My Message to Ms Tundun Abiola: You can be ambivalent or can be something else

Ipemndoh dan Iyan

I complimented 'Kabiyesi' General Ibrahim Babangida1 - the self-accorded "President" of Nigeria - in 1993 on the Day he obstructed Chief MKO Abiola's Entitlement as Nigeria's elected President. This has been my only Applause for the Man. I watched him some time in late 2021 or early 2022 in an Interview where, inter alia, he gave his Justification for that Abridgment. I was not impressed, as he submitted no Reason. On the other Hand, I had my Whys. They were quite selfless© Ipemndoh dan Iyan

My Difficulties with Chief MKO Abiola as President of Nigeria

Your Father, Ms Tundun Abiola, won the Nigerian 1993 presidential Election, no "ani, ani" about it. I am not concerned whether it was rigged or not. I have never known about any Civilian Election in Nigeria, in fact, in all of Africa, that was not massively manipulated, before, during and after. It is just that the best Manipulator wins.2 Rigging Elections in Africa takes many Forms. I am sure my “Liquidation of Political Vote” Thesis in Google+ Blog https://twitter.com/IP_dan_Iyan/status/1088176846049632261?s=193 explains a lot. Readers might also find useful the books by Jean-François Bayart: The State in Africa: The Politics of  the Belly translated from the original French ‘L'État en Afrique: La Politique du Ventre’ (1989) and Shmuel N. Eisenstadt's Patrimonialism and Modern Neopatrimonialism (1973). I must say though that my Thesis is substantially different to Eisenstadt's, and Bayart's.

My Reservations about Chief MKO Abiola's Confirmation as President were selfless. I worried that Chief Abiola was an Agent of the Government of the United States of America (US/USA). I had left Nigeria by the Time of his being elected for about a Decade, but I still carried a "Nigerian" Passport, and it was the only Passport I held. I am not sure if any Nigerian News Medium entertained the Possibility of Abiola being a US Government Agent. I was saddened to hear of his Win, and was deeply concerned that the new "Nigerian" President would be a US Stooge wittingly or unwittingly. He even had his Bread, "Wonder …" named similarly as a US Bread. Why did he have to give his Bread the Identity he gave it if it was not a Condition of his Commitment to US Interests? Then there was the Beginning of his making Money, serious Money, as the primary Executive for West Africa, at first, of a US Telecommunications Company; International Telegraph and Telephone (ITT). What better Way for US listening Processes to infiltrate, and compromise the Security of African States than by having an African as the 'Face of ITT' - the US major electronic listening Apparatus - in Africa? We now know that my thinking at the Time was not far-fetched, but only ahead of convenient thinking of the Time by Decades as we have come to find out in the Matter of the 45th President of the US, Mr Donald J Trump Sr. The Proposition is that Russia played the principal Role in making him President. Of course, it is quite possible that my reading of Chief Abiola then was erroneous.

Still with ITT, Abiola floated own Telecommunications Company; Radio Communications Nigeria (RCN). How was that even possible? I pinched myself. Own a Company competing with his Employer's Company if there were not more than met the Eye? I further pondered. It did not help that RCN was boosted by General Murtala Muhammed whom I remembered mainly as the Military Commander who raided the Bank in Benin during the Nigerian Civil War, sacked Federal Government Employees unreasonably as Military Head of State,  but did not terminate the fraudulent Balloon Satellite Project commissioned when he was Commissioner for Communications4 yet was posturing himself to Nigerians as the "good Guy." For me, Chief MKO Abiola was moving in disreputable Company; the US, and Murtala Muhammed, who were selling themselves as righteous, and were being accepted as such, but were indeed not. Why should I not have felt uneasy about the newly elected President of Nigeria, Chief MKO Abiola? As for his Person, I had experienced him independently of my distant albeit intellectual Assessment of him. Whether or not my Fears about his Presidency would have materialized, your Father, Ms Tundun Abiola, reminded me when we met instantaneously of Lessons I had suppressed for my Encounter with him: (i) Humility, (ii) Neutrality on what is broadcast about the Character of a Person until you meet and/or are familiar with that Person's Behaviours, and Utterances, and (iii) Maintenance of own's good upbringing - never devaluing it - unless there is Cause. I respect (continuous Tense) him for his unvoiced Reinforcement of what is right, and judicious. 

Why do they believe the Memory of MKO Abiola will endear them to Nigerians?  

I hope you are able to see through the Charade I am going to broach below, Ms Tundun Abiola.  It is evident that you love your Papa. You adore the Man, and you worship him. Nothing wrong with any of those Responses to One's Parent. Look at yourself here in https://youtu.be/9p8uBopmW7U when Mr Ayodele Adewale began to applaud him. Your Emotion is a good Thing; the Love of a Child for its Parent. Mr Dele Momodu has also celebrated your Father, the latter deluding himself he is like Chief MKO Abiola, and the former hallucinating that Chief Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is your Father’s Replicate. What were they doing; cozying up to you or talking to Nigerians or what? They fail - continuous Tense - in the first Part because you are neither the Aggregation nor the Totality of Nigerians. In the second Instance, I am not sure the Majority of Nigerians are that simple to be taken-in.

The Truth is; neither Momodu nor Tinubu can be like your Dad. Even identical Twins can be unlike each other in certain Cases, and in particular Respects. It is interesting that Adewale and Momodu were not, and perhaps still not,  telling the Nigerian Public how what Tinubu or Momodu would be bringing to the Table as Nigeria's President coincides with what Abiola was elected by the Nigerian Public to implement as Nigeria's President. It is bizarre, incredulously so, that Messrs Adewale and Momodu were unable to direct Attention to any Instance when either Bola Tinubu or Dele Momodu had demonstrated the Moshood Abiola's Qualities they were boasting Tinubu and Momodu have. They must really take the Nigerian Voter for a complete Idiot. They should submit to the Nigerian Electorate that MKO Trait or Traits Bola or Dele had exemplified in Public. I find it quite nauseating the Attempts by Mr Ayodele Adewale, and Mr Dele Momodu to proffer Chief MKO Abiola as reincarnated or transmuted in Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and in Mr Dele Momodu. Each Attempt is grotesque. 

We find Momodu boasting that One has to have managed huge Sums of Money for One to be considered eligible for the Role of Chief Administrator of a Territorial-State5 (President or Prime Minister (PM)). I have heard your Father talk, and he would not be spewing that kind of Gibberish. It is so immature, and unlearned. How much did Lech Wałęsa manage, if at all, before he became President of Poland? How about Václav Havel of the Czech Republic or for that Matter, Barack Obama before he was elected the 43rd President of the US? He later served a second Term as the 44th. Momodu strikes me as someone who has nothing to offer Nigerians to move their Country forward. I am not hearing him talk Policies or present Proposals to pull Nigeria out of the Abyss. He is even self-contradicting; if one were to follow his Logic, why is he then not stepping aside for Bola Tinubu? Yeah, I know they do not belong to the same political Party; just concern yourselves with my reasoning here. It is analogical. It is why I used the Expression "stepping aside" instead of "stepping down." Tinubu had been Governor of Lagos State twice with huge Resources – Human and Material – at his Disposal. Can Mr Dele Momodu's Wherewithal compare? A beg, make the Man go si don. Actually, these two old Cargoes should find themselves suitable Occupation than seeking the Presidency of Nigeria. I am an old Cargo myself. I am older than Mr Momodu, but I do not know whether Chief Tinubu is my Agemate or Elder. His Age is in Dispute, but the Man refuses to clarify something as basic as that yet he desires to be the Executive President of Nigeria? Did MKO Abiola ever let his Age in Controversy? It is a Matter of Course that there are Loads and Loads of young Nigerians smarter than all three of us, collectively or severally. I have never looked kindly at anyone aged over 55 Years anywhere in the World seeking political Office, especially that of the Executive President or Executive PM of a Country, and I never will. Besides, is the Nigerian Retirement Age not 60 Years? It is irrelevant that the Nigerian Constitution (1999 even as amended) does not place an upper Age Limit on political Office Holders. Hey, there is something called "Customs and Practice" in Governance.

How MKO Abiola reminded me of my Upbringing and made me so ashamed

I met Chief MKO Abiola, but I am not certain that he met me. If I were him, I would only have met me as that ill-mannered young Man hoping that I had taught him a Lesson or two with my Reaction to his Conduct. Before I encountered the Man, I had heard so much about him, in the Press, public Gossip about the Manner he talked rudely and proprietarily to Women, how he slapped his Newspaper Staff in full View of Others. He was even tittle-tattled to have slapped Employee Dr Doyin Aboaba (PhD). I cannot recall whether this Rumour circulated before the two got married. I had been to Concord Newspaper Premises once or twice; I never came across MKO, and I wondered a little; if he was this Ogre, why was he not hovering all over the Place? Then again; I rationalized that he had many Business Interests, and could not possibly be everywhere at the same Time. Perhaps, I had gone on a Day (or Days) not scheduled for his Visits to those Premises. Yeah, I went looking for Work and I spoke with Mr Ray Ekpu who was the Chair of the Editorial Board at the Time, and with Mr Dele Giwa, Editor of the Sunday Concord. I met these Individuals separately. Yep, I did not get any Offer. See, what I mean about my not-fit-for-Purpose 1 Year Correspondence Diploma in Journalism? From the Meets; Ekpu I liked, Giwa I did not, but I liked his "Parallax …" Column. I always liked Ray Ekpu anyway, from when he was Editor of the Daily Times. He was a Freedom Fighter; totally unafraid. 

In those Days, you could not get into Journalism (or associated Occupations) in Nigeria unless you had Qualification from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) or you were Daily Times house-trained or you had a Degree in cognate Areas like Mass Communications especially. Oops, I just lied. You also had to know somebody big (or related to somebody big). Occasionally, I dared Entry into these Professions myself by just attending the Offices of DecisionMakers without Invitation. In the "Nigeria" of my Teenage Years, and early Adulthood, it is the one Thing I can praise "Nigerians" for. Most of them would see you even though you had no prior Appointment with them. As an independent Public Relations Practitioner in the late 1970s, I met without an Appointment Mr Shebanjo, I think his Name is, of the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB). If I got the Name wrong, I am pretty certain of the Acronym. He was the General Manager or was he Managing Director? Whatever, he was the highest Office Holder at that Bank. It is so long ago, and I am writing from Memory, so I might be incorrect about his Name. I can see him at our Meeting, as I am writing this. Dashing young Man, Darling of the Nigerian Press. He had a bald Area on his Head. I remember the Question he asked me; "do you work for yourself?" I answered "Yes, but through an Agency. Why do you ask?" "You are not wearing a Tie, and your Shirt Sleeves are rolled up," he replied. He did not mention my opened top Buttons. I reminded him that I was in Lagos (Nigeria), and that it was hot. Still with the Smile on his Face, he advised "no one will take you seriously without a Tie." He was such a pleasant Man, and I knew he was telling the Truth. 'Nigeria' was then, and still is, the pathetic Acculturation of the African to Western Colonialist Ideals. What Idiots wear Ties in the merciless African Heat, particularly where there is no air-conditioning (present or functioning)? The Irony is that the Tie is not even Western Invention. The West just appropriated it, modified it, and popularized it.

I had my Chances in the Media at the prestigious Outlets. They would even chat with you if they saw you in their Reception Areas. Might be it was just me. I was young evidently, but I dressed well, and always smelt nice. I wore Leather Shoes to the Soles. I remember blowing absolutely one of the Opportunities I had. It went like this. One of my Uncles6 gave me a Letter to his Friend at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). This Friend was not impressed with my Correspondence Diploma in Journalism, but was quite effusive over my West African School Certificate (WASC) English Language Result. Honestly, I cannot remember whether it was he who sent me to the Manager of Programmes or it was I who just knocked on her Door. She hired me on the Spot as a Presenter telling me she liked my Voice. I insisted I wanted to be a "Disc Motivator" (DM). She wrote a Note for me to take to the Head of Music Programmes (or whatever it was called at the Time) who dissed me the Moment she read the Note. She probably thought I was Boyfriend to the Note Writer. I knew what the Manager of Programmes wrote because she showed it to me before sending me with it to the Head of Music. She was just a young Woman trying to help a difficult young Man who had declined her good Offer. 

Then there was the Interview I had at the 'Business Times'. I had responded to a Newspaper Advertisement. I flunked the Interview. Instead of writing a Report, I was doing Arithmetic. Absolute Idiot. I realized too late just as they asked us to stop writing that I could not blame my Correspondence Diploma for my boo-boo here. It was moi, fully culpable, but hey, they still had not recognized the Diploma anyway.  Coming out of the Test Room, I bumped into the Paper's Chief Sub-Editor, Mr Ajibawo, whom I had not seen since I was about 10 Years old. I think I was about 22 Years old then. I had my Diploma when I was 19. I was not willing to pursue a Degree because my Father wanted me to read Law. He was a Police Prosecutor. I had an Admission at Age 18 at a US University to read Cinematography up to Master's Level, which was the highest Level - 'terminal Degree' - for the Course. My Father would not sponsor me. I did not want to apply for the School's Scholarship Programs because my Father would be the first "dancing on the Streets" that his Son had gone to the US to attend University. If he was not going to assist me, he certainly had no Entitlement to delight in my Efforts. The Diploma was to demonstrate to him I was ready to study if he was willing to pay. The "Chief Sub" had been married to my oldest Sister when he was Editor of 'The Post'. He sorted me out as the in-house Editor of a Trade Magazine (Construction), but the Publisher was a Dupestar. Never paid me for the Contacts I made, and the Interviews I did with Mr Davies, Managing Director of Tarmac Construction, for example. Such a fine Man; playful with me notwithstanding his high Status. Not the Fault of my ex-Brother-in-Law that he introduced me to a Fraudster. He did not know, and he only tried to help. 

I ended my Print Media Career as Features-Editor for the Daily Express Group when Mr Dapo Daramola (Dap Dorman) was the chief Honcho, and Mr Ransome-Kuti - of the Ransome-Kuti/Anikulapo Family - was the Chief Sub Editor - very fine Man - but the Papers were already dying. Another Uncle I thought was only a Secondary School Senior whom I never met in School, but is actually a Blood Relative, tried to slot me in as a Public Relations Officer for the Nigerian Census Board (NCB), but the Diploma was the Disappointment. Finally, I got to work for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as a Cameraperson. I had been at this Secondary School old Student Association Meeting, and there was this Uncle whose Name I was familiar with - big time Journalist - but had not known he had attended my School. He had become a Manager at the NTA, and I just mentioned that I would want to work as a Cameraperson. He simply said "I am the Man to talk to" (or something like that). I got the Job within Weeks. He was simply beautiful. It was I who delayed my Start Date because I had to give 1 Month's Notice to my Employer at the Time. He also kept his Word that my Salary at my Employers, much higher than a Cameraperson's Salary, would be maintained. 

However, a lot of "bad-belly" Individuals at the NTA, including Bosses, detested me for my Pay Grade, and were behind-the-scene unpleasant about my Uncle believing that he had facilitated an arbitrary Salary Grade for me. He had not. I just crossed over from one Government Agency to another on the same Salary Scale. Importantly, how did they even know about my Pay Grade? Nigerians, na wa. The Manager of Administration, Mr Okubajo, that good-for-nothing Excuse for a Human Being cost me my Job - perhaps, he broadcast my Salary - su gbon, ki lo gbe eyin e? Oluwa si se ara. Wo on sack ohun na gbe yin ni. I was no longer in Nigeria at the Time, but I heard from an NTA Staff with whom I had maintained Contact. Do not look for Ipemndoh dan Iyan in NTA Records. I did not use Ipemndoh which is the first ever Name given to me, and only first Name on my Birth Certificate, but the English and Yoruba Names planted on me at Baptism Age 9, and imposed on my Life through my Father giving them to dear Mr S.I Ojelabi, his Acquaintance, the Principal of Fiditi Grammar School (FGS), who let me into his Secondary School without having sat the 'Common Entrance Examinations' (CEE) for the School, and the Names thereafter entrenched in my WASC. Even the Morons at the Nigerian Passport Office would not let me use my birth Name for the Nigerian Passport I got. They had used the WASC as my Identification.

My Father had dreaded Ojelabi, being Yoruba, not taking kindly to Ipemndoh. As it was, Ojelabi was no Nationalist. He could not care less. The Man even acceded to my seeking Exclusion from the Yoruba Subject when I told him I was not Yoruba and would not like to study the Language. To me, S.I. Ojelabi was simply divine. It was the same Reason I gave in 'Standard School'. No, no, no. I sat my CEE, but for Ibadan Grammar School (IGS), and Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta (BBHS). I sat IGS for the 1969 Entry with still 1 Year to go at 'Standard School' in Lagos, and for the 1970 Entry. I passed both Interviews, but was declined because the Authorities claimed I was too tiny and would not survive boarding House. I passed the 1970 BBHS Entry, but my Father turned us back at the Gate of the School on the Day of Interview fearing that I would be harmed in that School because of my brilliant Mind (when applied). IGS was right. Within 1 Hour of my arriving at FGS - I arrived at Lunch Time, and Ojelabi asked me to go join them for Lunch - one Godforsaken Human Being, a Prefect, hit me close to my Eyes with a Belt Buckle. At that precise Moment, I rushed at the Bastard, but two Fellows held me back. They were his Classmates, and they happened to know me. One of them was also a Prefect. The other one's older Brother was Classmates with my Parents' oldest Son. I had been to their Home in Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland, but I never noticed him. He knew me, evidently being older. The Prefect also lived in Ebute-Metta. He said he always saw me passing on the Street. I grew up in Ebute-Metta too. The Prefect adopted me immediately as a younger Brother. Anyway, they saved that Bastard from Dismissal from that School, and Imprisonment. If they had let me go at him, he probably would have beaten me into a Pulp, and that, my Mother's Mother (maternal Grandmother) - "Mama Town Council" -  would not had countenanced. I probably would have been expelled from that School too, but might not. The godforsaken attacked me first, after all. 

We met again in Lagos at his Classmate's Place, the One whose older Brother was Friends with my Father's oldest Son. I was a complete Inconvenience staying at that One's Place. No, I never made Trouble. I was just intruding on his Space with my Presence because my Home Accommodation was undesirable. He never complained. He was so nice. Thank you, Egbon. I had not realized I was wrong to impose myself on you. You were the main Reason I did not go at the Bello Guy. It would have been most ungrateful to you. Besides, my Grandmother had died then, so I would not have had much legal Protection. My Father? He was alive, but you could not count on him to bail you out if you did wrong. So, again, Bello was untouchable. I was bad too at Secondary School. Seniors were horrid to me so I had to do the same to Juniors, but I am different to Bello. I was only bad to one Junior as far as I can remember. Normally, I was just laissez faire that the School Authorities did not trust me to be firm. I was in Class 5, and this Boy was in Class 1. I had not gone to the dining Hall for Breakfast one Morning, and had asked someone on my Table to bring my Food to my Room. Almost immediately after eating I began vomiting my Insides out that I fell so ill. I called for the Boy who brought my Food. There was nothing unusual about him, so I asked him about who served the Food. He went and brought the Food Server to me. The Food Server's Shins were covered in open Wounds. I was furious. I asked him if he scratched his Wounds while he was dishing out the Food. He admitted he did, and I flew into a Rage. I was so mad. I was awful to him, but I cannot remember how exactly. This was in 1974. On Reflection that Child was not really at Fault. There was no appropriate 'Table Captain' at the Table that Morning to watch what was going on. I was not there, and evidently my Classmate who was there did not know about Hygiene. The Seniors were always the 'Table Captains'. Evidently, the Food Prefect did not have a Clue about Hygiene either or was not watchful enough. Ditto the Health Prefect. I was to have been the Health Prefect, but the Authorities claimed a lot of Things for deciding against me. They brought someone from outside the Promotion ranking from Class 4 to 5 to replace me. He was actually four Places below me, and one Place outside the ranking. I remember well. Very unfair. Well. I think my Set comprised 94 or above Students. 

I met this Junior at Agodi in Ibadan many Years after we had both left School. I had gone looking for Work at the broadcasting Station there. I cannot recollect whether it was Radio or Television, but I think it was State owned. I saw him, and I think he kind of ignored me. He was much taller than I by then, and quite big, but I recognized him. He could probably toss me about with one Hand. I went to him and asked if he remembered me. He did. He recalled my Name, and how much of his Senior I was. I asked him if he remembered the Occasion of the Food. He did. Then I asked why he did not come at me. He replied that there was no need, that it was boarding House Life. Such a beautiful young Man. I apologized to him for that Day. Bello never said "sorry" to me. Nevertheless, that young Man had a forgiving Heart that I do not have. I do not necessarily have a vengeful Heart, but I am not forgiving. I remember. Always. I remember the good you do for me. I remember the bad you do to me. I remember.

From the Stories I heard about him, Chief MKO Abiola was not a Man to like, never mind that I wanted to work in his Organization. I would keep well out of his Way, would I not? So, dateline London, 1980s. I cannot remember when exactly; early, mid or late. A Cousin of mine and his Group of Friends had set up a Body to do with maintaining contact with Nigeria. They had invited MKO to be their Patron and he had accepted the Invitation. My Cousin asked me over too just to come and enjoy the Party. The Party was waiting for Chief Abiola to arrive. The Noise had been too much in the Community Hall somewhere in Camden, London. So, I decided to remain mostly outside. Eventually, this white low-slung Rollsy Roycee – Rolls Royce it is called actually – latest Model coasted in. Out stepped MKO in white Agbada and white Shoes. A Sight to behold. I cannot remember the Color of his Cap, perhaps because I was quickly getting myself ready to be the complete Nuisance I was that Night. I went and stood in the Doorway, a small Doorway with hardly enough Room to accommodate my slim Figure not to talk of a fully-bodied Man in his flowing Agbada. I did not give Way when Chief Abiola approached. The Man looked at me. There was no Hostility, no Reproach on his Face - such as Grimace - or in his Eyes. He did not even ask me to let him through. Instead, he greeted me in Yoruba with “e pe le Alagba. Se alafia le wa?” Boy, I wished the Ground would open and swallow me. I was so overwhelmed with Shame. Here was a Person, almost 4 Years older than the oldest of my Parents’ Children, my Sister who was about 16 Years older than I, addressing me as though I were his Elder, or Agemate at the least. How could I have so disgraced my parenting, betrayed my Upbringing? I said “sorry”, but I did not think he heard me. Even if he did and had ignored me, did I not deserve such Reaction?

To this Day, nobody talks ill of Chief MKO Abiola’s Character in my Presence. I would first ask them if they had ever met the Man, which they never had. Then I would tell them this, my Story to let them know how wrong they are about him. I met MKO first-hand, and he was gracious. The Man I met that Day  - we were within hair-length of each Other - was surely not the Person I had allowed myself to be indoctrinated to believe I knew before I encountered him. Then why was I delighted Babangida cheated him out of his Presidency? I did not believe Chief Abiola would have stood up to the US. I have always had Issues with US Imperialism, Dishonesty in “International Relations”, inequitable Relations with other Territorial-States particularly those to its Dislike, and the bullying of "targets of convenience" Countries. 

Apartheid vis-à-vis MKO Abiola's Presidency

As for the killing of MKO - it is a priori they did murder the Man - I have never been in Support. It is unforgivable. That he was even imprisoned, I found most abominable, but I knew it was inevitable the Moment Chief MKO Abiola opted to go back to Nigeria, after his presidential Win was abrogated. That “he declared himself President” was convenient Justification only for his Arrest. They would have contrived something to arrest him for at any rate. I actually do not accept the Nonsense that MKO “declared himself President.” Notwithstanding that I had welcomed the voiding of Abiola's electoral Win by Babangida, Abiola was duly elected President. He merely restated 'the Will of the People' to see him take up the Presidency of Nigeria they had consciously in their Majority voted him into. It was General Babangida who "declared himself President' by ascribing to himself a Civilian Title of Rulership. Babangida was the Anomaly. The Origin of the Term 'President' is the Latin 'praesidere', Linguists have argued, and they say it means "sit before a gathering." As far as we know, only in competitive Politics do Rulers present themselves before the Multitude for Approval. Thus, any Way we look at it, Army General Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida had absolutely no Right to the Title of 'President'. He did not present himself to 'the People' for Approval. In fact, he pointed Guns at their Heads to accept him as Ruler. 

I asked Chief MKO Abiola on one of my Websites at the time, I think it was www.theincision.com, not to return to Nigeria after Nelson Mandela, the first African President of South Africa, advised him to. I opined that it was the most unhelpful Counsel anyone could give to another, but hey, the ‘know it all’ never listened to me, particularly as Mandela was riding the Crest of Sainthood. Who was this young Man, Ipemndoh dan Iyan, of no known Quality or Quantity contradicting Mandela's Wisdom? They were silly. It was only a Matter of Time that I was to be proven right. My Quality was always demonstrated in my Writing reflecting my deep thinking, but hey since I was not following popular Sentiments in bandwagoning with them in regurgitating one another what I wrote could be discarded by the ‘know it all’. What the 'know it all' did not know was that I was getting an average of 66,000 Reads a Week of my Essays on that Website. It is the same with my Twitter Account. I barely have 100 Followers, but does anyone know that in under one Month about 5 Years ago I attracted “268.9M Impressions”? Yep. Have a look. 

Apartheid South Africa was not Military Regime Nigeria. It definitely was not General Sani Abacha’s Military Regime Nigeria. Abacha was simply a ‘primordial-Savage’. MKO had no militarized Support Group such as the Military Arm of the African National Congress (ANC) behind him, as Mandela had. Besides, the ANC was not the only Armed Group fighting Apartheid. The Challenge to Apartheid was a regional Cause, a continental Cause, and a global Cause, collectively and severally. Mandela did not recognize any of these Elements when he gave his catastrophic Advice to Abiola. I wore the Badges of “free Nelson Mandela” and “Fight Apartheid” (or something like that) on my Chest in London in the United Kingdom (UK). I attended Meetings. I went on one Demonstration. I was not the only one all over the World doing these Things against Apartheid. Most went on more than one Demonstration, attended more Meetings, and wore more Badges than I. Ostensibly, all Actions were directed at freeing Nelson Mandela from Imprisonment, but fundamentally the Objectives were deposing and disposing of Apartheid. Nelson Mandela did not appreciate that “free Nelson Mandela” was the Aim (to achieving those Objectives). The World had made him believe he was the Cause itself. President Mandela – I can no longer recollect whether he was already President at the Time – was oblivious of all these Factors when he gave his unfortunate Advice to MKO Abiola to go back to Nigeria. I was not, and I dismissed that Insanity. Not only did the Person of MKO Abiola or the political Party to which he belonged not have any armed Group with which to threaten the Abacha Barbarism, – outwardly or in the Background – the Presidency of MKO Abiola was also not a Cause. It was simply a Process. Abiola went back to Nigeria only to become a Martyr, not his Wish, but his Destiny. They said the Man died of Heart Attack, but they would not release the Autopsy Report to the World. Why? 

Endnote

1The 'Kabiyesi' here is in Reference to a Case against Head of State Babangida. I think it was at the Federal Appeals Court in Ikoyi. Babangida won the Case, as the ridiculous Judge referred to him as 'Kabiyesi' whose Diktats could not be questioned or undermined. I am unable to cite this Case because I cannot remember the Case Details.

2I am not suggesting that only Africans rig Elections. I stood for the UK House of Commons in 2005. First, the UK Post Office (or was it Royal Mail?) distributed all of my 45,000 Leaflets in my neighbouring Constituency where I was not standing. Was the Mailperson such an Illiterate that s/he could not read where those Leaflets should be disseminated? At one Hustings, I was apprised by a Constituent that the Community had been told by another political Party Representatives that my Party was not fielding a Candidate for that Constituency. Thirdly, on the Day of the Count my Son witnessed an Official depositing Votes cast for me into the Box of an Opponent. He came to call me. When I challenged the Official, she claimed she would have done it by Error. Even if I had called the Police, they would probably have accepted her Excuse rather than stop the counting. So, I let it ride.

3Unfortunately, One can no longer access Google+, so I will try and pull out the Thesis and republish it someday.

4The Balloon Satellite Project was eventually cancelled by President Shehu Shagari, the Turakin Sokoto, in whose Presence I was three times when President. The first was when General Obasanjo was handing over to him. That was my only time in Chief Obasanjo's Presence. Turakin Shagari was a humble Person. In my only time with General Obasanjo you knew he was a stern Person. It was the Way he looked, standing at Attention beside President Shagari, at a Soldier who to him was doing something incorrectly.

5The Territorial-State is a geographical Entity with Boundaries and identifiable Population with political Rights, and recognizable cultural Practices. The Government of a Country is not the ‘State’. It is Part of the ‘State’. See dan Iyan, I. P., The New World Order 1986 to 1999: The Behaviour of the United States Within United Nations Security Council Responses to Global Conflicts, Aberdeen: University of Aberdeen, Google Books, 2002.

6Those Africans call 'Uncles' or 'Aunts' are not usually that. They are Cousins who because they are much older are given that Diffidence. Some might not even be related at all. The Benchmark is that they are older, especially much older. 

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1 Feb