Nigerians Shun Legacy of Abacha Foundation
October 12, 1998 - 0:0
ABUJA Across an empty marble hall, two huge television screens play continuously recorded speeches of late Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha. They play to each other. There is no one to watch. From the wall, Abacha's boyish features smile down from a garishly painted portrait one of the trappings of an embryonic personality cult that was aborted by his death in June to the obvious relief of many Nigerians. This is the Sani Abacha Foundation for Peace and Unity, which was to immortalize his name and give the short, dapper infantry general somewhere to retire when he decided he had had his fill of ruling Africa's most populous nation.
It was going to be like the Carter Foundation, said Peter Opara, the chief librarian of what must be one of the best collections of books on politics and Africa for students in the Nigerian capital if any stop by. A few months ago everyone who was anyone was coming here all the big names, politicians, businessmen, Opara said. These days there are few.
If all had gone according to plan, Abacha would have been installed for his first five years as Nigeria's civilian president on October 1, having won elections as the sole candidate fit to lead Nigeria into the new millennium. But on June 8, the 54-year-old suddenly collapsed and died. The official cause of death was cardiac arrest. Myth Makers Move On Many of those who took part in creating the Abacha myth have already joined the political scramble under Nigeria's new military ruler, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, a career soldier whose promise to give up power in May is widely believed.
Less fortunate are those of Abacha's henchmen who face questions over their role in the use of billions of dollars of oil money during a four-and-a-half year reign which left Nigerians the 13th poorest people in the world, according to Abubakar. Once-feared security chief Ismaila Gwarzo has been taken in for interrogation over the whereabouts of more than $1.45 billion. Others have also been called to account by a quiet probe initiated by Abubakar which aims to recover as much as possible.
Even ordinary Nigerians, who have grown used to the profligate ways of their leaders, have been staggered to hear reports of the billions of dollars which were stashed away during Abacha's rule. Some of those who spoke out at the time were locked up, driven into exile or died under mysterious circumstances. Many others were happy to pay lip service or encourage the Abacha myth in exchange for a small share of the loot.
I am not going to comment on that, says the foundation's director of programs, Idi Farouk, when asked whether the Abacha name is really one which Nigerians want to immortalize. The foundation was opened amid great fanfare on the anniversary of Abacha's 1993 coup last November the same day as the launch of the Abacha brand television set, to be followed later by Abacha rice, sandals and medicated soap.
Organization of African Unity Secretary-General Salim Ahmed Salim gave a keynote speech to the gathered worthies. Peace Studies Farouk sees a future for the foundation as an important center for study and research on the continent. A masters' course in peace studies is planned for next year. Of particular interest is Nigerian involvement in Liberia and Sierra Leone, where abacha ordered a Nigerian-led west African peacekeeping force to restore civilian democracy, to widespread applause outside and a sense of irony at home.
The foundation was set up by a group of private individuals for the promotion of peace and unity, said Farouk. Funding is by donations and we are still soliciting for donations...it is a very nice building. Few of Nigeria's under-funded and dilapidated universities can boast the library and computer facilities of the foundation. What it lacks is a chairman, although Abacha's wife Maryam is in theory acting as his deputy in the interim.
The clean smell of fresh plaster still lingers at her office across the way from her husband's room. But Maryam left Abuja on the day Abacha died for the couple's northern home city of Kano, where residents say she and her children are the targets of public abuse if they leave their fortified gates. The vice-chairman has not visited us for a few months, says Opara. Things may lie low here for a little while.
(Reuters)
It was going to be like the Carter Foundation, said Peter Opara, the chief librarian of what must be one of the best collections of books on politics and Africa for students in the Nigerian capital if any stop by. A few months ago everyone who was anyone was coming here all the big names, politicians, businessmen, Opara said. These days there are few.
If all had gone according to plan, Abacha would have been installed for his first five years as Nigeria's civilian president on October 1, having won elections as the sole candidate fit to lead Nigeria into the new millennium. But on June 8, the 54-year-old suddenly collapsed and died. The official cause of death was cardiac arrest. Myth Makers Move On Many of those who took part in creating the Abacha myth have already joined the political scramble under Nigeria's new military ruler, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, a career soldier whose promise to give up power in May is widely believed.
Less fortunate are those of Abacha's henchmen who face questions over their role in the use of billions of dollars of oil money during a four-and-a-half year reign which left Nigerians the 13th poorest people in the world, according to Abubakar. Once-feared security chief Ismaila Gwarzo has been taken in for interrogation over the whereabouts of more than $1.45 billion. Others have also been called to account by a quiet probe initiated by Abubakar which aims to recover as much as possible.
Even ordinary Nigerians, who have grown used to the profligate ways of their leaders, have been staggered to hear reports of the billions of dollars which were stashed away during Abacha's rule. Some of those who spoke out at the time were locked up, driven into exile or died under mysterious circumstances. Many others were happy to pay lip service or encourage the Abacha myth in exchange for a small share of the loot.
I am not going to comment on that, says the foundation's director of programs, Idi Farouk, when asked whether the Abacha name is really one which Nigerians want to immortalize. The foundation was opened amid great fanfare on the anniversary of Abacha's 1993 coup last November the same day as the launch of the Abacha brand television set, to be followed later by Abacha rice, sandals and medicated soap.
Organization of African Unity Secretary-General Salim Ahmed Salim gave a keynote speech to the gathered worthies. Peace Studies Farouk sees a future for the foundation as an important center for study and research on the continent. A masters' course in peace studies is planned for next year. Of particular interest is Nigerian involvement in Liberia and Sierra Leone, where abacha ordered a Nigerian-led west African peacekeeping force to restore civilian democracy, to widespread applause outside and a sense of irony at home.
The foundation was set up by a group of private individuals for the promotion of peace and unity, said Farouk. Funding is by donations and we are still soliciting for donations...it is a very nice building. Few of Nigeria's under-funded and dilapidated universities can boast the library and computer facilities of the foundation. What it lacks is a chairman, although Abacha's wife Maryam is in theory acting as his deputy in the interim.
The clean smell of fresh plaster still lingers at her office across the way from her husband's room. But Maryam left Abuja on the day Abacha died for the couple's northern home city of Kano, where residents say she and her children are the targets of public abuse if they leave their fortified gates. The vice-chairman has not visited us for a few months, says Opara. Things may lie low here for a little while.
(Reuters)