By Uzodinma
Nwala
The day was
Thursday, August 13, 1998. The setting was a meeting of the nascent People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) which just metamorphosed from the activist group, G-34, in Abuja , Nigeria ’s
capital city. The agenda was to decide on the policy of the emergent party,
especially power-sharing and rotation of the presidency.
The buildup started much earlier with Dr. Nelson Mandela of South
Africa’s second visit to Nigeria to meet with Gen. Abacha, after his 1995 release
from prison. He was here to advise Gen Abacha to loosen his tight grip on Nigeria and
allow the air of democratic freedom to flow in. His Holiness, Pope John Paul
II, had earlier undertaken a similar mission, albeit with no success. Mandela
had specifically called for the release of the likes of Chief M. K. O. Abiola,
General Olusegun Obasanjo, General Shehu Yar’Adua, Ken Saro Wiwa and his Ogoni
colleagues. But, Abacha was adamant on Nelson Mandela’s entreaties. Even though
his trip to Nigeria produced
negative results, Dr. Nelson Mandela, the world-acclaimed doyen of
revolutionary struggles in Africa , was
prepared. He did not relent, he had a Plan B. Mandela turned his attention to Nigeria ’s
pro-democracy groups, asking them to come to the rescue. He invited them to South Africa ,
hoping to inspire them to take to militant opposition.
*Dr. Alex Ekwueme |