There are times when wood becomes rotten. At this stage, all manner of insects invade it. Ants, termites and other parasites begin to feast on it from within.

In a similar manner there are times when worms enter into decaying flesh. This is where the metaphor “opening up a can of worms,” arises. Both the wood, and the rotting flesh, must be discarded as being useless. Dear reader, it is exactly in this state of decay that the Nigerian seat of governance found itself when soldiers overrun its revered seat of governance and overthrew the “constitution.”And in Nigeria, the two soldiers that were the most culpable in this regard, were Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha.

By annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Babangida, and Abacha (Babangida’s comrade in arms), made Nigeria regress many steps backwards, and the governance of Nigeria became like rotting flesh, and Nigeria was unable to fulfill its anticipated yearnings for development.

It is alright for Babangida to now write a book of remembrances, chronicling his deeds and misdeeds, his actions and inactions, his reactions and interactions, 32 years after the fateful annulment of the free and fair 1993 presidential election.

It is alright today for Babangida to now shed “crocodile tears” and voice his “regrets,” and to finally and formally tender his “apologies,” to this nation for this annulment.

It is alright for Babangida to express his “sadness and remorse,” for his mistakes. Abacha and Babangida were finally and ignobly removed from power because they had outlived their usefulness. They had nothing further to offer the nation, because their ascendancy to power was in any case suspect. It is evil, it is untoward, for any man to simply emerge, to arise, and unilaterly declare himself a Head of State, especially when he can observe the manner in which leaders are democratically elected in other civilized nations.

But has Babangida’s apology not come “too little, too late,” as it does not in any measure compensate for the damage done?
Dear reader, you may caution that Babangida should be “forgiven,” since he has“apologised.”Reader, you may now counsel that one must not speak ill of the dead (Abacha). But it is exactly from such dead men (such as Adolf Hitler), that necessary lessons can be learned for future endeavours. So a great apology is proffered to Abacha’s friends, relatives and admirers, and especially to his wife, for the contents of this writing. Yes, one should not speak ill of the dead (Abacha), since he is deceased. But for posterity this writer has no other choice but to highlight Abacha’s numerous faults.

In the opinion of this writer the stadium in Kano which is named the “Sani Abacha Stadium,” should be re–named, and used to eulogise a more worthy personality, one who had a more palatable character. This writer has little positive points to discuss about him. Therefore, again one tenders a sincere apology to any person who might feel offended and scandalised at this writing. So such a person should render a written rejoinder about this matter to this same newspaper. This writer must advise and plead that every man while alive must stridently strive to safeguard his legacy (memory), so as not to make himself a laughing stock, and a pariah.

Abacha is a person whom numerous persons would wish to forget. Yes many lessons must be learnt from the example of Sani Abacha, whose death sparked nationwide exaltation and rejoicing. One must learn from the lessons of history, that we must caution all people not to steamroll themselves into unmerited leadership.

How many are the persons who celebrate the yearly anniversary of Abacha’s death, or who publish in national newspapers messages of goodwill for him at his passage? Hardly any one does this except for his loyal wife, Maryam. Abacha has judged himself. His deeds are recorded like as with a mirror, or a camera. His deeds are nothing “to write home about.”He is someone the world would wish to forget. Does this not make everybody think? Abacha was indeed a sit –tight dictator who never had any plans to hand over power to any other person, and who ignored the solemn injunction that says “one must leave the stage when the ovation is loudest.”

Numerous are the activists that Abacha clamped into jail. Such include the journalist Chris Anyanwu, and the activist lawyer Gani Fawehinmi, and Shehu Y’ara dua. Numerous were those who had to flee the country because of the oppression of Abacha’s iron fist. Such persons were traumatised by Abacha and had to flee from the country. These include Professor Wole Soyinka, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dele Momodu etc. Abacha’s victims include Kudirat Abiola (who was brutally assassinated by his “hit squad”). Ken Saro Wiwa and six other Ogoni citizens who were hanged under suspicious circumstances, (perhaps for their protests at the desecrations of their waterways by oil-spills).
Continued tomorrow.
Aluko can be reached via: 08057007383 or [email protected]