NADECO Leaders Reject Abdulsalami’s Military Rule Extension Claim

Prominent leaders of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Col Tony Nyiam (retd.) and Chief Ayo Opadokun, have rejected claims by former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), that leaders of the pro-democracy group asked him to extend military rule in 1998.

Naija News reports that the duo also faulted Abdulsalami’s claim that the late winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, was not poisoned.

Abdulsalami, in his autobiography, Call of Duty, claimed some NADECO leaders privately asked him to extend the transition after he assumed office.

According to Punch, Nyiam said he was not aware of any recognised NADECO leader who made such a request.

“I am not sure which NADECO Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar is referring to. To the best of my knowledge, the leader of NADECO was Chief Anthony Enahoro,” Nyiam said.

He added that NADECO’s position was for Abdulsalami to produce “a people’s constitution” that would create the basis for genuine democracy.

Nyiam recalled that Abdulsalami sent an emissary to meet NADECO leaders in exile, including Bola Tinubu, who was then based in London.

He further stated, “There was nobody, to my knowledge, whether Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Chief Anthony Enahoro or any other person from NADECO abroad, who ever asked him to extend military rule.

“Who would have done that when what we were all fighting for was to end military rule?”

Opadokun Backs Nyiam

Former NADECO General Secretary, Chief Ayo Opadokun, also said Abdulsalami misconstrued discussions held with NADECO leaders abroad.

“What NADECO abroad asked was that Abdulsalami should prepare a programme for stability by ensuring that a people’s constitution was produced before elections were conducted,” he said.

He added that the coalition advocated a government of national unity headed by Abiola, not an extension of military rule.

Nyiam also challenged Abdulsalami’s account of Abiola’s death.

“I am surprised by his claim that nobody did anything bad to Chief MKO Abiola. From all the evidence we have heard, I doubt his position, with all respect to my senior.

“Chief MKO Abiola was done away with by those who did not want him to govern,” he said.