….CHOOSING A PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE: THE PRESSURES THAT DEFINED ABIOLA TRAGIC AMBITION
The viral reflection on the intrigues on how Abiola jumped one hurdle to face another, much fiercer, that joined in the twist of fate that defined his tragic presidential ambition in 1993 is a critical lesson in history that I consider worth archiving is a special page of Nigeria’s checkered political history.
In the captivating account narrated by the anonymous history maker, it all started, “At the Jos Township Stadium, during the SDP primaries in 1993, Babagana Kingibe, who came very tightly close to Abiola, had the support of most SDP Governors like Oyegun of Edo, Bamidele Olumilua, Felix Ibru, etc and also others like Emeka Ojukwu, Arthur Nzeribe, Olusola Saraki, Ben Obi, Ebenezer Babatope were all bitter haters of MKO Abiola and great supporters of Babagana Kingibe and as delegates, they cast their votes for him in the first ballot and were ready to do same in the second ballot.
“MKO Abiola got support from Osoba, Kolapo Ishola, Isiaka Adeleke, Lamidi Adedibu, Bola Tinubu, Lateef Jakande, Chuba Okadigbo, Sule Lamido, Balarabe Musa, Abubakar Rimi, Dosu Ladipo, Yohana Madaki, Tony Anenih, Ango Abdullahi etc.
First Ballot…
Abiola 3,617
Kingibe 3,255
Atiku 2,066
Those three were the leading aspirants and a run-off must be conducted among the trio to select the SDP flag bearer.
Yoruba Leaders in Jos thought it may be over for MKO Abiola since Babagana Kingibe and Atiku polled 5,321 to MKO Abiola’s 3,617…..if Atiku merged with Kingibe, one of them will get the ticket.
To break any possible alliance between Atiku and Kingibe, these three people headed straight to Ambassador Yahaya Kwande’s house where General Yar’adua was to have a chat with him, they were Dosu Ladipo, Adedibu, S.M Afolabi.
General Shehu Musa Yar’adua was Atiku’s godfather. On getting to Yahaya Kwande’s house, they approached Yar’adua’s personal assistant Inua Baba who told them that General Yar’adua was sleeping and shouldn’t be disturbed. The trio ignored him and went straight to General’s bedroom and banged his door! “Mi ni ni?” Yar’adua shouted… “Open the door General” the trio screamed back.
He opened the door. The trio begged Gen. Yar’adua to stop Atiku. “Remember how we became Yoruba people enemies when we supported you and jettisoned Falae, help us too to regain our love back from our people. Tell Atiku to step down.”
“Yar’adua agreed…..”For you good people, I agree to support MKO Abiola. Go and bring him. I can do anything for my friends” Yar’adua replied. Immediately, Abiola joined the trio and Atiku also came in to join Yar’adua.
“Yar’adua and Atiku spoke in Hausa at length and in the end, Atiku broke down in tears, and wept when his boss asked him to step down. Yar’adua gave him handkerchief. While he was weeping, Abiola went close to him, hugged him and told him “you will be my deputy.”
“Atiku then spoke, facing Yar’adua “Since you’re the one who brought me into politics sir, I cannot disobey you…” That was the statement that sealed Kingibe’s fate in Jos and by the time Atiku announced his withdrawal for MKO, the SDP ticket went to Bashorun MKO Abiola.
“After MKO hugged Atiku and told him “you will be my deputy”, here is the politics that follow. Atiku and co left Ambassador Kwande’s house and headed to the Jos Township Stadium where he mounted the podium and announced his withdrawal from the race leaving only Abiola and Kingibe.
“Atiku’s withdrawal gave victory to MKO. The normal thing for MKO was to immediately announce his deputy during his acceptance speech, which was the plan. But immediately Abiola was declared winner, before anyone could say, Jack Robinson, Kingibe stood up and walked towards MKO. “My President, I’m loyal”, he said, before Abiola could recover from the shock of Kingibe’s unexpected greeting “I’m the best VP that can give you victory” Kingibe continued right inside the stadium, “Ambassador, this is not the right time for this please”, Abiola replied Kingibe.
“But 12 out of 14 SDP Governors also asked Abiola to pick Kingibe or they sabotage his presidential campaign. Only Kolapo Ishola and Osoba supported MKO Abiola wholeheartedly. This was why MKO Abiola completely omitted the Vice President issue in his acceptance speech to avoid the wrath of the governors and not to break Atiku’s heart.
“Shortly after his victory, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida called MKO Abiola and told him to pick Pascal Bafyau if “you want me to hand over to you”. Ibrahim Babangida also warned MKO Abiola not to pick Atiku at all as he won’t be able to survive the Fulani collaboration being sponsored by Gen. Yar’adua and symbolised by Atiku. MKO Abiola was in dilemma.
“Again, Abiola was to address SDP supporters in Kaduna, expectedly, to announce his deputy. Atiku had arranged two horses, one for Abiola, one for him. That was the SDP style of celebration. Again, for the fear of the governors and Ibrahim Babangida, Abiola didn’t announce his deputy, for the second time.
“One day, in his house in Ikeja, Abiola, via a press conference, announced Kingibe as his deputy, Thereby bowing to the deadly wishes of Governors and ready to go into war with IBB and pacify Atiku.
“The excuse was given to justify this was that “Atiku stepped down but he didn’t say he stepped down for Abiola”. Abiola supporters knew that Abiola won’t win if Atiku didn’t step down, but politics is a crafty game.
“It pained Gen Yar’adua to his bone. Indeed, Babangida kept his threat. He sabotaged June 12, and Shehu Musa Yar’adua and his loyal boy, Atiku took their pounds of flesh when they threw their weight behind the annulment of June 12 and opted for Interim Government.”
In conclusion, for Atiku, it must be me or I am fully involved if not, Atiku will sabotage and destroy the electoral process and all due to excessive ambition.
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