Echoes At June 12 Discourse: Clash Of Historical Perspectives As Buba Marwa Tackles Jumoke Ogunkeye

 

While the organisers of the events were wondering if this was a calculated plan to demobilise the physical gathering and zoom invited Guests across the globe, Gen. Buba Marwa response dropped on the desk of Comrade AWA Bamiji and it reads thus:…

PEGASUS REPORTERS

The 10th National Discourse of the Coalition for A Better Nigeria commemorating the 27th anniversary of self-declaration in 1993 by the late MKO Abiola as Nigeria’s president-elect at old Epetedo Hall, Dumare Street, Lagos Island East LCDA, to protest the annulment of his victory in the 1990 June 12 election, has come and gone but its interesting memories will continue to linger on in the mid of not only students of history but political observers.

An important outcome of the event was the echoes of historical perspectives by gladiators in the fight for and against the mandate. One of the shocks of the day at the event was the unexpected accusation by one of the scheduled discussants, Otunba Jumoke Ogunkeyede.

It will be recalled that Otunba Ogunkeye has been silent on what came to become his allegation against one of the co-chairmen of the occasion, Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), former military Administrator of Lagos State, who doubles as the Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), until two days to the event, when he shared a WhatsApp message to Comrade AWA Bamiji, the National Coordinator, Coalition for A Better Nigeria, and organiser of the event accusing Gen. Marwa as unfit to co-chair the event.

The message which was shared virally on social media and acquaintances reiterated that impression that one of our problems as a people is the attempt to rewrite history while we mostly forget the history entirely most times. This morning, I got this message from one of the unsung heroes of democracy in Nigeria and I shook my head as to how we make a hero out of those who should not and never have been dignified by the roles they played in our journey to freedom and emancipation.

The message as sent to Comrade Awa reads:

“I am miffed to see Buba Marwa listed as the Chair of MKO Abiola memorial event. He was allocated a lot of dollars to make sure that the Democracy struggles did not survive when he was the military attache at the United Nation under the military desports, Babangida and Abacha. He sent hired thugs out to destroy the movements in the US. You may check this claim with Prof. Wole Soyinka.

“He would boastfully claim he had enough dollars to peg our movements. He was to be arrested for arson for the burning of my house on June 15, 1996. This was two days before the candlelight vigil for Kudirat Abiola. The police could not effect the arrest because of the fact that he had Diplomatic Immunity then.

“Pls reference my book, A MOMENT IN TIME. Why he should be made the Chairman of your acclaimed program confounds me. The leaders of our struggles, Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro, Gani Fawehinmi, Baba Omojola and many departed Human Rights activists that are departed would twitch in their graves.

“We must be careful of rewriting history the wrong way. I will not attend the program.

“I am Jumoke Ogunkeyede (JMK)”

While the organisers of the events were wondering if this was a calculated plan to demobilise the physical gathering and zoom invited Guests across the globe, Gen. Buba Marwa response dropped on the desk of Comrade AWA Bamiji and it reads thus:

“Good morning comrade Awa. I am actually down with malaria and typhoid and can’t make Friday. All the same, thank you for the above reports. All nonsense of course, as in June 1996, I was in New York, having been appointed to Lagos state govt service only in August of the same year. I could not burn someone’s house in Nigeria from there, in any case, arson is a crime. And if I burnt his house in June 1996 ( 25 years ago) and got appointed barely yet months later back to Nigeria, (Lagos State govt service), the question ought to be asked, why was he silent, all thru including my time as governor of Lagos state, until today.
I think my credentials on NADECO in my time in Lagos is enough testimony. Indeed I suffered an attempted assassination on 16 Dec 1996, in Lagos, orchestrated by the powers that be, because I was seen as a NADECO agent myself. Find the story in any newspaper of the following day – 17 Dec 1996. The cheek and absurdity of the clown.

While the first letter above was from JMK, USA regular host of NADECO meetings, whose house was allegedly burnt down by the USA spies of the late General Sanni Abacha led Military Junta, it became necessary to read out both letters at the venue by the organiser for the public clarification.

Realising the negative impacts this 11th-hour allegation will have on the outcome of the event, Comrade Awa Bamiji stood up to the task by his quick and intelligent response to Otunba JMK and group conversation with the prominent political and civil society leaders which included the leadership of the National Assembly and four invited governors, representing the executive arm of government, directly and indirectly, both of whom were billed to be the Guest Speakers, apart from the SW Governors as the Guests of Honour.

This prompted this input from Comrade Erubami:

“You are just informing me now Sir, of what transpired in the USA and I strongly believe that being a high ranked military man around this period, he couldn’t be exonerated from the Junta plot against the June 12 actualisation struggles, just like Gen but now President Muhammadu Buhari, who God had used to endorse the June 12 as Nigerian Democracy day for us, the biggest record-breaking in the struggles.

Gen Buba Marwa had contributed to the growth of democracy in Nigeria since 1999 till date, which means turning around according to the dictate of the clock and he is now in a Progressive Party, APC.

This qualifies him more than anything else as a strong voice from the North whose inputs in the “2023 Yoruba Presidency” could not be quantified.

I was nobody during the lifetime of the Late Cicero but today, 20 years after his death, God is still using me to coordinate his annual memorial Symposium. Everything is time.

Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Olu Falae, Senator Abraham Adesanya, Gov Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe, Senator Mamora, Gen Marwa, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Justice Adewale Thompson and key others inaugurated the Grand Council of Yoruba Youths in 2001, 20 years ago, and later Gen. Marwa always approved free flight tickets to any part of Nigeria for our Exco apart from his cash donation and personal attendance during the event. I was told he did the same for the Youths in other Region which included Dino Melaye.

Thank you, Sir, for the great enlightenment, which gave me a rare opportunity to introduce Gen Buba Marwa to you from our own angle too”.

And Comrade AWA Bamiji response to Comrade Mashood Erubami comment on the matter.

“Not at all, Sir.

“How can we remove any key player at this stage because of an allegation raised by someone?

“JMK planned sabotage with his eleventh-hour fire shot which he is being posted viral. In the real sense, the Civil Societies and our Community at large today, are full of the converted June 12 saboteurs who are now wearing a new face and an attempt to disown them means dismemberment.

“I expected him to raise this allegation when his name was announced as the new Chairman of NDLEA or against President Muhammadu Buhari when he was contesting the Presidential Elections.

“Yoruba ni ti a ko ba gbagbe Oro Ana, a ko ni ri Eni ba sere.

“He can not expect us to be serving his personal interest at the expense of our Target – 2023 Presidency Sir”.

Comrade Mashood Erubami: “You make sense with your response. I had thought we should remove him to save the day. You know that may be a good reason by our Comrades not to attend”.

“He should be removed from the program based on this new and additional information. I think! – Comrade Mashood Erubami

Awa Bamiji to JMK: “If I were you, I will be so glad to be in attendance even through zoom to diplomatically take him up on this vital allegation for him to prove his innocence.

“Mind you, Sir, he couldn’t disobey orders from above then, just like you were also fighting in solidarity with your Political Leaders, MKO and others.

“He had contested for the Presidency inside this democracy since and in politics, there is no permanent enemy but permanent interest.

“He could be your own Saviour tomorrow.

“Just as I am now doing between you and Ogbeni Aregbesola, when Chief Bola Ige had a cold war with Senator Abraham Adesanya, I kept on relating with both of them as their footsoldier and none of them ever told me I was wrong.

“Our interest now is on 2023 and every useful individual must be brought on board Sir”.

The 2nd Co-Chairman, Senator Biyi Durojaiye was represented by another Yoruba Elder from the Yoruba Self – Determination Struggles, Pastor Banji Ajayi, a leading figure from the Campaign for Democracy.

The four Discussants were invited, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi was represented by Comrade Shina Loremikan while the remaining two, Oba (Comrade) Abiodun Sowunmi and former and most popular NANS President ever, Comrade Segun Mayegun, attended the event and contributed their intellectual quotas to the Programme.

Also in attendance were Alfa Daud, Chief Imam, Iju Ishaga Mosque, the June 12 Victims led by Abiodun Mustapha, a.k.a. June 12 and Akin Orisagbemi, former Aide to the Late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. The renowned Omo Odo Agba Cultural Troupe did the needful during the 3 separate interludes, which attracted an additional audience from the Neighborhood.

It was adjudged to be the best event ever arranged in that venue as food packages and drinks serve went round and no one was left out apart from the effective means of transportation of all participants to and from the venue and press coverage. It was rounded off around 4 pm.

All the Speakers concluded on true federalism, fairness, equity and justice, as the only means to avoid a repeat of the 1983 and 1993 post Elections’ Violence in the forthcoming 2023 general election.

The following day, which was Saturday, June 12, 2021, the Epetedo @ 27 train moved to Eko FM Multipurpose Hall, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, to join the Eko Youth Democracy Day Symposium alongside Comrade Linus Okoriji, Chairman, June 12 Coalition and Hon Segun Olulade, former Lagos State Honourable representing Epe Constituency 2, chaired by Comrade Ayo Opadokun and organised by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Youths, Akanbi Ade Saheed and their Leadership presence spiced up the gathering to the admiration of both the Eko youth audience and the Media in attendance. The June 11 National Discourse at Epetedo and June 12 Eko Youth Democracy Day Symposium were hosted by Lagos State Government at Eko FM premises.

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