FLASHBACK: MKO Abiola's Full Speech Which Led To His Arrest By Nigeria’s Late Military Dictator, Sani Abacha

Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the adjudged winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election in Nigeria, which was annulled, travelled out of the country to rally international support and reclaim his mandate.

Upon his return, he declared himself as President of Nigeria while military dictator Sani Abacha, was in power.
His declaration dubbed the ‘Epetedo Proclamation' on June 11, 1994 led to his arrest, detention and eventual death. 

Full speech

“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 the politicians in uniform, who call themselves soldiers 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 favouritism 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 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.”

 http://saharareporters.com/2020/06/12/flashback-mko-abiolas-full-speech-which-led-his-arrest-nigeria%E2%80%99s-late-military-dictator

After this speech, his people went on to collude with Abacha, the rest as they say is history. Shameful

PapaBaby:
After this speech, his people went on to collude with Abacha, the rest as they say is history. Shameful

Just like your people led the 2million march for Abacha.

LegendHero:


Just like your people led the 2million march for Abacha.

Abacha was using your people to fight your people. Meanwhile, Abiola thought he was fighting for his people.
Bunch of traitors.

Abacha was a thief the was called to come and repair the house but eventually burgled the house, take over the house and throw the house owner into prison

Being part of this struggle then, I can just said the turn out of events were so unfortunate.Abiola left the scene when the momentum was supposed to be sustained & returned when it had died down.

Then came Abiola's secret but dangerous romance with Abacha, betrayal of the struggle by some of his close associates, final journey into detention & demise in the hands of the military.

Abiola died a broken man, knowing that his people colluded with Abacha to send him to detention.

LegendHero:
Just like your people led the 2million march for Abacha.

The infamous Daniel Kanu's "YEAA"

PapaBaby:
Abacha was using your people to fight your people. Meanwhile, Abiola thought he was fighting for his people.Bunch of traitors.

It was a game of treachery from all angles but the biggest betrayers of Abiola were his kinsmen.

He died fighting for democracy, but the people now have demons-crazy.

How i wished Abiola ruled for a year i doubt if he would be honoured. The like of Rochas and Oshomole that we thought will be an icon to other politicians what did we get.

Seen

Abiola was no hero. Na same of same

In dx country eeh...Freedom of speech is not actually FREE

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Destinies differ

y

When you cut through the bullshìt of treachery, what Abiola tried to fight against still plagues this country up till now

AT LEAST HE SHOULD HAVE WAITED ANYWAYS ITS BYE GONE

He was betrayed

PapaBaby:

Abacha was using your people to fight your people. Meanwhile, Abiola thought he was fighting for his people.
Bunch of traitors.

There are no traitors anywhere. My people fought Abacha until his death and led the NADECO movement that sees to it that we return to democracy and that eventually made a Yoruba the president of Nigeria.

Your people are known to serve the fulanis without compensation. Ojukwu campaigned openly on the podium for Shagari while Daniel Kanu led 2 million march in support of Abacha.

What is your people gain? Nothing!

cursedAbiola:
useless cursed bastard

God bless General Sani Abacha

BUT HE WON

Freedom of speech INDEED

Racoon:


 http://saharareporters.com/2020/06/12/flashback-mko-abiolas-full-speech-which-led-his-arrest-nigeria%E2%80%99s-late-military-dictator

Him get mind o

DEROX:
BUT HE WON

he's an electoral criminal

bad...awon tribalist don take over the post oo.....even if he was wrong in declaring himself the president it doesn't worth them killing him na..also i heard he was betrayed by his own people and it's the same people that encouraged and talked him in making that speech knowing the dangers ahead involving abacha and lastly he was sold just because of money...e don tey wey naija spoil abeg..

[IF ONLY BUHARI AND HIS SUPPORTERS CAN COMPREHEND THE BELOW EXCERPT FROM THE SPEECH
“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.]

Akoni agbalagba, Agba Akin, Aare Ona Kakanfo.. the brave man

if only Ojukwu and Kanu weren't a run away coward.. their people wouldn't be marginalized and wailing today


.

Abiola got what he deserved...sponsored coups and overthrew governments, made his money thru the same soldiers that later burnt him...

Tinubu and others we see in politics have shown us y the military dint want these evil chaps to rule . 21 years later, Nigeria is 10 times worse

Abiola did not win that election, it was inconclusive... He declared himself president, he was arrested, his own people sold him for a pot of ewedu ... The rest they say is history.