How Abacha Plotted Execution of Saro-Wiwa, Others

Late Saro-Wiwa

Seventeen years after their execution, details have emerged on how former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, now deceased, got members of his defunct Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) to approve the death sentence passed on environmental rights activist and author, Mr. Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight others.

Saro-Wiwa and others, who were accused of killing four Ogoni chiefs opposed to the campaign by the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), which was headed by the late author, were convicted after a controversial trial that attracted global condemnations.

MOSOP was at the vanguard of the agitation against the environmental degradation of Ogoniland arising from oil exploration.

But a memo from the meeting of the PRC, obtained by an online news medium, Premium Times, showed how council members approved Abacha’s request for the death sentence to be carried out on the Ogoni Nine so that the military junta would not be portrayed as weak.

Members of the PRC at the time were Abacha; Maj. General Patrick Aziza (Minister of Communications under Abacha); Major Gen. Tajudeen Olarenwaju (General Officer Commanding); General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Chief of Defence Staff); Lt. General Oladipo Diya (Chief of General Staff); Maj. Gen. Victor Malu (GOC); Ibrahim Coomasie (Inspector General of Police); Mike Akhigbe (Chief of Naval Staff); Maj. General Ishaya Bamaiyi (Chief of Army Staff); Nsikak Eduok (Chief of Air Staff); Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni (Minister of the Federal Capital Territory); and Michael Agbamuche (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice).

During the debate on a memorandum submitted to the council by Abacha, many of the contributors had lamented how the government had been regarded as weak for heeding the pleas by the international community to pardon some coup plotters.

They had therefore stressed the need for the government to demonstrate its capacity to deal with knotty security issue that the Ogoni case had thrown up by upholding the death penalty passed on Saro-wiwa and others to serve as a deterrent to others.

According to the memo, two days before the execution, Abacha had told the PRC members that the activists deserved no sympathy, and that hanging them would stem further discontent and prove to the world the regime was bold and courageous.

“He was of the view that no sympathy should be shown to the convicts so that the sentence will be a lesson to everybody. He stated that the Ogoni issue had lingered for a very long time and should be addressed once and for all,” Abacha was quoted in the document as saying.

The late head of state accused Saro-Wiwa of being a foreign agent used to destabilise Nigeria, and a “separatist” who had hidden under the cloak of being an environmental activist to pursue his devious agenda.

The execution of the Ogoni Nine, however, sparked international outrage with the European Union and the United States placing an economic embargo and other restrictions on the country.

Shell Petroleum Development Corporation, which was at the centre of the unrest in Ogoniland, was also accused of complicity in the killings and in 2009, it paid  $15.5 million as an out-of-court settlement to the families of the deceased persons.

But the company had said the payment was not a concession of guilt, but a gesture of peace.

Besides its decision to uphold the death sentence, the PRC also proscribed MOSOP and used the resources of the state to weaken support for the organisation and its leaders.

The tribunal that convicted Saro-Wiwa turned out to be one of the most controversial in the history of this country. Headed by Justice Ibrahim Auta, the current Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the panel delivered a speedy, but severely criticised verdict on October 31, 1995, barely nine months after it was convened.

Their executions on November 10, 1995 without an opportunity to appeal the judgment, led to the suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth of Nations.

Others killed were Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine.

Jonathan Restates Commitment to Wiping Out Boko Haram

President Goodluck Jonathan

 At two different forums at the weekend, President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo assured Nigerians of a safer nation in the New Year.

Jonathan, at a church service in Abuja, reiterated the determination of his administration to effectively curtail terrorist attacks by Boko Haram which has killed over 3,000 people since 2009.

On his part, Obasanjo, during a peace meeting among the four sectional traditional rulers in Egbaland in Abeokuta, expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon overcome all the security challenges currently confronting it.

The president, in a remark at the church service at the Ekklisiyar Yaruwa a Nigeria (EYN – Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), Utako, Abuja, told the congregants that the Federal Government has not only changed its strategy on the anti-terror war, it has also come up with fresh measures to curtail attacks by the Islamic sect.

He said some of the fresh measures had started yielding the desired dividends, adding that the government would do everything possible to ensure that the activities of the Boko Haram do not cause inertia in governance in the New Year.

“Boko Haram planned to carry out a lot of attacks on Christmas Day, but we suppressed their plans during the Christmas holiday and most of their plans were not executed because of the strategies put in place by the security agencies, which aborted their efforts.

“Although we still recorded some incidents, but the extent of attacks which they had planned, we did not allow them to execute them.

“Boko Haram will not push us backwards. If their plans were to stop government from providing the dividends of democracy, they would not succeed because 2013 will be a good year for Nigerians and Nigeria.

“With your persistent prayer we shall defeat them,” he said.

The president expressed appreciation to the clergy and congregation of the EYN nationwide for keeping the faith and remaining calm even in the face of provocation.

Earlier, the pastor of the church, Rev. Daniel Mbaya, had said the church had been severely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, especially in the North-east where it has many branches and worshippers.

He explained that 109 worshippers from the church were killed in various attacks by the sect and about 50 branches were burnt under similar circumstances.

He thanked the president for coming to worship in the church, saying it is a demonstration that the country is blessed with a caring, loving and concerned leader.

The president was at the service with his mother, Mrs Ayi Jonathan; his Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe; the Executive Secretary, Christians Pilgrims Board, John Kennedy-Opara; Senator Philip Aduda and some presidential aides.

Speaking on the same theme, Obasanjo said Nigeria was never a cursed nation and had the potential to overcome its challenges, whether in terms of security or in the socio-economic sector.

He therefore urged the citizens to exercise patience and be dedicated towards making the nation great.

According to him, God has been kind to the country in terms of natural resources, just as he lamented the failure of the country’s leadership to harness the economic potential towards the nation’s greatness.

He said: “The first thing God did that surprised us most was that He dropped two big rivers down to confluence Nigeria. He then later used gold, bauxite and so many limestone in abundance to beautify everywhere in the country. He then later dropped oil under our soil near the water and later in the water.

“I believe there are good people who will be able to manage it, maybe later. But the earlier we are there, the better and I am sure we will be there. We will be there because God has been kind to us; we only need to be kind to ourselves and God will help us.”

Amaechi Names Road after Azazi

General Andrew Azazi

Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr. Rotimi  Amaechi, has named the Nkpogu Road (now under reconstruction) after the late National Security Adviser (NSA), General Owoye Andrew Azazi, for his numerous contributions to nation building and sterling qualities.

Amaechi, who spoke at the funeral service on Saturday, in honour of late Azazi at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said: “Looking at the numerous contributions and sterling qualities of late General Azazi to this nation, and his love towards me, whom he usually calls my younger brother, I am left with no option than to name Nkpogu road after him by Monday.”

While expressing the deep pain of the death of Azazi before the bereaved families and the people of Bayelsa State, Amaechi said his relationship with the late retired general had been close and private.

“Most time when I get to Lagos and Abuja, I eat in late General Azazi’s house, we have a private relationship, but now, he is gone, who will call me my younger brother, where will I eat when I visit Lagos or Abuja,” Amaechi lamented.

“He is a true detribalised Nigerian. It was my wife, Dame Judith Amaechi that first called my attention on phone that, shortly after she had left Bayelsa State, information reaching her indicated that there had been an helicopter crash, it could be the helicopter carrying late General Azazi, I called his (Azazi) line 20 times to confirm the unfortunate incident, but no one answered,” Amaechi explained.

Speaking further, Amaechi assured the people of Bayelsa State of his administration’s commitment to support the bereaved families whenever his attention was needed.

“If there is anything that you want me to do for you (the bereaved families), in the form of support or assistance, please, kindly call my attention,” the governor stated.

Amaechi equally thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, and the Bayelsa State Government for the befitting burial accorded to Azazi.

“I wish to thank President Goodluck Jonathan, and his wife, and the Bayelsa State Government for the befitting burial accorded late General Azazi,” he said.

Also speaking, President Jonathan commended Amaechi’s decision to name Nkpogu road after Azazi, describing it as a welcome development.

“I commend Governor Amaechi on the decision to name the Nkpogu road after late General Azazi, it is indeed a welcome development,” Jonathan said

Buhari Asked to Opt Out of Opposition Parties Merger

Muhammadu Buhar

A chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Abdulmajid Danbilki Kwamanda,  yesterday advised the presidential candidate of the party in the last election, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), to opt out of the merger plans between the CPC, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), alleging that the antiques behind the moves was aimed at burying his political movement sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Kwamanda, who fielded questions from journalists in Kano, explained that there was no way ANPP and CPC could merge, when ANPP as Buhari’s former party contributed to his political misery by dumping him for the Government of National Unity (GNU), even when the party (ANPP) was still contesting the outcome of the election in court.

He alleged that: “The calibre of people involved in the merger plan were PDP agents, who were sent to ensure that Buhari does not succeed in his political activities. It is very clear that there is a missing link from the whole moves because those that are insisting on it have been Buhari’s albatross, who are there to prostrate his moves to clinch to power as they did in 2003,2007 and now 20011.

“Many incidences have been explicitly been shown to serve as a deterrent to the General Buhari to desist from the plan merger because there is nothing good that will come out of it.”

Continuing, he said: “But if he (Buhari) refuse to listen, I know that all his followers will suffer the brunt of what will happen because at that time they would be the ultimate losers.”

According to him, “we are truly loyal to Buhari and we want him clearly to reject the planned merger and any other thing to do.”

Similarly, the he warned Buhari to be wary of some of those that have surrounded him whom they described as Technocrat but have nothing rely to offer rather than consistently making Buhari to fail as its show in the previous elections.”

Danbilki added that even those that joined the CPC should be watched closely because their mission was still unclear.

Adamawa Crisis: How Jonathan, Outwitted Sambo, Nyako, PDP Governors

Goodluck Jonathan

Despite setting up a presidential panel with the professed objective of resolving the crisis tearing the Adamawa State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party apart, President Goodluck Jonathan had also backed the recent controversial congresses in the state in negation of the panel, THISDAY has learnt. It was an apparent move to curtail the perceived overbearing influence of governors elected on the party’s platform.

It was learnt that the Presidency had discreetly ordered that the controversial ward and local government congresses in the Adamawa State PDP should hold in spite of the work of the presidential panel chaired by Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.

In a letter dated December 10, 2012 and titled, “Brief on Matters leading to the Dissolution of Adamawa State PDP Executive by the NWC on October 17, 2012,” addressed to all PDP governors, Nyako had called on the governors to resist the dissolution of the Adamawa PDP executive.

“I submit that if this unjust dissolution of the Adamawa State executive is left unchecked, every other state executive would soon find itself facing similar unjust treatment with repercussion for all. Let us collectively save our party.

“Our prayer in Adamawa is that the decision of the NWC to dissolve the state executive is yet to be ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party and, therefore, let the dissolution be rescinded in the spirit of justice and fairness,” Nyako had pleaded with his fellow PDP governors.

It was in view of this that Jonathan summoned a meeting of all PDP governors and members of the NWC  on December 20, where it was agreed that the congresses in Adamawa State slated for December 27 should be stopped to enable the presidential committee investigate the issues.

Consequently, Lamido wrote a letter to the national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, asking the party to suspend further action on the Adamawa State PDP situation, including the congresses.

The letter, dated December 21, read, “Your Excellency is aware of an ad-hoc committee that has been created for the resolution of the Adamawa crisis.

“The inaugural committee meeting was held today and members resolved that further acts and/or actions by any organ of the party with respect to Adamawa PDP be suspended.

“This is to enable the ad-hoc committee to conclude its work without any influence whatsoever.”

But PDP, in a reply by its deputy national secretary, Mr. Onwe Onwe, drew Lamido’s attention to the fact that the party had concluded arrangements for the congresses billed to hold December 27. PDP further stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission had been informed of the party’s plan to hold the congresses.

“The National Secretariat had via a letter by the National Chairman and National Secretary dated December 5, 2012 written to Independent National Electoral Commission notifying them of the dates and timetable of the congresses.

“The national secretariat of our great party, the PDP, had via a letter signed by the National Organising Secretary, dated December 6, 2012, written to the caretaker committee, approved timetable of the congresses in the state starting from December 27, 2012 to January 10, 2013.

“The caretaker committee had obtained PDP nomination forms from the national secretariat of the party and has been selling them to aspirants from ward level to local government level,” PDP replied the presidential committee chairman.

PDP concluded in the letter that to do anything contrary was to undermine the party’s reputation and esteem among its members in the state.

But as a further measure to stop the congresses, Nyako, as the chief security officer of the state, issued an order banning all political activities in the state, citing political anxiety as reason for his action.

THISDAY gathered that when Nyako discovered that the NWC was bent on conducting the congresses, he rushed to Abuja, where he pleaded with Vice President Namadi Sambo to appeal to the president to, as the leader of PDP, stop the congresses since there was a presidential committee looking into the issues, which was yet to submit its report.

The vice president was said to have accompanied Nyako to meet the president to try to persuade him to stop the congresses. But to their surprise, Jonathan was said to be noncommittal. He declined to stop the ward and local government congresses.

According to a source, “the president simply told the vice president and Nyako that the matter was a party affair and, therefore, should be allowed to go ahead as planned.”

It was further gathered that as part of efforts to ensure that the congresses held, a directive was given to the Adawama State Commissioner of Police and other security agencies in the state to make sure there was law and order during the exercise.

On why the president refused to intervene to stop the Adamawa State PDP congresses, the source said, “If the overbearing influence of the PDP governors is always allowed, nothing will move forward in the party.”

Internal dissension has engulfed the Adamawa State chapter of PDP since the past few years, with deep divisions between factions loyal to Nyako and Tukur. Things came to a head on October 17, when the NWC dissolved the state executive council of the party, headed by Alhaji Mijinyawa Kugama, which was loyal to Nyako, and set up a caretaker committee led by Ambassador Umar Damagun to run the affairs of the party until the election of a new executive.