Former Nigerian lawmaker Shehu Sani has admitted that those who fought for democracy in Nigeria made a mistake by rejecting the military’s offer to hand over power in 1999. Sani revealed that General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who succeeded Sani Abacha, extended an invitation to the democracy activists to take over power, but they declined, which he now sees as a fundamental error. He made this disclosure at the ‘This Nigeria Lecture and Award’ event in Abuja on Thursday, which was themed “25 Years of Unbroken Democracy – Challenges, Prospects and Possibilities.”
During a panel discussion at the event, Sani recounted how he and other democracy advocates were imprisoned for several years before the death of former military leader Sani Abacha, which led to their release.
Sani stated, “General Abdulsalami Abubakar invited all of us who fought for democracy, saying he wanted to hand over power to a democratic government and asked us to come together and take over power. At that time, Gani opposed it. We refused to answer his call on three occasions. He invited the politicians, and they eagerly responded.”
He expressed regret over their failure to seize the opportunity to take over power from the military, similar to how the African National Congress (ANC) did in South Africa. By the time they decided to heed the military’s invitation, it was too late.
Sani explained, “After we decided to listen to him, we convened to discuss our next steps. The ANC in South Africa took over political power after their struggle. However, in 1998 and 1999, we made a fundamental mistake by refusing to cooperate with the military. Mike Ozekhome, Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana, and Olisa Agbakoba were among those who opposed joining. Tinubu argued that if we didn’t get involved, others would. By the time we agreed to join politics, the politicians had taken over all the posts. Mike Ozekhome tried to become governor of Edo State but couldn’t, Olisa Agbakoba and Gani Fawehinmi both failed in their presidential bids, Femi Falana couldn’t become governor of his state, and I couldn’t become governor of Kaduna State because all the positions were already occupied.”..……See More
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