Tinubu: Why We Formed NADECO During The Heady Days Of Military Rule

• Recalls the organisation’s contributions to the fight for revalidation of the Abiola victory

By PHC Telegraph

 

The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has explained, was set up to fight the military and restore democratic rule.

Speaking through Bayo Onanuga, a Special Senior Adviser, Tinubu shed light on key developments that shaped the fight and brought the nation together at a time of heightened military reppression.

“It (NADECO) was born on May 15, 1994”, a statement which came in the wake of a potshot fired by Sule Lamido, a one-time Secretary of the Social Democratic Party said.

Lamido who is obviously spoiling for war denegraded Tinubu’s contribution to the realisation of democratic rule, saying he was at best someone who tried to trade with the destiny of Nigerians.

Tinubu explained that NADECO Comprised “a broad coalition of Nigerian democrats” which “called on the military government of Sani Abacha to step down in favour of the winner of the June 12, 1993 election, MKO Abiola.”

Predictably, the military used to operating a command structure that never tolerates voices of dissent, rights of expression, did not consider the request that it should step down as child’s play. It became increasingly repressive.

“On the first anniversary of his election, Abiola made a declaration at Epetedo in Lagos, announcing himself as the duly elected president.

“Ten days after, on June 22, he was arrested, following which many pro-democracy activists also escaped from Nigeria.

“Tinubu lived in exile for nearly five years while Lamido and his ilk made deals with Abacha. While Tinubu was away, agents of the junta bombed his home in Balarabe Musa Crescent, Victoria Island”, Onanuga, a veteran of the June 12 struggle who speaks for the President revealed.

“Thankfully”, the statement noted, “Lamido admitted that Tinubu played a significant role in NADECO. Indeed, Tinubu did more. He also backed Professor Wole Soyinka’s NALICON, offering material resources to fuel the struggle.

“It is well-known that Tinubu played a leading role in the agitation against the June 12 annulment. Many NADECO leaders and journalists in exile and at home openly admitted that Tinubu sustained them and provided them with funds for the struggle.

“With his narrative, Lamido appeared confused about the role of NADECO. It was an offshoot of the June 12 crisis. NADECO provided a platform to channel the struggle.

“Hitherto, all the resistance was left to civil rights groups, journalists, and a section of labour, such as NUPENG”, the presidential reaction noted.

The Presidency accused Lamido of envy, saying he is probably suffering from a psychological condition it described as “tall poppy syndrome.”

“It is thus disappointing that Alhaji Lamido, despite acknowledging Tinubu’s NADECO role, would attempt to rewrite history for political reasons and being a member of the Coalition of the Disgruntled.

“We advise Lamido to check his facts before going on television to spread falsehoods. It does not help his image, and the coalition he belongs to engage in revisionism. Revisionism does not serve the cause of truth or our nation’s interests.

“We do not want to believe that Alhaji Lamido suffers from what psychologists call ‘tall poppy syndrome’. However, the conclusion is inevitable as it appears that Lamido is envious of Tinubu’s democratic credentials.

Tall poppy syndrome is a term that originated in Australia and New Zealand in the 1980s.

It refers to people with notable public success, who excessively promote their own achievements and opinions.

Cutting down the tall poppy, the statement added, “The facts remain clear: President Tinubu was—and remains—a steadfast advocate for democracy, in contrast to the record of Lamido and others who capitulated in the face of military oppression and intimidation.”