Productions: Nigeria Briefings

Panoscope . Media Briefings . Island Beat . Our Own Voice . Le P'tit Nouvelliste
Order Publications

LETTER TO THE FAMILY
[Details of my meetings with Annan, and Anyaoku]

Kofi Annan I never met Kofi Annan before. In fact, I never knew that Boutros Ghali was no longer UN Secretary General. Annan was sure I knew him and for the first thirty minutes, I did not know who I was talking to. In the circumstances, I had to tell him that I had no access to any media for four years and was out of date.

He got the message and then introduced himself and intimated me with the many steps he has taken for my release since 18 months in office. Next, he told me the new head of state has agreed to release me unconditionally but Abubakar wanted an undertaking that I would not ask for my mandate. I told him at that point that, that in itself is the worst of conditions. He, the head of state, felt that any such renewed request will only cause "confusion" as it will not have any effect.

Annan told me that nobody in the international community will recognize me on the basis of a 5-year-old mandate, insinuating that but for the purported annulment, I would have finished the 1st term covered by my election of 12/6/93. He ended by saying that such undertaking will facilitate my release. I interjected that my detention would have ended ages ago if I had given such undertaking.

I thanked him for his efforts on my behalf. I told him firmly that I can give no such undertaking as requested because it will be worse than useless. My declaration was made in public at a mass rally at Epetedo, Lagos, before thousands of people despite the heavy downpour of that evening. It was made in clear terms, without any ambiguity. I then surrendered myself for arrest and was put on trial, which continued until my affidavit of 4/10/94 showed the federal military government in a No-Win situation. Nothing on June 12 has been done "under the table" or at a "secret meeting" because June 12 is the No. 1 public matter in our country. Even the counting of votes was done openly and in public at everyone of the over 209,000 voting centers throughout the nation.

Secondly, giving a "private declaration" to secure my own release will make all concerned look cheap. Such "declaration" obtained under duress will not only be worthless but unworthy of all who are involved with it. Since the issue relates to the mandate of all Nigerian people, such private settlement will amount to "shaving our peoples heads in their absence" -- an exercise in illusion.

On the issue of non-recognition because of the elapse of time, I told Annan that I do not believe it. And the case for my recognition by the London Times of last Friday (3/7/98) proved me right. If what Annan said were true, it would amount to a person (Federal Military Government -- FMG) being allowed to profit from his illegal action -- the purported annulment which they had no power to do with decree and 4-year detention -- another illegality.

My own concession on the issue of declaration in my statement to him is that I will not make any fresh declaration. Firstly, because it will not be necessary anymore since the first one of 11/6/94 has served the purpose fully to keep June 12 alive. I told him that the state in which June 12 is now is such that I can now, on my release, take time to check my health locally and abroad, rebuild the cohesion of my family which has become tattered by the events of the past 5 years in general and the brutal assassination of my senior wife, Kudirat and of course, breathe life into my business. This is because June 12 is today a major world issue, compared with the situation four years ago when it was in a coma.

Other comments No more public declaration is needed for me to be recognized. I believe contacts to countries through their local ambassadors will be sufficient to obtain recognition from a majority of OAU member-nations if that becomes necessary. With OAU [Organization of African unity] recognition, the United Nations is automatic, as in the case of MPLA vs. UNITA [party in government and the opposition] in Angola in 1975/76. But I do not believe it will come to that if we take the alternative route and get the new Head of State and his service chiefs on our side.

Then he can clear the derailment of June 12 to enable us make rapid progress on all fronts as a nation. But instead of president we will be prime minister for one to four years otherwise the approach you mentioned will be pursued.

Emeka Anyaoku "The same grounds were covered, so all the above comments were also relevant. In fact, I believe the FMG (federal military government) "used" the two men to fly their kite on "declaration" which was the main issue they both said worry the FMG. Both diplomats appear to have coordinated their positions.

Chief Anyaoku made the additional point that he had sought legal opinion and it was confirmed to him that the 5-year lapse has killed the mandate. My answer to that is that, in the court of public opinion, legal advises are useless. Which country has ever solved her political problems by seeking by legal advice? And what do the masses of our people know of "legal advice"? He also said he had met people like Shonekan. [Ernest Shonekan was head of the lame duck Interim National Government, ING, which run the government after the annulment. The ING was later sacked by Abacha to climb to power.] I told him that all these "big men" do not carry weight with the people and that Shonekan particularly cannot win a ward councilor election in Itoko Ward in Abeokuta South local Government where he comes from! He must not rely too much on such people! Again, the London Times piece is enough to debunk his "legal opinion". I asked him pointedly what made it his business to seek legal advice?

The two of them were working as agents of Federal Military Government whether they are paid or not, beyond the free ... (not clear) and hotel ...(not clear). I won't know! And that is not our business either! Beware how you [ his wife, Doyin ] use this and other materials with you so as not to put the boys in trouble. I know you are an expert.

Other issues My first letter of August 1994, to Abacha declared the struggle a Jihad. D [Doyin] has a copy, let D collect it and set-it-to-music with others appropriately. From all the materials you have, you can organize a PUBLICITY BLITZ, not confrontation for June 12 and the man behind it. Different headlines will be used and different aspects of the facts emphasized e.g.

"DERAILMENT OF OUR NATIONAL ASPIRATION: CAN GENERAL A.S. ABUBAKAR CLEAR THE TRACK OR WILL HE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AS SHONEKAN, ABACHA HAVE DONE?"

FOUR YEARS IN UNCOVERED GRAVE: MKO'S TRIAL IN ABACHA'S DETENTION"

"WHY MKO CAN NEVER SURRENDER". [If IBB and Abacha could not obtain my surrender after over 4 years, it is naive for anyone to suggest that one month old newcomer, using international diplomats can do it. In any case, a public declaration made in broad daylight before thousands of cheering masses cannot be surrendered at a mid-night meeting with a non-Nigerian diplomat.]

"JUNE 12 DECLARATION IRREVOCABLE": [Four year detention without trial, most painful assassination of the mother of June 12, my late wife, shows that June 12 is not an act that can be reversed. We can't now know the number of people who had died in connection with June 12 but the figure must be over 200, including the brutal show of June 4, 1994. God willing, in the words of Ps 126:5: "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."]

"JUNE 12 AND MULTI-NATIONAL DIPLOMACY": [Nigerians must thank the multinational diplomats for their concern over June 12 and other detainees including MKO. But they have over-stepped the bounds by calling on MKO to surrender his mandate. Yet, they say they want unconditional release. Such call is unwarranted. Asking for the surrender of the mandate shows their lack of understanding of the issues and to mention that, is to impose the most abominable condition on my release. We know diplomats for their traditional double talk and patent insincerity. It is known worldwide that they do contest with women. For if a diplomat says "Yes", he means "may be", if he says "may be", he means "No". Diplomats never say no! But if a woman says "No", she means "may be". If she says "may be", she means "Yes". Women never says "yes".

Where have these two gentlemen been since the purported annulment? The truth of the matter which the two gentlemen are too afraid to tell Abubakar and Federal Military Government is that they should correct once and for all the tragic mistake of "purporting to abort a pregnancy after the baby had been born". None of them is helping Nigeria until he has addressed this point. They talk about "future elections". What future? What election? There can be no future for democracy until justice is done on June 12. Hence the precedence set on June 12 will continue to a...(not clear)]

#####