The 1994 Epetedo declaration that cost MKO Abiola his freedom and his life
MKO Abiola declared himself the democratic president of Nigeria on June 11, 1994, and it didn’t end well for him.
Chief MKO Abiola charged Nigerians to fight for his mandate a year after an election he won was annulled by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida [Vanguard]
On June 12, 1993, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, MKO Abiola, won the country’s presidential elections with a majority of 58.36% of the total votes cast, winning 20 out of 30 states against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
The election was widely considered as the nation’s freest and fairest democratic election, but then-military Head of State General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) disagreed with the outcome and annulled the election.
This annulment caused a lot of agitation among the masses, with the perceived injustice fueling protests against the government and resulting in violence that claimed lives.
By 1994, General Sani Abacha had already overthrown Babangida’s interim government of Chief Ernest Shonekan, and Abiola’s claim to his mandate appeared even deader.
In a last-ditch attempt to claim his mandate, backed by the international community, Abiola declared himself the democratic president of Nigeria in the Epetedo area of Lagos on June 11, 1994.
MKO Abiola’s Epetedo declaration
“People of Nigeria, exactly one year ago, you turned out in your millions to vote for me, Chief MKO 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 fellow men.
“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 the military’s 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 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% of the popular vote and a majority in 20 out of 30 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 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.”
How Abacha reacted to MKO Abiola’s declaration
After the declaration speech, Abacha’s government arrested and detained Abiola on charges of treason against the state.
Despite widespread criticism and pressure from several quarters, Abacha refused to release Abiola for four years, until the military dictator died under mysterious circumstances on June 8, 1998.
With Abacha dead, the coast was clear for Abiola to regain his freedom, but he also died under mysterious circumstances a month later on July 7, 1998.
The Epetedo declaration was his final nationwide address to the millions of Nigerians who voted for him in the 1993 presidential election which remains a monumental part of Nigeria’s history.
Pulse.ng
