ABIOLA’S LETTER TO GANI FAWEHINMI ( written on 05/07/98 and given to Lola Edewor & Bisi, Abiola’s 3rd wife during their visit to Abiola 2 days before he was killed). – “l am not a deserter”,
Mydear Gani,
Praisebe to God for your life and the courage, fortitude and determination with whichHe endowed you. May we live long to be of service to each other in thecontribution we make to the development, peace and justice/fairplay in Nigeriaand beyond. The ” Express ” story is a hoax. True, both Anan and
Anyaoku(apparently working together, although I saw them separately), wanted me tosign a statement that I will not, once again, demand my mandate, once released.They both believed such undertaking would expedite my release. To each of them,my answers were:
(1)Having been cut off from all both human and media contacts for 4 years, I waslike a man put in an open grave, I quoted Rt. Hon. Harold Wilson’s statementOctober, 1964, a few days before his first Labour victory in 13 years:“24hrs is a long time in politics.”
If24hrs is a long time, 4years cut offfrom politics can be likened to eternity. Diplomats can guess: politicalleaders must be sure because credibility once lost can never be regained.
(2)Both diplomats spoke of arranging my UNCONDITIONAL release. With the demand forthat kind of statement that will render me a “deserter”. Any releaseobtained on that basis would be the worst form of capitulation.
(3)The declaration of 11/06/94 was made at a major public rally to thousands ofcheering supporters. A statement under the table of AGUDA House purportedlynegating it will not be acceptable as authentic. My rejection will naturallyread “duress” into it. Judged by the circumstances (therefore) itwill not be worth the paper on which it was written. A declaration madepublicly (at a major rally) and clear ( in the most unambiguous terms) at anysimilar rally.
Youcannot render a man naked at the marketplace and prefer to dress him up in thebedroom!
(4) That a declaration, like that of 11/06/94, once made and in great circulation, needs no repetition, which, will be superfluous. Made when June 12 was suffering from a terminal illness – in-fact in a COMA – the June 11 shot-in-the-arm had over the years not only revived the patient (June 12) but has also established it firmly on its own base, such that its right to exist would today no longer be denied. In this situation, I could well concentrate on my release, on revamping my health, attending to the wedding of 4 or 5 of my children, re-establish the cohesion of my family, which has been almost totally eroded, especially after the brutal assassination of my Kudi whilst my leading supporters who have done wonders in my absence, take the full steps necessary for formal VICTORY by God’s grace. It is this point (5) that have might been twisted or misunderstood by Annan and /or the section of the press who got it wrong.
(6)Finally, I reviewed the history of June 12. I told them that quite at thebeginning, Obasanjo in July 1994 came to me with 26 traditional rulers to seeka similar statement. He was told off in no uncertain terms in the presence ofthe retinue of traditional fathers, after I had explained that the issue is oneof God Vs a few “powerful elements”.
The voice of the people is the voice of God, ” Vox Populi Vox Dei”, a popular maxim long before Jesus Christ arrived.
Itold them that IBB’s only reason for cancelling the free, fair and peacefulpoll – a fact he could not deny – was that his leading officers (who would havebeen retired with him) threatened to kill him and to kill me if he ever sworeme in. I did not allow him to use the Koran to swear to “blackmail”
IBBmade the assertion to two Northern Emirs- mutual friends of the two of us andChief Sonekan at a peace meeting called at the presidential wing of the ABUJAairport.
Iwould not accept the cancellation on that ground or any ground hence my ”hijra” of August 2 to mount worldwide campaign, as the local press had thenbeen silenced. I said that if I had accepted what was done, it would havecreated a most dangerous precedent, not only for Nigeria but most of the thirdworld. The saying would then have been – “who are you to resist what couldbe forced on Abiola?”.
Theultimate effect is that Nigeria would then become a land of “guideddemocracy “, of the type in the imagination of the late President Sukarnoof Indonesia..ho used to issue ” voting directives” to his nation of230 million. God forbid bad thing!
Thelapse of five years since the election of 12/06/93 was regarded as fatal to themandate. Both diplomats told me nobody will recognise me on the basis of theout-of-date mandate. Chief Anyaoku went on further to say he had sought andobtained legal opinion which confirmed the “death of the mandate”.
Myreply:
Firstly,there’s no statue of limitation on valid elections provided the winner did notwillfully refuse to take office. The struggle in Sierra Leone more than threedecades ago between Milton Margai and Siaka Stevens is a case in point. The Haiti issue re-Aristide is partiallyrelevant.
Secondly,if that were so, then, criminals would have had a lawful right to takeadvantage of the criminal situation they have created! That, in my opinion, isagainst equity and the rule of law and, therefore, invalid. They illegallycancelled the election (which they had no power to do) and promoted theirusurpation by putting in the most wicked incarceration ever known – 4 yearswithout exercise, access to the sun or even the corridor outside my room.
Thirdly,no nation ever solves her nagging political problems through legal opinion. TheBar of public opinion has a code of practice totally different to that of aformed point of law. I asked Chief Anyaoku what was his interest in seeking theso-called legal opinion? I got no answer because by that time the exchange hadbecome eyeball to eyeball. He looked most embarrassed and dumbfounded. Annanmust know that if the majority of OAU member nations gave me recognition, the UNmust automatically do the same e.g. the Angola situation between MPLA andUNITA.
Thecall for the recognition in the London Times of last Friday has taken the windout of the sail of the “five leg” argument. There was no substance toit.
My final point is that although Time searches to destroys all things MATERIAL, a point made most convincingly by Shakespeare in his sonnets 5, 12 and 64, his emphasis on “never resting time” and the Spencer in “of time and the River” where he stated that “dark times remind us of and the briefness of our days”. TRUTH, which is what June 12 is, is SPIRITUAL AL-HAQQU in Islam – one of the sacred names of God. Therefore, since all things in nature, life and creation are subservient to God(K2:116) willingly or unwillingly, TIME IS IN FACT AND INDEED ON THE SIDE OF TRUTH, K17:81, K34:49, K2:42 etc. and Gospel according to St. John 8:32, Psalm 62:1-2, Isaiah 40:30-31 etc.
Itis falsehood, with its associated varieties and crookedness that must varnishas foam on the ” Torrent of time”.
TheFMG, probably did not want to meet me at this stage. Hence, the arrangementmade for the two to meet me.
Thevery top meeting I had on Monday night with two of our service chiefs was toinform me about the death of General Abacha and my friend Ya’adua and talkgenerally. The atmosphere was most cordial and the service chiefs were mostsympathetic. It enabled me to asses the quality and calibre of the two whichare most high, indeed. I have gone St. John 8:32, Psalm 62:1-2, Isaiah 40:30-31etc.
Itis falsehood, with its associated varieties and crookedness that must varnishas foam on the ” Torrent of time”
TheFMG, probably did not want to meet me at this stage. Hence, the arrangementmade for the two to meet me.
The very top meeting I had on Monday night with two of our service chiefs was to inform me about the death of General Abacha and my friend Ya’adua and talk generally. The atmosphere was most cordial and the service chiefs weremost sympathetic. It enabled me to asses the quality and calibre of the two which are most high, indeed. I have gone into this minute detail because I heard you were upset when you read the exclusive report. You probably did not know me well enough! If I refused to listen to IBB, my personal friend of long standing, and ignored Abacha, will it be 2 international civil servants who would force my surrender?
Please,have more confidence than that in the future.
Allmy life I had worked for the result which God in His mercies, gave us on June12, 1993. Quoting Jesus Christ (Luke 9) “No man having put his hand to theplough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”. The spiritual consequence of any desertion ofa sacred cause like June 12 is HELL, which God forbids.
ANOTHER DIFFERENT POINT on 13/1/95, Abacha sent Prince Ajibola to me to say he (Abacha) would not allow me to get any trial because he knew I had large sum of money pad to my recognition which will force him out of office. Prince what he advised. He sad ” Patience” Suruni. I told him to tell my family and lawyers.
WhenOre Falomo saw me on 10/5/97, I sent him to you on that. Did you get themessages? Remember me to the family with best personal regards.
ILOVE YOU.
Signed
MKO Abiola
