Text of the proclamation speech by the
late M.K.O. Abiola on Saturday, June 11, 1994 , announcing the formation of a
Government of National Unity (GNU) at Epetedo, Lagos
PEOPLE
of Nigeria , exactly one year ago, you turned out in your
millions
to vote for me, Chief M.K.O. 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 “set-up” 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
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 demoralized 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 per cent of the
popular
vote and a majority in 20 out of 30 states plus the Federal
Capital
Territory , 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
breath
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 quietIy, 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 for ever. 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 , ourtime 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.