No
one can give you power. It is yours. Take it! From this day, show to
the world that anyone who takes the people of Nigeria for fools is
deceiving himself and will have the people to answer to.
- Full text of the proclamation speech by the late M.K.O.
Abiola on Saturday, June 11, 1994, announcing the formation of a
Government of National Unity (GNU) at Epetedo, Lagos.
People of Nigeria, exactly one year ago, you turned out in your
millions to vote for me, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, as the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. But politicians in uniform, who call
themselves soldiers but are more devious than any civilian would want to
be, deprived you of your God-given right to be ruled by the President
you had yourselves elected.
These soldier-politicians introduced into our body politic, a concept
hitherto unknown to our political lexicography, something strangely
called the “annulment” of an election perceived by all to have been the
fairest, cleanest and most peaceful ever held in our nation.
Since that abominable act of naked political armed robbery occurred, I
have been constantly urged by people of goodwill, both in Nigeria and
abroad, to put the matter back into the people’s hands and get them to
actualise the mandate they gave me at the polls. But mindful of the need
to ensure that peace continues to reign in our fragile federation, I
have so far tried to pursue sweet reason and negotiation.
My hope has always been to arouse whatever remnants of patriotism are
left in the hearts of these thieves of your mandate, and to persuade
them that they should not allow their personal desire to rule to usher
our beloved country into an era of political instability and economic
ruin. All I have sought to do, in seeking dialogue with them, has been
to try and get them to realise that only real democracy can move our
nation forward towards progress, and earn her the respect she deserves
from the international community.
However, although this peaceful approach has exposed me to severe
censure by some who have mistaken it for weakness on my part, those with
whom I have sought to dialogue have remained like stones, neither
stirred to show loyalty to the collective decision of the people of
their own country, nor to observe Allah’s injunction that they should
exhibit justice and fair-play in all their dealings with their
fellowmen.
Appeals to their honour as officers and gentlemen of the gallant
Nigerian Armed Forces, have fallen on deaf ears. Instead, they have
resorted to the tactics of divide and rule, bribery and political
perfidy, misinformation and (vile) propaganda. They arrest everyone who
disagrees with them. Even the 71-year old hero of our nation, Chief
Anthony Enahoro, was not spared. How much longer can we tolerate all
this? People of Nigeria, you are all witnesses that I have tried to
climb the highest mountain, cross the deepest river and walk the longest
mile, in order to get these men to obey the will of our people.
There is no humiliation I have not endured, no snare that has not
been put in my path, no “setup” that has not been designed for me in my
endeavour to use the path of peace to enforce the mandate that you
bestowed on me one year ago. It has been a long night. But the dawn is
here. Today, people of Nigeria, I join you all in saying, “Enough is
Enough!” We have endured 24 years of military rule in our 34 years of
independence.
Military rule has led to our nation fighting a civil war with itself.
Military rule has destabilised our nation today as not before in its
history. Military rule has impoverished our people and introduced a
dreadful trade in drugs which has made our country’s name an anathema in
many parts of the world. Even soccer fans going to watch the Green
Eagles display in America are being made to suffer there needlessly
because Nigeria’s name is linked with credit card and fraud and “419.”
Politically, military rule has torn to shreds the prestige due to our
country because of its size and population.
The permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council that should
be rightfully ours, is all but lost. For who will vote for Nigeria to
get the seat if Nigerian military rulers do not respect the votes of
their own people? Enough of military rule. We are sickened to see people
who have shown little or no personal achievement, either in building up
private businesses, or making success of any tangible thing, being
placed in charge of the management of our nation’s economy, by rulers
who are not accountable to anyone.
Enough of square pegs in round holes. We are tired of then military
repetitive tendency to experiment with our economy: Today, they say “no
controls.” Tomorrow; they say “Full controls”. The day after, they say
“Fine tuning”.
The next day, they say “Devaluation.” A few days later, they say
“Revalue the same naira upwards again Abi?” All we can see are the
consequences of this permanent game of military “about turns;” high
inflation, a huge budget deficit and an enormous foreign debt repayment
burden, dying industries, high unemployment and a demoralised populace.
Our youths, in particular, can see no hope on the horizon, and many
can only dream of escaping from our shores to join the brain drain. Is
this the Nigeria we want? We are plagued also by periodic balance of
payments crises, which have led to a perennial shortage of essential
drugs, that has turned our hospitals and clinics into mortuaries.
A scarcity of books and equipment has rendered our schools into
desolate deserts of ignorance. Our factories are crying for machinery,
spare parts and raw materials. But each day that passes, instead of
these economic diseases being cured, they are rather strengthened as an
irrational allocation of foreign exchange based on favoritism and
corruption becomes the order of the day.
Enough is enough of economic mismanagement! People of Nigeria, during
the election campaign last year, I presented you with a programme
entitled “HOPE ’93. This programme was aimed precisely at solving these
economic (problems) that have demoralised us all. I toured every part of
Nigeria to present this programme to you the electorate. I was
questioned on it at public rallies and press conferences and I had the
privilege of incorporating into it much of the feedback that I obtained
from the people.
Because you knew I would not only listen to you but deliver superb
results from the programme, you voted for me in your millions and gave
me an overwhelming majority over my opponent. To be precise, you gave me
58.4 per cent of the popular vote and a majority in 20 out of 30 states
plus the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Not only that, you also
enabled me to fulfil the constitutional requirement that the winner
should obtain one-third of the votes in two-thirds of the states.
I am sure that when you cast an eye on the moribund state of Nigeria
today, you ask yourselves: “What have we done to deserve this, when we
have a president- elect who can lead a government that can change things
for the better? Our patience has come to an end. As of now, from this
moment, a new Government of National Unity is in power throughout the
length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, led by me,
Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, as President and Commander-in-Chief. The
National Assembly is hereby reconvened. All dismissed governors are
reinstated.
The State Assemblies are reconstituted, as are all local government
councils. I urge them to adopt a bi-partisan approach to all the issues
that come before them. At the national level, a bi-partisan approach
will be our guiding principle. I call upon the usurper, General Sani
Abacha, to announce his resignation forthwith, together with the rest of
his illegal ruling council. We are prepared to enter into negotiations
with them to work out the mechanics for a smooth transfer of power.
I pledge that if they hand over quietly, they will be retired with
all their entitlements, and their positions will be accorded all the
respect due to them. For our objective is neither recrimination nor
witch-hunting, but an enforcement of the will of the Nigerian people, as
expressed in free elections conducted by the duly constituted authority
of the time.
I hereby invoke the mandate bestowed upon me by my victory in the
said election, to call on all members of the Armed Forces and the
Police, the Civil and Public Services throughout the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, to obey only the Government of National Unity that is headed
by me, your only elected President.
My Government of National Unity is the only legitimate, constituted
authority in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as of now. People of
Nigeria, these are challenging times in the history of our continent,
Africa, and we in Nigeria must not allow ourselves to be left behind.
Our struggle is the same as that waged by the people of South Africa,
which has been successfully concluded, with the inauguration of Mr.
Nelson Mandela as the first African President of that country.
Nelson Mandela fought to replace MINORITY rule with MAJORITY rule. We
in Nigeria are also fighting to replace MINORITY rule, for we are ruled
by only a tiny section of our armed forces. Like the South Africans, we
want MAJORITY rule today, that is rule only by those chosen by all the
people of Nigeria as a whole in free and fair elections.
The only difference between South Africa and Nigeria is that those
who imposed minority rule on the majority rule whether it is by black or
white, remains minority rule, and must be booted out. I call on you,
heroic people of Nigeria, to emulate the actions of your brothers and
sisters in South Africa and stand up as one person to throw away the
yoke of minority rule for ever.
The antics of every minority that oppresses the majority are always
the same. They will try to
intimidate you with threats of police action.
But do not let us fear arrest. In South Africa, so many people were
arrested, during the campaign against the Pass Laws, for instance, that
the jails could not hold all of them. Today, apartheid is gone forever.
So, let it be with Nigeria. Let us say goodbye forever to minority
rule by the military. They talk of treason. But haven’t they heard of
the Rivonia treason trial in South Africa? Did those treason trials halt
the march of history? People of Nigeria, our time is now. You are the
repository of power in the land.
No one can give you power. It is yours. Take it! From this day, show
to the world that anyone who takes the people of Nigeria for fools is
deceiving himself and will have the people to answer to. God bless you
all. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Long live the Government
of National Unity.
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Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola is the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election
