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Gani addressing the press
Sunday, March 13, 2005

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PRESS STATEMENT

ALI MUST GO. HE CANNOT STAY - REMEMBER 1978


Col. (Dr.) Ahmadu Ali is at it again. As a Federal Commissioner for Education under General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1978, he assaulted the Peoples' Right to free Education by increasing fees. His action inflamed the Nigerian students.

Naturally, the students reacted under the dynamic and purposeful leadership of Mr. Segun Okeowo.

Series of peaceful demonstrations against Col. (Dr.) Ahmadu Ali and General Olusegun Obasanjo's retrogressive educational policies were met with highhanded military reaction. Military tanks were rolled out. Military and police officers were given order by General Olusegun Obasanjo to deal with the students.

All the institutions of higher learning were highly assaulted by the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo in April 1978.

National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) was banned by General Olusegun Obasanjo as a result of the crisis.

The toll is loss of human lives was heavy and devastating between 18th and 20th of April 1978. Ten (10) undergraduates of institutions of higher learning lost their lives. The following were identified:
  1. Akintunde Ojo (University of Lagos)
  2. Nicholas Amai (Ahmedu Bello University, Zaria)
  3. Mohammed Najib Daura (Ahmedu Bello University, Zaria)
  4. Lasisi Abubakar (Primary School Samaru, Zaria)
  5. Gwusu Khasai (Ahmedu Bello University, Zaria)
  6. Nbbu Amuda Yusuf (Ahmedu Bello University, Zaria)
  7. Mrs. Arike Balogun (Pregnant housewife, near Unilag)
  8. An "Unknown" Secondary School Student of Ile-Ife
There were other victims of Ahmadu Ali and Obasanjo's highhanded dictatorship. The following students leaders were expelled:
  1. Segun Okeowo - (National President, National Union of Nigerian Students NUNS)
  2. Ekpein Appah - (President UNIBEN)
  3. Offiong Aqua - (President UNICAL)
  4. Bukar Mbaha - (President ABU)
The lecturers that were perceived by General Olusegun Obasanjo to be sympathetic to the cause of the students were dismissed. They were:
  1. Comrade Ola Oni - (University of Ibadan)
  2. Dr. Bade Onimode - (University of Ibadan)
  3. Dr. Omafune Onoge - (University of Ibadan)
  4. Dr. Wale Adeniran - (University of Ibadan)
  5. Dr. Akin Ojo - (University of Ibadan)
  6. Comrade Laoye Sanda - (The Polytechnic, Ibadan)
  7. Mrs. Bede Madunagu - (University of Calabar)
  8. Dr. Eddie Madunagu - (University of Calabar)
Ahmadu Ali's and General Olusegun Obasanjo's cruel hands did not spare two of the most outstanding, brilliant and competent Vice Chancellors. They were:
  1. Professor J. Ade Ajayi - Vice Chancellor, UNILAG (One of the greatest historians of all times)
  2. Professor Iya Abubakar - Vice Chancellor ABU (A first class intellectual genius)
They were both compulsorily retired by General Olusegun Obasanjo's regime.

One of the pillars behind students welfare and activism, Comrade Ebenezer Babatope (Ebino topsy) the Students Welfare Officer at University of Lagos was sacked, while Dr. Ladipo Sogbeti, Senior Medical Officer at University of Lagos was compulsorily retired.

Even the journalist with the incisively objective Pen, Bassey Ekpo Bassey the Political Editor of the Nigerian chronicle was dismissed.

As a lawyer to all Nigerian students who clearly supported the students cause and who provided legal and non legal succour to the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS), I was arrested, beaten up, detained at inter-centre, charged to court, tried but to the chagrin of Col. (Dr.) Ahmadu Ali and General Olusegun Obasanjo I was discharged and acquitted.

Although, some of the students were admitted back after losing some semesters or sessions and some of the lecturers were later taken back after several years, yet, the damage to Education was permanent.

Now General Olusegun Obasanjo and Col. (Dr.) Ahmadu Ali are at it again. This time in the party politics of Nigeria. They must be told that political parties are constitutionally recognized and established bearing in mind Section 221 - 229 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

Political Parties cannot be subjected to dictatorial whims or highhanded caprice of either Col. (Dr.) Ahmadu Ali or General Olusegun Obasanjo notwithstanding the fact that Ali is now Obasanjo's Chairman of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) and the latter is the President of Nigeria. The party system of Nigeria does not permit of dictatorship of either the President or the Chairman. The Constitution of Peoples' Democratic Party cannot ignore the Fundamental Rights of its party members. If Col. (Dr.) Ahmadu Ali and General Olusegun Obasanjo are allowed to render party system ineffective and inconsequential, then both of them (Ali and Obasanjo) will become dangerous impediments to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria and the consequence will be very dire for both the Peoples' Democratic Party and the future of this country.

To allow Ali to stay is to corrode the confidence of Nigerians in the efficacy of party politics as a significant platform for the sustenance of democratic process in Nigeria. If that democratic process is to be credible "Ali Mungo" (meaning "Ali Must Go" ).


CHIEF GANI FAWEHINMI LL.D, SAN
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