Abiola OR Democracy???
OBI IHEDURU
Olalekan/Chukwuemeka/Dawodu
We seem to confuse the support for the principles of democracy with support
for the personality who will occupy or occupies the leadership position. If
anything one fact has emerged from the political impasse in Nigeria is the
level of ignorance of how and why a democratic system should operate. It is
perplexing that some of us still argue blindly that Abiola is this and that,
and therefore unqualified for the presidency of Nigeria. At the risk of
repeating what has been said over and over again here, the rules for the
contestation for the Presidency in 1993 were set for anyone who wished to
run for that office. Abiola fulfilled the requirements. The military
scrutinized and cleared him to run. He won the ticket of his party. He
campaigned throughout the country. In all these he kept within the ambit of
the electoral regulations and the numerous decrees governing the transition
program. When it appeared to the military that he may win this election,
suddenly all hell broke loose and they recovered from amnesia to tell us
that there is a possibility that he couldn't make a good president afterall.
This is an explanation that has been a hard sell for five years to Nigerians
and the international community and yet some of us are hinged on it. There
is a need for the Nigerian people to separate the systemic governmental
operations from the personalities that may be steering (or want to steer)the
ship of state at any point in time. The first republic had its regional
juggernauts, the second republic its own shakers and movers, and Abiola is
now being made the only living Nigerian that mattered in the still born (or
yet to be ressurected) third republic. Every military regime in Nigeria has
similarly always been centered around one individual. In the process, we pay
no attention to the system. Our supports and inputs into the system are
predicated on the personality in power which invariably flows from the
ethnic interest/spoils he represents. This primary consideration has
underguarded the lack of democracy and the domination of the military in our
national politics. Those who lack the capability to successfully compete in
the civil political arena look to the nilitary to protect their parochial
ethnic interests by foisting their own persons on the rest of us.
In the final analysis therefore, we pursue the shadow and not the reality of
building a strong democracy. We only prescrbe medicaments for the symptoms
of our national malaise instead of using the symptoms as the imperative
guide for our political diagnosis. As long as we make arguments to the
effect that Abiola is morally unsound, even after he scaled all the tests
that we as a nation placed in the way of aspirants, the possibilities of a
democratic foundation cannot be laid in Nigeria. Tomorrow the same arguments
will be made of other candidates, who today may be our paragons. The
military has so corrupted Nigeria that there is no businessman/politician
out there without blemish. In rejecting them, we would have to apply to God
for angels to be our presidents, given our present dispensation. In the
meantime we do ourselves a disservice by getting distracted with the sterile
debate that doubts Abiola's credentials for leading Nigeria, as if he is not
a product and scion of the corrupt military dictatorships we've had for so long.
If it takes one "corrupt" or "immoral" person, if you rightly think that
Abiola fits those definitions, to establish the sound bearings for democracy
in Nigeria, it would have served us all a better purpose than to have a
bunch of sanctimonious generals claiming omniscience for the wishes and
desires of 115 million Nigerians. We should all, in my opinion be focused on
the democratic political system and the principles it is built on, rather
than political personalities. It is only a democratic apparatus that can
give us the milieu rich with the spirit of give and take, guided by
concensus and coalition building to solve our problems without resorting to
violence. Nigeria, if she is to remain one united and viable nation, has no
choice but to adopt the democratic faith. In it lies her salvation.
Personalities are fleeting, they come and go, like Awolowo, Azikiwe, and
Abacha. One day Abiola and Abubakar will pass and fade away into history but
Nigeria will remain and the democratic system with it, if only we can
establish it. Abiola's mandate is a mandate for democracy through the
people, not the inheritance of the Abiola family or any ethnic group for
that matter.
Obi Iheduru.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
At 04:18 PM 6/13/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Dr Dawodu, I beg to disagree with some of what you wrote. Pls see my comments
>below.
>
>> As a side comment to this, I personally believe that Abiola does not have a
>> CURRENT mandate to be the president of the country.
>
>Would you mind giving us proof of the above assertion?
>
>> The issue of June 12 is
>> old and has expired and we should all look forward to the future.
>
>Who determined this? Yourself? The army? The oligarchy? Please enlighten us.
>
>> Abiola has no basis to ascend to the presidency of NIGERIA
>
>You must be a powerful magician to make June 12 disappear just so.
Abracadabra!!!
>
>> . He is morally
>> corrupt in every sense of it.
>
>When did he become so? Before or after June 12, 1993? If before then, the
Nigerian
>people said most unequivocally: "WE DON'T GIVE A DARN!!", hence the votes were
>cast in his favour. If after then, you really have no case. The man has been in
>detention for over four years now.
>
>> The issue of ITT is still there. He single handedly ruined the telephone
>> system in the country.
>
>This might possibly be true. But, until he is convicted in a court of law, he
>remains as innocent as a newborn child.
>
>> Can his suppoerters explain how a junior accountant at
>> LUTH(Lagos university teaching hospital) suddenly became a multi-millionaire.
>
>You should think a little. If you do, you'll quickly agree that this is none of
>his supporters' cup of tea. No one has objected to charging Abiola to court
over
>ITT issue. You can break the ice (I won't mind supporting you)
>
>> For the yorubas who think Abiola loves the Yoruba Nation, they should check
>> the following facts:-
>> * The establishment of CONCORD was initially to counteract TRIBUNE and
AWOLOWO
>> and the first task of Concord was to mount abusive attacks on Awolowo.
>
>You are a scientist, so I would ask for....P.R.O.O.F. FYI, positive
competition
>is the secret of progress in the so-called developed world..
>
>> * Abiola sold his conscience to support NPN and made several attempts to rig
>> elections in Ogun state usings underage kids(some were caught and summarily
>> killed). this was with assistance of Chief Toye Coker.
>
>I don't know, but you might be correct. But still, the Nigerian populace
voted him
>as their president, notwithstanding. Moreover, the man has a right to join
a party
>of his choice.
>
>> * As he really done anything to promote the progress and integrity of his
>> people even after buying the ARE-ONA KAKANFO(Generallismo).
>
>Yea, sure. All you need is to check the facts.
>
>> * He has on several occassions colluded with the "enemies"(by this I
meant the
>> likes of Babangida, etc who eventually denied him the presidency).
>
>This might also be true. But the man has learnt his lesson. Don't you think so?
>
>>
>>
>> He is also a bloody chicken and has no gut to lead.
>
>Please don't bet on that statement. He made some errors, but I believe the
man can
>contribute positively to Nigeria's progress. Let's be fair.
>
>Babs
>
SAMC...@aol.com
Obi:
Good essay as usual. I beg to summarize it as full of what an ibo/igbo man
calls "Ngwongwo-na-Ngwongwo", literally meaning, bladderdash or nonsense!!!!
You want Democracy to be built on a flawed, faulted and a screwy foundation?
And at the leadership a Corrupt military spoilt man? Well, my good brother,
what can I say? I dey here open my mouth and water dey drip down to my
knicker. I guess, we call it freedom of speech.
Who told you Abiola was not shephered through by Big Uncle Babangida? his
buddy, does that make it free and fair? Why were so many folks declared
ineligible and sometimes bared from contesting the elections by Babangida? Was
that fair? I don't know where you write from, but in the Great United States
of America, I have never heard the US Govt. bare or disqualify anybody who is
not a convicted felon from contesting an election. That my friend is what the
inventor of Democracy call free and fair election. A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR
EVERYBODY.
Nna, I can type 5 pages to help you and folks understand that Nigeria Never
had a free and fair election. Why in the Name of Satan is Babangida called
MARADONNA, the Master dribbler and manipulator? Why was he accused of shifting
the goal posts? Could it be to position a Corrupt person like himself in a
position to win? Now, think long and hard and tell me ABIOLA had a clean free
and fair election. BTW, check the meaning of "FAIR" and tell me it was fair
for Yar' Adua to be disqualified for running on the ticket of the SDP. Could
Abiola win an election against Yar' Adua?
I got to run, I've been on the net for a while.
Cheers!!
SamChuks.
In a message dated 98-06-13 18:50:02 EDT, ihed...@mail.fvsu.edu writes:
> Subj: Abiola OR Democracy???
> Date: 98-06-13 18:50:02 EDT
> From: ihed...@mail.fvsu.edu (OBI IHEDURU)
> To: war...@trinidad.net
> CC: naij...@esosoft.com, nige...@aol.com, samc...@aol.com
Nige...@aol.com
In a message dated 98-06-13 18:50:35 EDT, ihed...@mail.fvsu.edu writes:
> When it appeared to the military that he may win this election,
> suddenly all hell broke loose and they recovered from amnesia to tell us
> that there is a possibility that he couldn't make a good president
afterall.
SamChuks had answered you appropriately and I will not delve too deeply into
that but look at your statement above...WHEN IT APPEARED THAT HE MAY WIN.
Most of the Abiolites base their judgement of J12 on this APPEARED/MAY WIN.
He was an handpicked candidate who was in same manner rejected by his so-
called mentors in Khaki.
Like Chuks said you can't lay a foundation on mere sand because it will never
stand the test of time.
No democracy can last in the midst of personal/individual
immorality/corruption.
No more to be said.
Segun T. DAWODU, MD
OBI IHEDURU
Chukwuemeka/
There you go again! Go on and focus on personalities and miss the real pith
of my write-up. I was not making a case for either your favorite IBB or
Abiola. I am for the system and we have to start somewhere, with somebody,
even if that person is a fool. We might be waiting the second coming of
Christ, if an angel is our choice for president.
So you acknowledge that the army "shephered" Abiola through the electoral
system. In other words Abiola was remotely controlling IBB. So answer the
question: why did the same general turn around and annull the election? Why
should a country that is the supposed leader of the Black World be a liar.
Why should the world see us otherwise beacuse by implication, lying and
intrigue are our national past-times.
I will not waste my time responding to your contradictory invectives, thats
your stock in trade. I advise you however, to read my essay one more time.
Probably you will begin to see my points and might then rethink your
befuddled response.
Obi Iheduru
--------------------------------------------------------------------
>> program. When it appeared to the military that he may win this election,
>> suddenly all hell broke loose and they recovered from amnesia to tell us
>> that there is a possibility that he couldn't make a good president
>afterall.
>>
OBI IHEDURU
Dr. Dawodu,
>From your contribution to this discussion it is obvious that you have very
vague ideas about the democratic processes and instititutions. You come
from a jaundiced hatred of the man called Abiola. The questions that should
be flushing your mind should concern the system. If the rules and processes
certify someone to be in office, no one individual should have the power to
reject the wishes of the people. You are free to have your views on such a
President, but the people's wishes have to be respected. That is democracy,
pure and simple. If he is a thief, a drug addict, a 419er, etc and the
people want him, that is their choice and you with all your medical training
cannot and should not go against it. This is not agreeing with your
insinuations about Abiola's integrity.
One is not arguing that Abiola should be rushed from detention into Aso
Rock. That would be precipitate and right now, impractical action. But to
June 12, we must return as a nation, set the records straight, make amends
where we erred and then go forward. Otherwise it will always return to
haunt us. If you and your ilk think that Abiola is unworthy of his mandate,
release him today and let him face the people AGAIN and I bet you he will
win AGAIN. Yes, Abiola will win the August 1, 1998 presidential elections
from prison, if they just place his name on the ballot. Someone somewhere is
afraid of MKO, otherwise let them do it and I will be proven right.
Obi Iheduru
--------------------------------------------------
At 01:19 PM 6/14/98 EDT, you wrote:
>In a message dated 98-06-14 08:28:36 EDT, ste...@rti.org writes:
>
>> Why doesn't it occur to you that if the Abiola angle is a viable
>> option, that NECON could be made to go back and finish the
>> ballot-counting (or whatever) to verify or refute whether Abiola was the
>> winner of the election. I pains me to see a whole medical doctor and
>> university financial aid officer take the position that whether Abiola's
>> mandate should be actualized or not should be based on the fact the
>> there is no concrete proof whether Abiola won or lost and/or Abiola may
>> not be an angel.
>
>Well that is your judgement. Are you saying decisions should not be based on
>concrete proof? Should we call that SteveK's theory? How reasonable is it to
>finish the ballot-counting. Be sincere with yourself.
>
>
>> If you (the anti-Abiolites) wish to demonstrate your sincerity and
>> intelligence, please, name any one (including the past rulers of
>> Nigeria, especially the last one that mercifully croaked in office) that
>> is more educated, competent, or stole less that Abiola? Would you
>> rather have that Yesufu guy be the president?
>
>Well a crime is a crime no matter how small. I am happy about your agreeing to
>Abiola stealing(even if it is less than others). The essence of my initial
>comment is the need for us to move forward. If thieves have been ruling us
>should we then go for a lesser thief or go for one who is not?
>This is my last comment on this issue.
>I will not entertain any abusive language and will not entertain personal e-
>mails on this issue(as Kehinde OYELEKE did).
>This is meant to be a friendly public discussion.
>My regards as usual.
>
>Segun T. DAWODU, MD
>
Nige...@aol.com
Kueberuwa, Steven S.
Dr. Dawodu,
This is really beginning to get on my nerves. YOU ARE A DOCTOR OF SOME
SORT. Why doesn't it occur to you that if the Abiola angle is a viable
option, that NECON could be made to go back and finish the
ballot-counting (or whatever) to verify or refute whether Abiola was the
winner of the election. I pains me to see a whole medical doctor and
university financial aid officer take the position that whether Abiola's
mandate should be actualized or not should be based on the fact the
there is no concrete proof whether Abiola won or lost and/or Abiola may
not be an angel.
By the way, in a democracy, whether the winner is allowed to rule or not
is based only on the outcome of an election, not someone's or group of
people's personal opinion of the candidates qualification to rule. In
fact, US law allow for a person serving a prison term (not for murder)
to be released to serve the people if he/she wins an election! So push
your hard-to-understand agendas but leave democracy out of it.
If you (the anti-Abiolites) wish to demonstrate your sincerity and
intelligence, please, name any one (including the past rulers of
Nigeria, especially the last one that mercifully croaked in office) that
is more educated, competent, or stole less that Abiola? Would you
rather have that Yesufu guy be the president?
Peace.
Stevek.
-----Original Message-----
In a message dated 98-06-13 18:50:35 EDT, ihed...@mail.fvsu.edu writes:
> When it appeared to the military that he may win this election,
> suddenly all hell broke loose and they recovered from amnesia to tell
us
> that there is a possibility that he couldn't make a good president
afterall.
SamChuks had answered you appropriately and I will not delve too deeply
Kehinde A. Oyeleke
ST Dawodu:
Let me tell you what I think about MKO Abiola and his mandate once and
for all.
1. I believe that MKO has been held to more scrutiny than any Nigerian,
living or dead. Though he has never held any official post, not much of
is life has been away from the eyes of Nigerians. Most of us know the
names of many of his children. I challenge anybody to give the names any
of the children of any other Nigerian leader.
2. In spite of publicly available information about him, people still
routinely make up stories about him to suit their fancy. He has been
rumored to have used the military regimes to his advantage. Poor
innocent military rulers. I want to be informed of any rich Nigerian who
did not make his money through governmental connections. So, what is
really unique about Abiola, assuming without any proof, that there is any
truth to the rumor about the source of his wealth.
3. Instead of the rumors, the only fact I had about him relates to his
philantrophy. He has given more of his money and substance to
individuals and institutions in Nigeria than all the other politicians
combined. This to my mind made him the most qualified aspirant for the
Nigerian Presidency. Unlike Abutcher's "newbeed" Politicians, who will
kill their mother for a few thousand Naira, I saw in Abiola, an
already-made man, who had something to contribute, and did not appear to
be in Politics for money.
4. My biggest regret about Abiola, and perhaps his greatest undoing, is
that he is not a Northerner. He probably would have been chosen over
Shamgari is 1979, were he a Northerner. And he would not have had to do
half of what he did in 1993 to be elected President.
5. No politician, excepting African incumbents, have ever been supported
by 100% of the electorate. Even Boris Yelsin was not elected with a
perfect majority. So, if people hate Abiola's guts, even for no reason
at all, it is normal. What they cannot do is dictate for the whole
country. Abiola was elected by a clear majority on June 12 (the same way
leaders are elected in all democracy). Having been duly elected, he has
the right to rule.
6. It is a Nigerian tragedy that somebody of Abiola's personality would
be passed over for Abacha, a crude illiterate, having no personality and
exposure. Whether the trade-off was wise can no longer be debated.
7. In conclusion, I have no recommendation for Abubakar, the "new" head
of state. My wish is for Abiola to come out of all this whole. The
military and their collaborators can do what they like with Nigeria.
Segun, that is my take on June 12, and the related issues. From your
mails, you seem to have some personal frustration with MKO. Even Jesus
had enemies. So, good luck with your campaign of calumny.
And may your best dreams for Nigeria come true.
On Sun, 14 Jun 1998 13:19:11 EDT Nige...@aol.com writes:
>In a message dated 98-06-14 08:28:36 EDT, ste...@rti.org writes:
>
>> Why doesn't it occur to you that if the Abiola angle is a viable
>> option, that NECON could be made to go back and finish the
>> ballot-counting (or whatever) to verify or refute whether Abiola
>was the
>> winner of the election. I pains me to see a whole medical doctor
>and
>> university financial aid officer take the position that whether
>Abiola's
>> mandate should be actualized or not should be based on the fact the
>> there is no concrete proof whether Abiola won or lost and/or Abiola
>may
>> not be an angel.
>
>Well that is your judgement. Are you saying decisions should not be
>based on
>concrete proof? Should we call that SteveK's theory? How reasonable is
>it to
>finish the ballot-counting. Be sincere with yourself.
>
>
>> If you (the anti-Abiolites) wish to demonstrate your sincerity and
>> intelligence, please, name any one (including the past rulers of
>> Nigeria, especially the last one that mercifully croaked in office)
>that
>> is more educated, competent, or stole less that Abiola? Would you
>> rather have that Yesufu guy be the president?
>
>Well a crime is a crime no matter how small. I am happy about your
>agreeing to
>Abiola stealing(even if it is less than others). The essence of my
>initial
>comment is the need for us to move forward. If thieves have been
>ruling us
>should we then go for a lesser thief or go for one who is not?
>This is my last comment on this issue.
>I will not entertain any abusive language and will not entertain
>personal e-
>mails on this issue(as Kehinde OYELEKE did).
>This is meant to be a friendly public discussion.
>My regards as usual.
>
>Segun T. DAWODU, MD
>
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A. Ifeanyi Uzoka
OBI IHEDURU wrote:
I THINK THIS IS PRECISLEY WHAT SOME OF US (SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, DR
FABUNMI'S RECENT WRITEUP) HAVE BEEN SUGGESTING ALL ALONG AS A PROPER
COMPROMISE !!!
> Someone somewhere is
> afraid of MKO, otherwise let them do it and I will be proven right.
>
> Obi Iheduru
> --------------------------------------------------
> At 01:19 PM 6/14/98 EDT, you wrote:
Harry Ogunleye
Kenny,
Well said, I cannot agree with you more, It is amazing
that Sam chucks, Segun Dawodu,And Hakeem are talking like complete strangers
to Nigeria / Nigerian issues. I bet they will tell you they never had of The
Dantata Brothers, Isiyaku Rabiu, Late Waziri Ibrahim, Arthur Nzeribe etc
,etc. Dangote alone decides
whether or not you will drink your coffee with sugar in Nigeria. But
Abiola's name come in handy when folks want to talk about those Nigerians
who made money through the Govt.
Take care jare
and be alert.
Sultan
Timothy Ade-Agba
Obaje O.J
It has become so difficult for me (a voter on J12) to understand or
support any position that bases its anti-J12 stand on the
"inconclusiveness" of J12 election. IMO it is
simply dishonesty. On J12, at the Alikazaura polling station (Jos) where I
voted just like in all polling stations round the country, the votes
were counted there and then in the presence of the voters, the results
were recorded and endorsed by party representatives and electoral
officers right there. And each signatory was given a copy of the
result sheet. The same procedure was followed at the ward level, LG
and state coalition centers. In otherwords, the results of J12
election was already known at various LG and state levels. What IBB
did was to stop the announcement at the Federal level, which IMHO does
not invalidate the J12 results at LG and State levels.
The recent passing on of Gen. Abacha, teaches me (all of us) that honesty
and fairness are virtues we can not afford to compromise on any ground
during our short stay on this side of life. We can only pretend and
deceive others for just a short while but shall leave with the ultimate
TRUTH for enternity hereafter.
Having said that, the major question that has been bugging my mind on
this "MKO this, MKO that" discussion presently going on is that:
1. Even if I now regret my J12 vote for MKO (whom I thought was the better
of the two devils in that election), will my support for the annulment of
J12 make me an HONEST SUPPORTER OF DEMOCRACY or FAIRNESS ??
2. If MKO was/is fraudulent and benefited from the military, which system
best present the Nigerians the opportunity for REDRESS? - DEMOCRACY or
MILITOCRACY ??.
These are the questions I would like some one help me answer.
That is not to justify some obvious flaws in the perceptions &
strategies of some "pdmers" which unwittingly may have beclouded the
essence of J12. But the honorable thing to do by any Nigerian IMHO is to
address those defects and proffer pro-active solutions.
The diversionary attempt of overdramatizing the defects in methods over
the substance of the struggle is hypocrisy and anti-Nigeria IMHO.
I know we still have the "Kingibe's" and the "Ikimis" in our mist whose
purpose in politics is SELF not Nigeria but we leave such elements to their
conscience and the ultimate judge.
For me, the question is: Is it honest and fair to now scout for all sort of
"reasons" to support the scuttling of J12 because someone has "tribalized"
J12 or MKO had been corrupt?? Would I not become guilty of the same
"Democrat-of-Convenience" offence that is been pushed between "pdmers"
and "admers" on this forum?
Obaje
Kehinde A. Oyeleke
Samchuks:
AND I NAME KOLA, DEJI AND HAFSAT ABIOLA. NOW, COME ON, NAME THREE
CHILDREN OF ABACHA'S.
How disingenuous of you to name someone whose trip to limelight was an
untimely death. You have to be uninformed not to have heard of the late
Ibrahim.
I insist that no Nigerian leader, dead or alive, has been in as much
limelight as Bashorun Abiola. Do me a favor, prove me wrong.
It is sad that you allow your hatred of Bashorun Abiola to turn you into
a complete imbecile. I pray you don't die of frustration.
A "brother'' indeed! Hypocrite and parasite!
On Mon, 15 Jun 1998 21:10:32 EDT SAMC...@aol.com writes:
>In a message dated 98-06-15 06:07:07 EDT, se...@Juno.com writes:
>
>> I challenge anybody to give the names any
>> of the children of any other Nigerian leader.
>
>
>The late Ibrahim Abacha...son of the late Gen. Abacha!!
>
>SamChuks.
>
>
>
SAMC...@aol.com
Nige...@aol.com
In a message dated 98-06-15 21:35:33 EDT, se...@juno.com writes:
> It is sad that you allow your hatred of Bashorun Abiola to turn you into
> a complete imbecile. I pray you don't die of frustration.
Your attitude stinks.
You are very abusive and intolerant of others views.
Calling someone an imbecile for the expression of his own personal opinion
only shows the type of person that you are.
Stop the name calling.
Segun