Those who traded away Abiola’s victory.

 

On June 26 1993, General Ibrahim Babangida confirmed the annulment of the June 12 election. We have not forgotten how the burden of making the initial announcement, fell on the shoulders of his spokesman, Nduka Irabor. Even though till date he still tries to play the elder statesman, and political henchman, he is yet to explain why he unilaterally dumped the freest and fairest election ever, which produced late Bashorun M.K.O Abiola.

In that his psychotic speech he gave a litany of lame excuses which till date, no sane person can even haggle over, talk more of buy. But history will not be complete if we fail to name all those who pretended to be ‘patriots’ but went behind to throw spanners in the works for material gains.

Most of them were top guns of defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), the platform on which Abiola won. According to the Guardian ‘most of the actors who signed the document that scotched June 12 election result, have since become very big political leaders in the last 14 years of democracy in the country…specifically, four of them are still very big . They include Senate president, David Mark, who was at the National War College, General Aliyu Gusau former National Security Adviser, Jigawa Governor, then Foreign Affairs minister Sule Lamido (signed as #26) John Shagaya.

The ‘ patriots’ who traded the mandate for lucre are SDP chairman, Tony Anenih, Ex CBN chief and Agriculture minister, Adamu Ciroma, Joe Nwodo, ( who signed with ‘reservation’) Ernest Shonekan, Alhaji Abdulrahman Okene, scribe Transitional Council, late Augustus Aikhomu, General Joshua Dogonyaro, who was Commandant, Command and Staff College, jaji, Dr Patick dele Cole and ,Dapo Sarumi,

Others are Chief Jim Nwobodo who signed for the then SDP, Maj-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua who signed the June 12 away as Number 34 was a member of the 1994/95 Constitutional Conference organized by Abacha, Alhaji Abubakr Rimi later served the Abacha administration as Communications Minister. Dr. Olusola Saraki was Chairman of the Business Committee of the Constitutional Conference of Abacha. Dr. Hammed Kusamotu, then Chairman of the NRC.

Similarly, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu signed as NRC No 014 served as Internal Affairs and later Power and Steel Minister just as Chief Tom Ikimi who was pioneer Chairman of NRC later became Political Adviser to Gen. Abacaha and later served as Foreign Affairs Minister, signed the June 12 monument away. Joseph Toba signed G-34 paper as SDP number 33. Mr Okey Nzoho, then NRC Publicity Secretary signed on the platform as NRC No 21. In The same vein, Dr. Bawa Salka signed for the NRC on platform 22.

Now Senator John Shagaya signed the document then as GOC 1 Infantry Division Kaduna. He later became Minister of Internal Affairs in the same way as Mr Theo Nikire also signed the document. Professor Eyo Ita who was also not left out signed the G-34 paper as NRC No 16. Others who signed away the June 12 success story included Bola Afonja, who signed as NRC 11, Alhaji Y. Anka, NRC 12; Mr Abba Murtala Mohammed, NRC No 18 and Alhaji Muktari A. Mohammed signed as NRC No17.

Even traditional rulers were involved in the political deal as Alhaji A. Ramalan, who was Permanent Secretary in FCT and later became the Emir in Nasarawa state signed the document. Same for Alhaji Halilu A. Maina who signed the SDP platform as no 27.

From the Eastern block came Dr. Okechukwu Odunze who signed the SDP platform as No 29. He was the then SDP’s National Treasurer. One FCT indigenous figure who signed the document was one Mr Amos Idakula (deceased). He signed as PDP No 25. He was then SDP’s National Publicity Secretary.