NIGERIA-POLITICS: MILITARY DENIES ACCESS TO ABIOLA

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

REMI OYO

ABUJA, Nov 19 1994 (IPS) - NIGERIA’S MILITARY GOVERNMENT HAS DENIED A US CONGRESSIONAL TEAM PERMISSION TO SEE DETAINED OPPOSITION LEADER, MOSHOOD ABIOLA.

AMINU SALEH, THE POWERFUL SECRETARY TO THE CABINET TOLD THE DELEGATION LED BY HARRY JOHNSON, CHAIR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOREIGN AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE ON AFRICA, THAT ACCESS WOULD BE AGAINST A COURT RULING.

ACCORDING TO SALEH, SPEAKING DURING A COURTESY CALL BY THE DELEGATION LATE FRIDAY, THE COURT HAD ALLOWED VISITATION RIGHTS ONLY TO MEMBERS OF ABIOLA’S FAMILY, HIS DOCTOR AND LAWYERS.

MULTI-MILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN ABIOLA, THE WINNER OF LAST YEAR’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ANNULLED BY THE MILITARY, WAS DETAINED ON TREASON CHARGES IN JUNE.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, A HIGH COURT ORDERED HIS RELEASE ON UNCONDITIONAL BAIL, BUT THE GOVERNMENT OF GEN SANI ABACHA REFUSED TO FREE HIM AND HAS APPEALED AGAINST THE RULING.

SALEH SAID THAT THE YEAR-OLD MILITARY GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED TO RESTORING DEMOCRACY, BUT WANTED TO AVOID THE WEALTHY HIJACKING THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE JUNE 1993 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS HAD BEEN UNDERMINED BY BUSINESSMEN, “AND THE NEXT SET MAY BE DRUG BARONS”.

JOHNSON, THE LEADER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, HAD EARLIER TOLD THE CABINET SECRETARY THAT HIS TEAM WAS ON A FACT- FINDING MISSION TO DETERMINE THE COUNTRY’S PREPAREDNESS FOR DEMOCRACY.

THE US DELEGATION IS SCHEDULED TO HOLD MEETINGS HERE SATURDAY WITH PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS, SEVERAL OF WHOM ARE FRESH OUT OF DETENTION.

IN THE MEANTIME, FORMER POLITICIAN AND ACTIVIST BALARABE MUSA, CRITICISED DIVISIONS WITHIN THE OPPOSITION AND CALLED FOR A COORDINATED NATIONWIDE STRATEGY TO UNSEAT THE MILITARY.

“IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO ACTUALISE JUNE 12 (THE DATE OF THE ANNULLED POLL) BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE IN A PROPER MANNER,” HE TOLD THE PRIVATELY-OWNED ‘NIGERIAN TRIBUNE’ SATURDAY. “WE MUST DENOUNCE SECTIONAL CAMPAIGNS THAT CAN UNDERMINE THE MANDATE.”

MUSA WAS A FORMER GOVERNOR OF THE NORTHERN STATE OF KADUNA DURING THE LAST PERIOD OF CIVILIAN RULE OVER A DECADE AGO.