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By Bolade Omonijo, Olasunkanmi Akoni & Arisekola Akanbi
Saturday, May 22, 2004
BARELY three weeks after the mass action called to protest electoral
fraud and bad governance in the country, a group of eminent politicians led by elder statesman Chief Anthony Enahoro
have resolved to hold mass rallies in Lagos and other state capitals on May 29 to mark this year�s Democracy Day.
In a communique issued after its meeting under the auspices of Nigerians
United for Democracy (NUD), leading politicians comprising leaders of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties
(CNPP), civil society groups and political activists said radical action must be taken to save democracy in the
country. They advised Nigerians to stay off the roads that day to give effect to the resolve to demonstrate opposition
to growing dictatorship in the land.
The NUD condemned the declaration of state of emergency in Plateau State,
decrying �the near total destruction of our democratic infrastructure and institutions, the latest of which is
the declaration of a state of emergency in Plateau State and the suspension of the governor and the state assembly
by fiat.
Affirming that it had become imperative to put together a Sovereign National
Conference, the NUD decided to boycott the stakeholders summit on political reforms being put together by the federal
government for 28th and 29th May, 2004, contending that �the exercise would be barren and worthless since
what is facing the nation is so fundamental as to be beyond the purview of the proposed summit.�
In place of the proposed government sponsored summit, the national caucus
of the NUD said it would hold prayers on the days. The prayers, said the group, �would seek God�s intervention
for Nigeria in distress, restoration of democracy and the repose of the souls of over 10,000 Nigerians that have
died recklessly since Obasanjo�s inauguration on 29th May, 1999. A national symposium is scheduled to hold in Lagos
to fashion out the way out for the country.
To ensure the effectiveness of the proposed rallies on the 29th, the NUD
directed its members and patriots to spot arm bands, veils, caps or rosettes while vehicle owners were warned to
keep off the streets or put green leaves on their vehicles.
The measures are being taken to satisfy the police that the group was not out to sponsor violence as well as protect
innocent people.
It would be recalled that mass action called by NUD on May 3 to put pressure
on the government was violently dispersed by the police in Abuja and Lagos with more than 300 activists and participants
arrested. A similar rally organised by the Citizens Forum led by the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka was
also dispersed in Lagos last week when those who had massed up in venues earmarked for the event were tear-gassed
and the leaders arrested.
The NUD Caucus, in a bid to give pep to its efforts has elected Chief
Anthony Enahoro, leader of the Movement for National Reformation and a respected member of the clan of nationalists
who fought for the nation�s independence as its leader.
It is not clear yet what this means about the position of Alhaji Balarabe
who was leading the group before yesterday�s meeting.
At yesterday�s meeting were Chief Enahoro, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Chief
Olu Falae, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Alhaji Wada Nas, Engr Buba Galadimma and Chief Sydney Dike.
Others were Mr Bamidele Aturu, Dr Sule Kumo, Mazi Maxi Okwu, Mr Branco-Rhodes and Rev. Tunji Adebiyi.
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