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Reading Abacha Politicians Again By Yushau A. Shuaib Abacha has never made any statement to anybody, group or individual that he is going to contest the next presidential elections. We cannot build a Nigeria of our dream on speculation and gossips” Late Wada Nas March 28, 1998
As lousy as some critics tagged Wada Nas, he was more careful with his choice of words just as his above statement depicted few months before Abacha’s death. Probably he believed in posterity. This and others shockers were captured in Segun Adeniyi’s latest book. There are a lot of bombshells on how some of our present distinguished politicians displayed their folly during that period.. It is now that we could discover the high level of betrayal, treachery and deception exhibited by our politicians while the going was good for them. Can one believe that most of the prominent personalities, who parade themselves as democrats, were amongst those clamoring for the transmutation of Gen. Sani Abacha to a civilian president when the late General held sway? Can one imagine that majority of those agitators and strong supporters of Abacha are prominent in the pres ent administration with some serving as governors, ministers, ambassadors, senators and senior special advisers and still doing what they know best: strategic politicking.
Reading Segun Adeniyi’s 236 page-book “The Last 100 days of Abacha” published by the BookHouse Company, makes one feels like crying-crying to note that we have completely forgotten and forgiven past misdemeanors, childish adventures and dirty scheming of people who desired to be relevant at all cost. Though the author, nicknamed “The Bomb-blaster” for always calling a spade a spade in his column, insists in the introduction to the book that the book “is, however, not about persons but rather about issues.” He nevertheless ends up naming over a 100 actors most of who remain gladiators in the present dispensation. The list comprises villains and victors, liars and honest personalities, dogged fighters and clowns.
Since he permitted the readers a glimpse into the activities of those individuals in those dark days, I am tempted to state that I read many many names. The name of godfathers who started the debate for Abacha’s continued stay; the name of powerful political manipulator who was interpreting the nonexistent 1995 Constitution to favour Abacha; the name of a military governor who threatened to deal ruthlessly with opposition groups; the names of musicians and football players who performed for Abacha’s Two Million Man Match; the name of traditional rulers and tribal leaders who mobilized their followers for Abacha; the youth vanguards who threatened to make the nation ungovernable if Abacha declined to stay on; the electoral umpire which undermined the credibility of the electoral processes; the judicial officers who set pre cedent to the Egbo-egbo of this world; the religious title holders who prophesied that Abacha is God-ordained; some representatives of foreign missions who subtly endorsed the dictator to continue for the sake of stability; top businessmen who belonged to all parties and attend all meetings; the names of some individuals and companies who placed adverts glorifying Mrs. Maryam Abacha as Mama and “mother of the nation” when she celebrated her 51st Birthday. I also read the names of chameleonic politicians whose new sing-song, a re-branding of their past misdeeds, is documented in their books.
And lastly not the least, I read of how the leaders of five-leprous-political parties unanimously adopted Abacha as their Sole Presidential Candidate (SPC). In fact some of those leaders had betrayed Abiola during his ordeals and betrayed Abacha after his demise. I wonder if they wouldn’t do the same to President Olusegun Obasanjo when, eventually, there is a change of guard.
It is gladdening to note that as the Abacha’s goodboys were frolicking in their campaign while Chief MKO Abiola and Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo were unjustly incarcerated, there were democrats who formed the opposition and were blunt enough to challenge the system and boycott fraudulent electoral processes.
Those patriots included Peter Enahoro led-NADECO who fought within and outside the country for the emergence of a realistic transition programme; the legal luminaries like Chief Gani Fawehinmi and FRA William who refused to leave the shore of our nation to challenge the illegality of the manipulative processes; the 200 Northern Lecturers led by Professor Attahiru Jega who issued a statement denouncing the military’s attempted dictatorial adventure even when the ruler is one of their own; the 18 Northern leaders against transmutation of Abacha led by Solomon Lar, Adamu Ciroma and Lawal Kaita, the members of G34 led by Dr Alex Ekwume which membership cut across other regions, which included late Bola Ige, Abubakar Rimi, Chief Ezeife and Farook AbdulAziz: and the boycotters like Atiku Abubakar and Sunday Awoniyi who refused to participate in the charade. I doff my hat for the only fearless presidential contender Alhaji MD Yusuf who was in full force through advertorials to wrestle power from Abacha,
Though the book is purely on political process towards the toil end of Abacha regime, it has a full chapter devouted to the history of electoral and political development since the period of colonialism. One would have expected the author who is also versed on the Nigerian economy to analyze the economic climate at that period especially the impact of guided deregulation, distress banking, dual exchange rate, monthly federal allocation, crude oil prices and cost of living.
Simply put, the book is a history of our recent past written by one who made it his duty to keep constant watch over our affairs. Written in simple, racy prose that Segun is known for, it is a delight and unputdownable. Many readers of his column in Thisday have come to depend on Segun to form opinion on national issues. The usual contemporary clarity of thought, the forthrightness and boldness, the timeliness and uncanny ability to remain objective have enlarged the ranks of his readers who believe that “It is so if Segun says so”. But why The Last 100 days of Abacha” when there are others died and alive, who committed more monumental sins. I doubt if everything Abacha is evil. He may have shortcoming here and there, he was a saint in others. Someone did argue that Abacha committed the greatest sin of all: that of dying. Segun’s book tempts me to believe.
Yushau Shuaib Wuye Estate Abuja yashuaib@yahoo.com
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