SARKI ABBA ABDULKADIR
Alexander Dan'Iyan
Re: SARKI ABBA ABDULKADIR
Dear Sarki,
Your article "Where the end does not justify the means"
provided interesting reading at the least, and at the most a
scary insight into a scary state of mind/perception of events.
My concern is over your reasons for stating why M.K.O Abiola
is not meant to be President. You claimed that he was the
product of a proccess where the most "outstanding" candidates
were banned... Sarki, my question is this... who were these
outstanding candidates? Yar'Adua, Shinkafi, Ciroma, (it was
common knowledge then that the President would have been one of
these three if they were not disqualified). Perhaps Falae,
Nzeribe, Jakande, Patrick Dele-Cole, Who are your "outstanding" politicians?
The aforementioned names are for the most part all the "heavyweights"
who were disqualified by IBB (if my memory serves me right).
Now my point is this; upon disqualification; which one of the politicians
whose mandate was denied resigned from the NRC or SDP and/or tried
to fight/pursue his mandate??? None. Not one whatsoever; why?
Simply because they realized that IBB had them trapped; they
were guilty of electoral malpractice on a large scale,
mainly large-scale open rigging. In fact, at the most, some just
claimed that they were cheated; and let it go....
But after all said and done; did they not still play an
active part in the march toward the Third Republic?
Did they all not decide that if they could not be
the King; they would at least be the King-makers within the party
structures?
Was it not Yar'Adua who gave the SDP Chairmanship to Annenih?
Was it not Ciroma and Shinkafi that threw their weight behind the
Tofa candidacy? I think you and I both know... just based on
Qur'anic injunction that we should treat all issues fairly and not
in a biased way. I wrote that to write this; your so called
"outstanding" candidates decided to continue their participation
in IBB's proccess despite the fact that they were disqualified...
and "mediocre" politicians of Abiola and Tofa's statures emerged
as the torch bearers. That was the time to complain; and bring
injustices to light; did they or you do that? No!
Also, are you aware that your "outstanding" candidates were
winning more votes in the primaries than they were registered
party voters? Now is Abiola not outstanding because he did not
engage in wide-scale rigging or what? I mean what is your
standard for measuring "outstandingness".
Anyway, another point you raised was the one of you knowing
that another group knows that an Abiola Presidency would plunge
the nation into "tremendous, perhaps violent, opposition" I cannot
help but wonder as to how you can say such when you are not
Allah(SWT) or His Prophet (SAW).
I hate to say this as one individual of Northern extraction; to another
one who is the same; but you are plainly and openly extremely prejudiced
against not only Abiola; but also the Southwest; you wrote: "... does not have
any significant support outside certain areas of the Southwest". I don't
understand, are
you denying the right of certain people to agitate for their rights? Are
you alleging that that section of the country is misguided/misinformed
or what?
You and I both know that people from our part of the country are not as
politically sophisticated as our compatriots down South. You and I both know
that our societal values and beliefs are still more entrenched in tradition
than in the Southern part of the country. Sarki, can you honestly say that
if some of our Traditional rulers (Maccido, Bayero, Ndayako etc.) were to call
for actualization of the results of the June 12 election; people for our part
of the country would not become as agitated as our Brothers and Sisters lower
down?
Sincerely speaking; I am ashamed that it is the section of the country where
you and I come from that has been assigned the burden of producing leaders
who seem bent on destroying the very fabric that holds our Nation together.
However, it is not too late; we still have a chance for redemption.
Irrespective of Abiola's inability to serve, irrespective of his
corrupt association with every regime since 1979, irrespective of his
choice of having scores (or even hundreds) of wives all over the world,
irrespective of his mediocrity. We have to remember that he was a product
of "Option A4", a proccess in which he had to contest for the nomination
starting from the LGA, to the State, to the National level... all of which
he won hands down (and this was within the party alone). And then he took
part in the June 12 election in which 8 out of 14 million Nigerians
PEACEFULLY defied X number of past cancellations/disqualifications,
rainstorms, alleged election cancellations, Babangida's poor reputation, etc.
to elect him as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mind you,
not the President of the Federal Republic of Oduduwa, or of Biafra or of
Sohnghai, but of the entire nation. Over 30 percent of the Registered voters
in ther Nation took part in that election (on June 12 alone), this was more
than the percentage for all the other past elections held during the IBB regime;
and definately more than the percentage that has taken part in the Obasanjo
transition, and the Abacha fiasco... and don't forget; June 12 was adjudged
free and fair; so we are talking of at least 13.5 million competent, real life
Nigerians who voted.
If we refuse to acknowledge June 12 as a nation; which election would we
acknowledge? In fact what lasting hope for peace ansd stability would we
establish for Nigeria? You talk about chaos; what about Nigeria at present
is not chaotic? Large scale killings of dissident students? Murders of Kudirat.
Alfred, KSW + 8, detention without trial of hundreds if not thousands, armed
robbery as a way of life? I mean what is the level of chaos you are talking
about? Must we wait till another civil war before we realize the predicament
we are in? Must the nation Junta "openly" declare war on its citizens before
we realize we are under siege? What chaos are you talking about?
I have written more than enough; I just hope you and others like you behave and
think like the men of honor and integrity we are all meant to be.
A. Mukhtar Dan'Iyan
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Ayo Ojo
My comment follows *** after yours below. I have deleted portions not
relevant.
Thank you.
Abiodun
On Mon, 17 Jun 1996, SARKI ABBA ABDULKADIR wrote:
>Isn't it ironic that the most vocal cry for democracy
> coming from Nigerians is a cry to validate the injustices of a dictator?
***What injustices are you talking about? The free and fair election
witnessed as such locally and internationally or the illegal annulment of
the wishes of over 30% electorate population of Nigeria? Which one is it
that satisfy your fair minded after the fact analysis? As far as I am
concerned, the process of disengagement initiated by IBB was generally
accepted by all the political parties and individual politicians. What
matters is how the people expresses their wishes through the ballot boxes
(not through IBB or Abacha's gun power!) on who will represent them
irrespective of the schemes agreed to (between the politicians and IBB).
In as much as IBB scheming was tolerated so long enough by everyone
(politicians and military alike!) in order to just see him and his military
usurpers leave, what then is now wrong with whoever won the election?
That election is a historic watershed which no one can just erase away
however they wish to do it!
>
> Most of the so-called pro-democracy activists know who Abiola is
> and how he came to be SDP's candidate.
*** Does that matter now after the fact? Isn't there a democratic
process, as well as judicial process in the transition program of IBB to
screen candidates that are deemed qualified and capable to be the
President of Nigeria? Option 4 and the prerogative of the Electoral
Commission adjudication? So, what exactly is your beef? What side are you
exactly, democracy or not?
>They are just using him, and his> imprisonment as a tool to gain political
power.
*** Who is using who in the present context of political power? Abacha
and his cronies who are illegally representing nobody, parading
themselves as a government and wrecking havoc on Nigerians lives
literally as well Nigeria's resources? Or the few individuals risking
their lives and properties to effect a respect for the rule of law of the
nation, to insure respect for the peoples wish and entrench equality,
justice and fairness for all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic origin?
So, which power are you talking about again?
A true democracy movement
> will work towards the withdrawal of the military and the election of a a
> governemnt without manipulation by the military regime. To push Nigeria
> into the abyss of anarchy so Abiola can be president is not only wrong,
> it is foolish and irresponsible.
*** This is exactly what has been successfully done under the military
regime of IBB/Abacha in 8 long years. The annulment of that crowning
process of electing the President of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria by
the illegitimate double junta of IBB and Abacha is what is dragging the
country slowly towards "the abyss of anarchy". It is not the people of
Nigeria and or the courageous few who wants the wishes of the people as
expressed in an election respected.
Sarki you either dine with the devil or you show up for supper with the
true God, Allah. Either way, declare your position clearly- no meandering!
Thank you.
Abiodun.
>
> Sarki
>
Qansy Salako
Beloved Netters;
Please permit me to salute my citizen of the week, Alex Dan'Iyan. Alex,
you are a true soul and a believer. Bearing a truthful mind and having
the gut to express it when it matters most will never qualify you as a
"technical" Northerner. Lailai. Rather, it will qualify you to be
amongst those successful believers who used truth for their ablution,
worship for their righteuosness and total submission to the will of
Allah (SWT) for their salvation.
Citizen Sarki Abdulkadir's sentiments are not mere views, they are a
doctrine particularly among certain Northern elites. That is why I have
enjoyed your rejoinder to him, perhaps more than anybody else on the
square. I have relished the area (further down your piece) where you had
eloquently expressed your discomfort at how the North had been dishing
out rulers for Nigeria (stupid or smart, evil or brutish) from time Imo
River and where you had reminded Sarki that a few Northern Emirs only
need say `haba!' to the fine mess we have at home before the commoners
(who actually did the voting) troop out and reinforce the lone `mandate'
wailings of Abiola's enstranged people. I bit my tongue when I read to
this portion of your piece muttering to myself, "Haqika," "truth is hard
to spit or swallow, say it Alex !"
Then I licked my lips when I saw Sarki's rejoinder to you. Eagerly, I
cleared all the basket ball stuff out of the way to reach what I
considered would be the mother of all replies. Sarki actually did
counter with some explanations which I can't remember anymore, but alas,
he signed out before getting to your meat. This time, I really bit my
lips, "kai!" "darn it!" "piafu kwaisi for ....."
But seriously Alex, may you continue to use your God-given intellect for
the upliftment of what is good and condemnation of what is bad. That is
the epitome of righteousness. Combine this with sincere faith and yours
will be the reward of "Al'Janna Firidaosi" In Shah Allahu.
I got to run, I have a column to manage on this our bulletin board.
Salam.
Netters, I am your cousin,
Kanzi Salako.
