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 ofNigeria.

Long live the Government of National Unity.