Interview, News

What We Told Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar – Opadokun

Elder statesman, Chief Ayo Opadokun has revealed what transpired between NADECO and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), days after M.K.O Abiola’s death.

“There was nothing to be happy about. The position of NADECO at that time, which we campaigned vigorously for, was that Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar’s government should allow the formation of a government of national unity to be headed by Basorun MKO Abiola, the winner of the June 12 presidential election and that was not accepted because of the intervention of Mike Akhigbe. So, there was nothing to make us rejoice at that moment.”

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“The Government of National Unity which was to be headed by Chief MKO Abiola was a proposal we presented to the Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.). The commander-in-chief was inclined to our suggestion. He told us he would make consultations on the proposal. Then, he said, ‘Chief of General Staff (Akhigbe), what is your take on the government of national unity?’ In reply to that, Gen. Akhigbe said, ‘Nigeria doesn’t need any government of national unity. What Nigerians want is a straight transition from military rule to a democratic government.’ Akhigbe did not want the idea of having Abiola to head the government of national unity. Abdulsalami nearly bought our suggestion except for the negative intervention of his deputy, Akhigbe.

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“Could we be talking about a government of national unity without talking about MKO being released? He was meant to be the head of the government of national unity. During that meeting with Gen. Abdulsalami, we insisted on seeing Abiola. He did not oblige us. He said we would see him another time when we meet with Abdulsalami. He said he would make an arrangement for some of us – not all of us – to see him. Abdulsalami said he would call us again. Unfortunately, by the time he called us MKO Abiola was already dead.

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– Culled from The Punch