracy Coalition Post Express 02/01/98 - Abacha's, Self Succession: Northern Ploy to Hold to Power http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/harticles/how_a_selfsuccession_bid_has_tur.htm 7/18/2008 How A SelfSuccession Bid has Turned Nigeria into Page 5 of 15 Post Express 02/21/98 - The Hottest Business in Abuja Post Express 03/06/98 Elected Assemblymen Support Abacha's Self-succession Bid Post Express 03/07/98 That Great March in March Post Express 03/31/98 Abacha: Lar & Co Vs Northern Elders Forum Post Express Category: News Date of Article: 06/07/97 Topic: Abacha Versus Pro-Democracy Coalition Author: Sukuji Bakoji, Staff Writer and Leonard Nzenwa Jnr Full Text of Article: A gadfly with a dogged history of confrontation with the military governments in Nigeria was accosted by an unrepentant pro-democracy crusader who obviously had run out of ideas on how to thwart the much publicised Abacha self-succession bid. The former starred into the vacant space in front of him ruminating for a while and said rhetorically: "Fighting Abacha is like boxing the air." The uncompromising radical who had built all his hopes on the gadfly's answer lowered his head in complete disbelief and walked away disappointed. As he counted his steps while delicately meandering through the thicket of passers-by, he could not reconcile himself with the fact that the much respected don who had plotted all the schemes and strategies that eventually stampeded General Ibrahim Babangida out of office three years ago could not proffer any solution this time around. Undeterred, however, the zealot who had vowed to lay down his life in order to scuttle the alleged galloping ambition of General Abacha and the fledgling pro-Abacha groups egging him on to succeed himself, resolved that a meeting to bring together all the democratic movements in the country needed to be convened forthwith. And Jos, the Tin City in the Middle Belt, hosted the pro-democracy coalition meeting. The pro-democracy coalition was then christened, United Action for Democracy (UAD). Its sole mission can be summed up in just one sentence: "To stop Abacha, and military rule." The UAD paraded both Democracy (CD), the Democratic Alternative (DA), Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Constitutional Rights Projects (CRP), Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER) and the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP). Others are Campaign for Independent Unionism (CIU), Human Rights Monitor Association for Democratic Citizens (ADC), Kano Democratic League, United Democratic Alliance, Abuja Coalition, Jos Democratic Movement, Rivers Coalition, Senior Staff Consultative Assembly of Nigeria (SESCAN), Kaduna Alliance for Democracy (KAD), United Workers Action Group (UWAG), African Redemption Movement (ARM), People's Labour Movement and Media Rights Agenda (MRA). http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/harticles/how_a_selfsuccession_bid_has_tur.htm 7/18/2008 How A SelfSuccession Bid has Turned Nigeria into Page 6 of 15 Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, former president of Civil Liberties Organisation was the convener and coordinating chairman, while Messrs. Chima Ubani and Sylvester Odion-Akhaine served as the joint secretaries. Defending the formation of UAD, Mr. Agbakoba said: "We feel that in this period where there are several issues which are not too clear, the only way we can make sense and relevance is to sit down and plan