The premises surrounding the annulment of June 12, presidential elections in 1993, has remained a mystery for quite sometime now to many Nigerians. It is therefore, this writer’s mission and intentions, to unmask this treachery committed against this people; iit is a mission that depends on information resource capital-availability, including time/depth capital-availability, as well. According to my sources [names withheld], The Babangida military regime lied and misinformed Nigerians about his role leading to this unforgettable crime—the annulment of June 12 elections, 1993.

Looking up close, this is an intriguing exercise because it is believed that, a staggering estimated fifteen to twenty [15 to 20] million of the nations' population went to the polls on this day to express their freedom to choose, as demonstrated by their democratic freedom to elect a president in the nation, through democratic means. The said elections were pronounced the freest and fairest by many Nigerians and foreign observers alike, in the nation’s checkered history. It was also declared the freest and fairest in the whole of Sub-Sahara Africa [SSA]. The electioneering mechanism or methodology deployed was known as option A4. Vote and your vote will be counted at the spot not, later.

As the writer dive into the hypothesis and analysis of this whole drama, it is important that we remember that in other situations, some eyebrows were raised; some observers remarked that, evil begets evil, as evil that men do lives after them. To this group of observers or thinkers, the trio of Abiola, Obasanjo and Babangida are common criminals; they are birds of the same feathers that flocked together for over 30 years.  Any wonder, why Babangida walks Minna Streets unscattered, let alone walks Nigeria Streets and Cities with his looted wealth unabashed. It was reported that he [Babangida] is shamelessly planning to run for democratic elections in 2007, when statistical data in his folders show annulments. Annulment which, evidence now reveals he and his acolytes indeed, orchestrated this ill-act of annlment, with impunity, all, for his usual self-aggrandizements—five billion dollars.  

It is important to refresh our minds, review, and perhaps make, a re-assessment of lessons learned, in- so-far. First: from, International Telephone and Tele-communications [ITT], to NPN, to military coups, this group, particularly the duo of Abiola and Babangida, participated, looted, squandered and destroyed the local, regional, and national geopolitical space of this entity, called Nigeria through their mischiefs. Their actions in the aforementioned time and space, was indeed, opportunistic, that over time, produced an unprogressive paradigm shifts in the land. Remember this, yes, for 30 years, Abiola, a military apologist, assisted under the military totalitarianism[s]—totalitarianists, led by Babangida and his cronies, besieged the land for their selfish grandiose and impetuses for too long a time. For many decades, they circumvented the law, the republic and raped her mercilessly. They raped her, through bogus contracts. Other circumventionary practices indeed occurred: for example there exists, a continuous bogus security vote that goes unaccounted for, by the present and past rulers, the rest is painfully history, they say.  Recently this administration, withdrew, funds from the excess oil funds, without the authorization of the National Assembly, whose duty amongst others, is to debate and approve state finanical remittances. Back to ITT, it was gathered by my sources that ITT, an extension of U.S. Central intelligence Agency [CIA] the information bubble radar for Americans on Nigeria and other nations, that seeks security details or information about nations’ technical capacity, just in case, friend turns enemy, and perhaps, if enemy of my enemy becomes my friend. This intelligence agency is fussed together vis-à-vis ITT and other U.S. overseas operations including the U.S. Peace Corps et al. At ITT, Abiola served as its Vice-Chairman for Africa and the Middle-east.

ITT, whose contract was to seek, and provide, a workable effective telephone services for the country—Nigeria, for effective communication and well-being of its people; unabashedly, the aforementioned actors and their contractors, manipulated, twisted and duped the republic. Till date, one cannot point at any telephone installations, installed across the country and its villages. What ITT did in Nigeria with the Tele-communication project is mind boggling. Either that the ITT representatives and its collaborators pocketed the funds meant for building a reliable telecommunication gridlock for the benefit and well-being of this people, or that little or no telephone services were provided for Nigerians. The allocation’s long gone and forgotten. Other cases of similar elephant projects like Ajeokunta Steel Complex, were, billions of naira, were invested have joined the list of many abandoned projects across the country. Today, Nigerians have turned to wireless phone industry, all foreign made. Sadly, it cannot and do not have the capacity to manufacture locally, nuts, to maintain them, and will never muster this needed capacity, under the current arrangement.

According to this insider, information has it that Abiola stepped on so many toes. At the then, National Party of Nigeria, [NPN] body, it was gathered that its big wigs, never trusted Abiola. Records show that Abiola, nursed the idea of becoming NPN Chairman during the party convention in the 80s, hosted in Kano. Big power brokers in then NPN, became uncomfortable with his intentions and maneuvered him off of it, to Abiola's chagrin.  As it were, flight meant to carry Abiola and his crew, to the convention was disabled for unknown reasons. At the middle of the night, Abiola having discovered this machination, chartered fleets of cars and drove his way to the Northern state of Kano. Before, he lighted to the convention, his kinsman, Akinloye has been returned unopposed as NPN Party Chairman. Abiola decamped from NPN, thusly, increasing some NPN stewards' suspicions surrounding him, and surrounding those that supports him including his enemies. Their concerns were amongst other things:—fear that it will be an impossibility to muster the political will and influence, to check Abiola’s exuberant political excesses. To this group, their concern includes, handling dexterity of party policies and those at the wider national policies in an ethno-geopolitical landscape, such as, Nigeria. In addition, it was gathered that Abiola was a CIA agent, its representative partly for strategy and logistics, covering Africa and the Middle-east. There existence yet, another suspicion and other cleavages from the Northern caliphate, surrounding Abiola—this time, it is religion. The Caliph and NPN of Northern extraction sees Abiola as an opportunistic Muslim, thusly, an untrustworthy Muslim and would have nothing to do with this fellow.  

By application, in Nigeria political space, from the Northern perspectives or worldviews, there is no such thing as, separation of Church and State and/or separation of Muslimism and the State. To them, the two entities are intertwined. For example, in other to reforce this suspicion parallel of Abiola, are possible motivated orthodoxies: I] Let us draw or review estimable evidence at ITT establishment if you will. It was gathered that Abiola, staged, and acted criminally in the way he took over the chairmanship at ITT, from his American boss. My source succinctly remarked that Abiola and his cronies’ dramatized this by upstaging and dethroning the Chairman at ITT. This was effectively executed by theatrically painting, photographing, blackmailing the American ITT chairman—as an eternal and unrepentant drunkard, who could not retrieve or collect American funds from the Nigerian government, even, after ITT Nigerian-operational power-house has completed its works, as assigned her. Through this machination, Abiola was upgraded and appointed ITT chairman for Africa and the Middle-east.  The larger pitfalls were not long exposed. Not sooner after he was appointed ITT chairman, Abiola, opted, and demanded to work for the ITT establishment on commission basis rather than on salary pay-capped arrangement.  

Abiola, now in the zone of leadership, a contract of a staggering 75 million, was upped by Abiola. Abiola, zeroed in for a kill. He greedily adding zero [0] behind seventy-five [75], that turns 75 into 750 million. He was not alone. This disposition and operation was effectively executed through collaborations with insiders who knew the ropes, mainly, some of his discredited military officers-friends at the military establishments. He got away with a crime; making a whopping illegitimate millions for himself and his friends. Our information gathering radar shows that Babangida, Obasanjo, late Shehu Musa Yar’dua and others benefited from the ITT’s emissaries, commissions and, contracts.  M.K.O. Abiola, became a multi-million over-night, engineered and fortified by strong military contacts. In the meantime, this is happening at a time, the entire nation watches its dying population waste away without basic amenities such as: steady electricity, water, road or housing; lack of adequate learning facilities from primary school up to tertiary institutions; as the system systemically manufactured yet, anew, fraudulent millionaires and billionaires, who cannot, in all honesty account for the source of their wealth.

Today as we reflect on June 12, and the actors involved, let us remember also, that our record shows that Abiola and others in his category were made rich by discredited military cabal, through fraudulent and sometimes ghost contract allocations. In the same token, it is good to recall, for records, that the same discredited military friends of his, albeit, they made him rich, the same military turned around poisoned and killed him, when things were no longer at ease—and, fallen apart.

Conversely, during this spiral period, the region faced many challenges and new challenges with its attended constraints, including military activities within its surroundings. This disturbances, ended up confronting its defenseless peoples and their neighbors. Markedly, during this time, at the body: Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] the centers could not hold either. Khaddaffi was funding Charles Taylor from Tripoli. Commotions and wars in Liberian brought her to the verge of collapse,  if not totally collapse. A challenge that defied all solutions.  Liberian National Liberation Front, [LPLF], led Taylor on one end, and Yommie Johnson at another end; then, you also have other ‘mini rebel’ groups, that have gone wild, widespread,  killings and maiming their peoples. All these rebel outfits from all indications, were matching toward Monrovia demanding the head of Samuel Doe, almost simultaneously.

At this instance, Doe, was believed to have contacted Babangida for technical assistance. Babangida promised heaven and earth , that he will send in ECOMOG to restore order immediately and everything will be alright. In the meantime, may I state that there is no peace in the hearts/minds of thieves especially, when it comes to stolen public funds. Nigerian looters, believe it or not, will tell you that they live in fear every second of their lives and, will probably succumb [if they refuse to repent and return public funds to their proper places] to hyper-tension, high-blood-pressure, or worst, heart-attack.  

Folks, five [5] billion dollars from Liberian treasury was at stake. Liberian tyrant, Samuel Doe, have looted the Liberian treasury worth more than five billion dollars. Some of this Fund was partly, donated by USIS, and other development agencies abroad hoping to assist build and improve, Liberia and make life much better for its peoples. But, reverse was the case, its pupported leadership had a hidden agenda in their hearts—mischievousness. In the meantime as Doe and Co were running out of time, it became evident, that, regional criminals with their regional partners were desperately looking for a regional safe heaven to keep their windfall. Doe, contacted his big brother, Nigerian Field-Marshal, Babangida, for assistance. Initially, it was gathered that Babangida, refused taking-in, the five billion dollars—stating his position as a military leader. He however, directed his wife, Miriam Babangida, to assist launder the funds into her multifaceted, financial networks. 

Miriam Babangida, took the five [5] billion, and quickly contacted a long time family friend, Abiolas. Information has it that Simbiat Abiola who subsequently lodged the finances into her personal account in good faith, was Miriam’s contact. Unfortunately, Simbiat went through undisclosed illness, succumbed to this illness and passed-away. The financial activities and records show that the financial documentations in respect to these financial transmissions or transactions as discovered, indicates that it was willed, to Kola Wole Abiola.

Finally another opportunity came to the Babangidas. Miriam and Babangida, came on a condolence visit to the diseased family-friend, on the passing-away of Simbiat Abiola. With this window of opportunity, it was gathered that Babangida mentioned the five [5] billion to M.K.O. Abiola. Information has it that Abiola, was outraged that financial matters could be raised by Babangida, while he was bereaved, and going through the emotions and pains of his beloved wife, Simbiat who passed away. Babangida and Miriam, left for home, to allow, the dead rest in peace. Within the space of weeks or months that year, the elections results, specifically presidential elections results, began to trickle in.

Statistical and numerical indicators show, that the first barge of results from 14 states with its computations had Abiola, winning. Babangida, contacted yet again, Abiola,asked him to release the five billion [five [5] billions dollars.  Now remember, that the said five billion was Liberians, and by no means, belonged to Abiola nor Babangida. However, the two thieves fought over it. In the ensued conversation, Babangida indicated to Abiola, that if, the money wasn’t released, he will annul the entire elections. Abiola wanted to be President and also, wanted to keep the billions too. Greed! In a delusional effort, Abiola, launched into intensive search for Kola. Repeated phone calls was placed on Kola, in whose account the funds, was believed to have been deposited. Surprisingly to Abiola, Kola disappeared with the thin air. Kola, it was gathered, became a changed man, and, intentionally refused to speak, pick-up calls or converse with his father.

Perhaps, someone could tell me more about envy, suspicions and hate in polygamous family. Each family unit trying, attempting to out-do the other unit member and what not. It is important to note, that the debacle surrounding June 12, elections, its fallouts, calculations and how far we have come today is for historians to document. For this and other unspoken reasons, the election was annulled, and the rest is  history. Permit me, to remark that, this is in fact, a pure affront and treachery against a whole nation, that a nation’s elections were annulled based on, amongst other things, stolen funds; stolen money that didn't by any means, belong to either of these men [Abiola and Babangida]. This was personified obviously in the deeply imbedded corruption in the land; and, may be, this teaches us that selfish reasons, greed and power, can drag communities, nations, peoples and friends into war, including fights over looted five billion dollars from Liberian and elsewhere.

Five Billion dollars/June 12 to be continued ….

  Carlisle U.O. Umunnah Is a New York Based Freelance Writer

Contact: cuu1_liberties@yahoo.com

June 2006

Robot  # 1 | 14.06.2006 09:10

As the writer dive into the hypothesis and analysis of this whole drama, let’s remember that in o...Read the full article.

nike  # 2 | 14.06.2006 13:09

With much difficulty, I think that I kind of get the gist of your article, it was very hard though and that is definitely not because I am uneducated. Like a lot of our fellow Nigerians, you opted to use fancy words, which you probably imagined will make you sound more erudite and educated. All it does is confuse your readership. My guess is that you want as many people as possible to read and understand your write up. It therefore makes sense to me that you ought to simplify your language such that your article will have a natural and progressive flow that can easily be followed. That does not in anyway detract from your intelligence. Reserve the fancy words and complicated narrative for articles that you want to be published in your professional journals. Just a suggestion.

denker  # 3 | 14.06.2006 13:12

abiola was a genius, a kleptomanic genius indeed, normally in advanced countries like germany all nigeria's leaders would be in prison from president down to local councils! you don't wake up one morning and declare becoming a millionair without revealing the source of your wealth.... look at atiku (normal custom officer), udenwa, kalu, ibb, obj, etc, thieves, parading themselves as multimillionairs...do these people pay taxes or do they keep books? they are all criminals and the worst part of it, they stole or are stealing from the poor masses...it's a tragedy..indeed. they can go to HELL!

denker  # 4 | 14.06.2006 13:23

nike, i was not seeing what you were seeing, can you be more specific..? i always loved reading from the author...:confused1

Exxcuzme  # 5 | 14.06.2006 14:38

__________________________________________________________________________ Till date, one cannot point at any telephone installations, installed across the country and its villages. __________________________________________________________________________ I don’t know about other part of Nigeria, but growing up in the 70s I remember ground, at least along Agege Motor Road, being dug up and telephone cables planted. Also most of the Bus Stops in Lagos had working telephone booths installed. Those of us that lived in Mushin (Ghettos boys) were happy to use them to call our Ajebota friends. However, like most infrastructures in Nigeria, lack of maintenance and vandalisation plus thieveries made those booths useless and no replacement was ever installed. Not sure if Abiola's ITT installed those booths but remembered that most of Lagos was wired with nice telephone booths. I hope you have your fact write and not giving us Naija rumors as facts.

skanbroy  # 6 | 14.06.2006 16:21

There is nothing, I mean absolutely nothing in this article that has not been, said, in beer parlors, barbers and hairdressers shops, ayo olopon and draught game gatherings, inside danfos and molues, and other rumor mongering venues spread all over our dear country. So my dear brother, say something new or "mei chonu". This is not a forum for old recycled, unauthenticated gist taken as news. Now my brother, why don't you think of this for a moment, empting a country's $5b strong treasury into some woman's bank account in 1990!! Does this sit well or make any sense to you? I beg softly, softly ooo!!

oluye  # 7 | 14.06.2006 17:29

This story will make the author of the Da Vinci Code blush! Keep roping them in. So five billion, largely from the US, ends up in Kola Abiola's account and the CIA does nothing? We all know that that there is no player in the Nigerian political scene that is a saint. They only appear to be to win sentiments, and the press is their tool. Since we have opted to go to the polls now, we must be ready to just accept one of the devils available. Have you noticed the increased rate of crime, bold drug trafficking efforts, and murder attempts? Even the press will not support anyone without the funds to run. When I read most of the articles in our media, I play a game of trying to figure out who's paying the writer. We accuse politicians of greed, but it takes more than one to tango.

Paul Nduka  # 8 | 14.06.2006 22:05

The article is indeed more detailed because it traced how Chief M.K.O A biola became a billionaire overnight without dent of hard work. I believe that Babangida should forget about 2007 and openly ask Nigerians to forgive him for the political and economic hardship that the country is passing through. I believe that it will take years for nigerians to come out of this period of pains and sorrows. This article is good but the writer needs to simplify his language so as to enable others who have six years of education to read it.

eazy9ja  # 9 | 14.06.2006 23:26

With much difficulty, I think that I kind of get the gist of your article, it was very hard though and that is definitely not because I am uneducated. Like a lot of our fellow Nigerians, you opted to use fancy words, which you probably imagined will make you sound more erudite and educated. All it does is confuse your readership. My guess is that you want as many people as possible to read and understand your write up. It therefore makes sense to me that you ought to simplify your language such that your article will have a natural and progressive flow that can easily be followed. That does not in anyway detract from your intelligence. Reserve the fancy words and complicated narrative for articles that you want to be published in your professional journals. Just a suggestion Nike ...na wa for you ooo!!!, the writer is obviously not writing to kindergarden pupils, so the article can be adjudged to be balanced for simple assimilation. There is no grammatical complexities, in that article except for some pardonable mis-constructions which is not a big deal. Afterall, he has evidently pass his message across that all these people we, so much, respect are nothing but higher, medium & lower thieves.

Palamedes  # 10 | 15.06.2006 08:15

I stopped reading this article half-way (forgive me) because it is too difficult to read in a limited time. I have met the late Chief M. K. O. Abiola in person and he was too brash and arrogant for my taste. Nevertheless, he was a good employer, and I would be doing my memory an injustice if I were to ignore this article about ITT. The notion that such an employer and patriot had an affiliation with the CIA is laughable. ITT with Abiola was one of the best companies in Nigeria and I speak from personal experience. ITT recruited lots of Nigerians and sent them to Italy and other parts of the world to receive training in Telecoms and return to manage, supervise and install telephone exchanges all over the country. Nigerian employees who were posted outside the location from where they were originally employed were paid as much as (if not more than) what a Nigerian Professor earned at the time. Talk about CIA link, the expatriates were mainly Italians and a few other nationalities. Most of them struggle with the English language and only had basic education but were very good at their jobs, and down to earth. Are these the CIA foot soldiers? Methinks not. In contrast, some of the "Western trained" Nigerians behaved on the job as if they were employed to seat behind desk and bark out orders. I saw how frustrated some of these expatriates were with these types of workers – even with helping in interpreting the English language to (say) the Italian language. As for "foot" workers, they had 3-6 months excellent hands-on training with full pay before even the project started. How many companies can top that? Till date, one cannot point at any telephone installations, installed across the country... This is totally false. I still have photos of myself at some of these telephone exchanges. Like Nigerian airports, railways etc, If telephone exchanges in Kano, Lagos, Warri, Benin, Port Harcourt, Kaduna – to mention but a few, are in disrepair, what is new? Is this not yet another manifestation of the Nigerian phenomenon?

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