Between Tinubu and Abacha: Some Nigerians Recall Dictatorship with Nostalgia Amidst Challenges of Current Democratic Government

[Oluwatoyin Adepoju]

Between Tinubu and Abacha 

Some people are arguing that life in Nigeria was better under Abacha than under Tinubu. 

As a person who lived through the Abacha period, I wonder why anyone would think that way about a country ruled through assassinations, imprisoning of perceived threat figures and total fear, as Abacha made Nigeria  into.

It  is even being argued that democracy in Nigeria is inferior to the Abacha dictatorship.

I'm puzzled as to how a person can downgrade a culture of freedom to choose whom to vote for as represented by Nigeria's democracy and Abacha's dictatorship where there was no such freedom.

Is this not the mindset that has recurrently led Nigerians to welcome coup plotters instead of struggling along the slow and painful road of democratic growth?

Abacha clothed the nation in fear through state sponsored terrorism and assassinations, so much so that all political parties made him their consensus  candidate of fear.

 It was a terrible situation so bad that different Christian denominations came to together to pray publicly for the nation. 

When Abacha died, there was mass jubilation in the streets as strangers hugged each other in joy.

 There has never been such a terrible period in Nigerian history. 

 Kudirat Abiola  assassinated. Alfred Rewane assassinated. And more most likely.

 OBJ and Yaradua imprisoned. Yaradua died in prison.

 Diya, Abacha's second in command imprisoned for supposed coup plotting  likely to be executed.

 Abiola, widely acknowledged as the winner of the June 12 elections annulled by Babangida imprisoned.

 All political parties made Abacha their consensus candidate as he used NTA to prep Nigerians for his aspiration to transform into a civilian leader through the station regularly running a film showjng a military cap transforming into a civilian one.

 All critics were brutally dealt with. Soyinka fled into exile. It was a terrible time. Fear everywhere.

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