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Caravan for thr Rights of Refugees and Migrants

Materials for the Caravan Congress in Cologne, September 20^th1998

Speech by Ilonze Hyacinth

The challenges of democratisation in Nigeria

Nigeria gained her independance from Great Britain on October 1^st 1960, and since then, Nigeria has been ruled by Seven military dictators for a period of 28 years. However, this would not have been possible without the active support of imperialist western countries, who have over the years, chosen to sacrifice the interests, dreams and aspirations of the Nigerian people for a genuine democracy, for dirty business deals with repressive regimes in Nigeria.

Each of these seven military dictators have always during the early stages of coming to power promised heaven and earth including democratisation , just to win local and international support they have also adopt ed all forms of tricks by releasing political and and human rights detainees kept ins prison by their predecessors but sooner or later start arresting their own prisoners of conscience. The Nigerian military is highly political and has lost much of its professionalism. Genaral Abdusalam Abubakar who succeeded the late General Sani Abacha cannot be expected to be different from his predecessor. This is a man who has held powerful military positions in five previous repressive regimes and has witnessed Nigerian citizens being killed by government hired assasins, extra judicial killings, torture, rape and illegal detention, General Abdusalam Abubakar should hand over power immediately to a government of national unity and reconcilliation. Ist composition shall include Nigerians from the grass roots, from the local government and from the professions.

The government of national unity and reconciliation shall then institute a Sovereign National Conference. Our nation needs a political vision that all its citizens share. We must insist on a total reconstruction of our country and a fundemental restructuring of its power relationships, politics and the sharing of revenue. Only thus can we acheive genuine and national unity and fulfil our long landed potential in the coming century.

The Government of National Unity and Reconcilliation, should also set up a National Crimes and Restitutions Commission, that would try all past and present military officers whose wealth is not in consonnance with their official salaries. It is only when this is done, that we can be able to create a dynamic base for developement, allowing politicians without selfish interests to the Nigerian people.

I therefore called on Genaral Abdusalam Abubakar to release all political prisoners both well known ones and less known ones, and again I demand for formal public revocation of all politically based charges and restoration of all occupied zones to normal juristriction of the law. Specifically, Decree 2, 29, the failed bank decree all other repugnant decrees under which Nigerian citizens can be held without charge or trial, should be abrogated. Finally, I am calling on the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the EU and the OAU to assist Nigerian citizens to attain their aspirations and dreams for genuine democracy, by maintaining existing santions, and adding Oil Embargo, which is the main attraction of the Nigerian military to Government.

Thank you for listening
Long Live the Caravan

Presented by Hyacinth, Ilonze (The Voice Forum)