Daily Independent Online. * Friday, October 3, 2003. Secret document exposes Yoruba betrayal of MKO
Lists prominent leaders involved
By Sola Shittu
Daily Independent, Ibadan
Fresh facts have emerged about how 20 leaders of thought in Yorubaland unanimously declared their support for continued incarceration of Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, the presumed winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election in return for plum contracts and political appointments.
Details of negotiation are contained in a document on a secret meeting at the Hamdala Hotel, Kaduna in June 1994.
According to the minutes of the meeting published by Senator Afolabi Olabimtan in his autobiography titled: The Graces, the Grass and the Gains, the secret meeting was hosted by the then Chief of General-Staff, Lieutenant-General Oladipo Diya and chaired by the late Chief Josiah Olawoyin, while Chief Adisa Akinloye acted as secretary.
The list of other Yoruba leaders at the meeting includes Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, Dr. Saka Balogun, Chief Biola Akande, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Late Professor Afolabi Olabimtan (the author), Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo.
Others are Chief Debo Akande, Chief Richard Akinjide, Chief Sunday Afolabi, Chief Lai Balogun, Prince S.O. Adeyemi, Chief Olagunju Adesakin, Dr. Olusola Saraki, Prof. Wande Abimbola, Chief P.C. Asiodu and Alhaji A.B. Yahaya.
After the opening prayer by late Olabimtan, the host, General Oladipo Diya told the Yoruba leaders that they were summoned to intimate he should then be detained along with his NADECO and CD supporters until the end of the confab in Abuja.
The author of the book, Late Olabimtan, in his own contribution, however, stated that Abiola was already in custody and therefore could not give government any problem.
"Government should concern itself with the problem of the press (reporters) who should be embargoed from reporting anything about the detained Abiola."
However, Akinjide disagreed with this view and reminded the gathering that the case of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was charged with similar offence of Treasonable Felony and was charged to court defended himself. "So, Chief M.K.O. Abiola should also be charged to court", he said.
Olunloyo, according to Olabimtan, said if Abiola is to be released, "it should not be at this (that) time if anything tangible is to be expected from the conference." Dr. Olu Onagoruwa said he would support the release of Abiola on the condition that he signed an undertaking, but that he believed Abiola would not sign.
To Dr. Olusola Saraki, all vocal supporters of Abiola including Chief Olusegun Osoba, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, along with Chief Anthony Enahoro and others should be rearrested and detained to keep them quiet.
Babatope on his own, supported the suggestion that Abiola should be kept in a place which not even his family would know about, and this idea was supported by Afolabi.
In his own contribution, Adeyemi supported the detention of Abiola and his supporters and further suggested that they should be charged to court and given a long adjournment of their case in order to give time for the conference to hold.
It was at this point that Diya asked if they were all in support of continued detention of Abiola and they all said "YES".
The chairman, Olawoyin, then appealed to all present to keep secret, the proceedings of the meeting and also advised the government to make overtures to other known supporters of Abiola by offering them contracts and appointments to suppress them.
Diya advised the House on behalf of government and also reminded it that government had fulfilled his promise, which included the selection of Obas to the Constitutional Confab by choosing Oba Dapo Tejuoso and others.
Akinloye told Diya not to forget the list already sent to him, while Asiodu gave the closing prayer.
them and seek their advice on the next line of action on Abiola's arrest and his refusal to cooperate with the military government of the late General
Sani Abacha.
One of them replied that Abiola should be prosecuted in accordance with the charges that may be proffered against him.
"To this, Lt.- Gen. Diya refused that the law is there to take its course but there is also the option of government amnesty. Therefore, one has to be sure that Abiola's release will not cause further embarrassment to the government."
Diya, according to the minutes, said he received a phone call yesterday (Friday, June 24,1994) from the Head of State, General Sani Abacha, who wanted to know the elders' decision by the following day (June 25, 1994).
But Alhaji Lateef Jakande in his own contribution, suggested that Abiola should be brought to court, and as soon as he is released on bail, he should be rearrested and detained under House Arrest at a place to be unknown to the public, the press and his family, and remain incommunicado until the completion of the confab. This will ensure that no pressure (due to his free movement) will come upon the government.
To Akinloye, Abiola should be released on condition that he signs an undertaking to keep the peace, but if he refuses, he should then be detained along with his NADECO and CD supporters until the end of the confab in Abuja.
The author of the book, the late Olabimtan, in his own contribution, however, stated that Abiola was already in custody and, therefore, could not give government any problem.
"Government should concern itself with the problem of the press (reporters) who should be embargoed from reporting anything about the detained Abiola."
However, Akinjide disagreed with this view and reminded the gathering that the case of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was charged with similar offence of treasonable felony and was charged to court defended himself. "So, Chief M.K.O. Abiola should also be charged to court", he said.
Olunloyo, according to Olabimtan, said if Abiola is to be released, "it should not be at this (that) time if anything tangible is to be expected from the conference." Dr. Olu Onagoruwa said he would support the release of Abiola on the condition that he signed an undertaking, but that he believed Abiola would not sign.
To Dr. Olusola Saraki, all vocal supporters of Abiola, including Chief Olusegun Osoba, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, along with Chief Anthony Enahoro and others should be rearrested and detained to keep them quiet.
Babatope on his own, supported the suggestion that Abiola should be kept in a place which not even his family would know about, and this idea was supported by Afolabi.
In his own contribution, Adeyemi supported the detention of Abiola and his supporters and further suggested that they should be charged to court and given a long adjournment of their case in order to give time for the conference to hold.
It was at this point that Diya asked if they were all in support of continued detention of Abiola and they all said "YES".
The chairman, Olawoyin, then appealed to all present to keep secret, the proceedings of the meeting and also advised the government to make overtures to other known supporters of Abiola by offering them contracts and appointments to suppress them.
Diya advised the House on behalf of the government and also reminded it that government had fulfilled his promise, which included the selection of Obas to the Constitutional Confab by choosing Oba Dapo Tejuoso and others.
Akinloye told Diya not to forget the list already sent to him, while Asiodu gave the closing prayer.
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