Ousting The Military

 Ousting The Military

The pinnacle of the June 12 struggle was ousting the military junta after decades of overseeing Nigeria’s affairs. Nigerian Armed Forces were in power from 1966 to 1999 with an interregnum from 1979 to 1983. In their second coming the military were in power from 1983-1999. Following the military’s ouster, Nigeria evolved into a quasi-democracy, founded on a military-oriented constitution – the 1999 constitution has long been a source of contention. Real political struggle was under the military government, especially under Abacha. For those who participated in the struggle, the memories are evergreen. As a youth I became immersed in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) struggles against military dictatorship. My affiliation with the NADECO struggle was through my late Dad, M.B.O Owolowo Sr., family friends, relatives and associates. Many of those affected by the travails of that draconian era survived with various coping mechanisms and are still traumatised by the effects of those exceptionally tragic events. 

In 1996, I visited the residence of Otunba Olabiyi Durojaiye and was taken a few metres nearby to see the destruction done to the residence of Gen. Alani Akinrinade. I was relieved his family were able to escape the unleashed arson. During the struggle, Otunba Durojaiye had been incarcerated – without charge – by the dictator, Sani Abacha. Identified internationally as a “prisoner of conscience”, Otunba Durojaiye spent 560 days (3 December 1996 – 16 June 1998) in detention and was eventually released during the Abdulsalami Abubakar administration. Among those assassinated was Pa Alfred Rewane, who was gruesomely murdered at his residence. Kudirat Abiola was assassinated in her vehicle, while championing the cause of justice and freedom. A regime that could kill a woman – a mother of seven had her life cut short at the age of 44, was as brutal as they could come. Evidently, challenging such a regime was daunting and usurping the junta was not easy by any measure.

There is a new generation emerging that may not know the essence of June 12, 1993, because it has been over 30 years. Many youths may not appreciate what the fuss is all about, and may be forgiven for their ignorance, but they still need to be informed about an important aspect of their history. For those of us who witnessed the June 12 struggle, the memories are indelible. During that draconian era, people were being arrested and tortured for speaking against the military regime. There were government spies snooping around. Various mufti-clad service men scoured the streets and boarded commercial vehicles to arrest those who criticised the regime. People spoke in hush tones and looked over their shoulders. There were various cases of missing persons. A dreary period characterised by unlawful detention, frog jumps, beatings, tortures, incarcerations, gun wounds, ‘accidental discharge’, assassinations and coldblooded killing. This particular military era was extremely cruel and generally merciless.

Those courageous enough to confront such tyranny were real activists. They sacrificed and laid the foundation today’s so-called ‘social media activists’ are enjoying. During the struggle years, many students lost their lives and numerous student activists were incarcerated. These rare patriotic citizens need to be commended for their valour and heroic struggles; amongst them were people of conviction, principles and rectitude. The Abacha era was brutal by its very definition, and I endured some horrific encounters.

There was an incident involving my friend and I on Kingsway Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. We had just visited the family of a deceased friend in Victoria Island, and on our way driving back to Ikoyi we encountered a raving mad military officer who was trying to run us off the road for no other reason than being “bloody civilians!”. The officer drove ahead of us, and we thought that was it. And just before getting to the Glover Road junction, our car was waylaid by a bunch of military police officers who had been summoned by the irate officer. Considering how tense the atmosphere was politically; assassinations and incidents of ‘accidental discharge” we knew we were in for a showdown. As the drama kicked-off, we were surrounded by about seven trigger-happy officers. We were being asked incoherent questions about our ‘expensive’ car and identity, but we remonstrated our innocence and demanded our rights. The fight continued with us blocking kicks and punches, with sounds of multiple cocking guns and warning gunshots. And then I was struck! As I hit the ground with blood gushing from above my chest, our initial assumption was that I had been hit or grazed by a bullet.

There was some confusion among the officers as well. Then one of the officers confirmed I was not hit by a bullet but a buttstroke – struck with the butt of a rifle. I still have the keloid scar on my right clavicle. 

There are many similar stories from victims who lived under a brutal military dictatorship. There are families who lost not just their wealth but loved ones. I see youth who misconstrue “Jollof rice activism” with the real deal activism. They should not make the mistake of equating activism of a physical nature with social media – despite contemporary advantages of information dissemination. The history lesson becomes necessary, so some youths do not try to trivialize these struggles, are appreciative of their freedoms and do not toy with the idea of a military dictatorship. I was a student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) during the ruthless dictatorship era and fully aware of the meaning of struggle – “Aluta”. Armoured tanks were permanently stationed outside the university gates and like many other students, I got used to the stinging effects of tear gas.

Excerpt from pgs 70-73 of R.O.G U.E: Reality On Ground Undermining Enterprise by M.B.O Owolowo ©️