Need Inspiration? This Former Slave, Biddy Mason, Became A Real Estate Mogul And Left The World A Better Place Before Her Death.
“The open hand is blessed, for it gives in abundance, even as it receives.” Biddy Mason, Former Slave and Pioneering Entrepreneur.At her death in 1891, Biddy Mason’s wealth was approximately $300,000 or about $7,000,000 in today’s dollars. More impressively, the land she owned in downtown Los Angeles is now worth hundreds of millions. Incredibly, this former slave, who never spent a day in a classroom, didn’t purchase her first property until she was nearly forty years old. Jackie Broxton, cofounder of The Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation, and Michelle Hester, portraying entrepreneur Biddy Mason.
Giving Lost Voices A Global Megaphone
I recently augmented my UC Santa Barbara UCTV Innovator Stories series, bringing back to life Lost Voices from unsung entrepreneurs of the past. I’ve focused on entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups, whose stories are less familiar, even to students of entrepreneurship.
The effort is a collaboration between UCSB’s History, Theater and Technology Management departments. The entrepreneurs are portrayed by UCSB theater students, who are coached by PhD candidates who have an intimate knowledge of the entrepreneurs’ place in history. In addition to Biddy Mason, the Lost Voices of Ng Poon Chew and Peter Biggs have also been resurrected via the series.
Collaborations across University departments can be challenging. However, I been very fortunate to work with some highly talented people, including History PhD student Laura Voisin George.
My original vision for the Lost Voices series was to simply have the historical figures answer questions while “in character.” Fortunately, Laura has experience creating first-person historical presentations. She suggested that the characters perform a soliloquy, followed by a Q&A session. This brilliant idea turbocharged the series and allowed the characters to truly “come to life.”
In 1848, Biddy arrived in what later became Salt Lake City from Mississippi, after walking over 1,700 miles during the six-month trek. This feat is even more remarkable when you consider that she had to care for her three children, an infant, a four-year-old and a child of ten. As she was enslaved to Robert Smith, she was also responsible to tend to his family, cook, midwife and herd his livestock.
In 1850, the California Constitution, which prohibited slavery, was ratified, though slaveholders who arrived in California before the constitution was passed were exempted.
In the intervening years, Charles Owens, a free African American businessman, became acquainted with Biddy’s daughter, Ellen. Charles’ father, Robert Owens, was an early Los Angeles landowner and together, father and son created a thriving entrepreneurial enterprise, supplying the Army with wood, horses, hostler services and various supplies.
By late 1855, Mr. Smith, who had arrived in California after the state constitution was ratified, became concerned that Biddy, and her relatives, would be freed. To avoid this possibility, he decided to move his family, and the people he had enslaved, to Texas, a slave-holding state.
Their wagons packed, Mr. Smith went to the Owens’ livery stable to sell some of their livestock, to raise money for their planned trip. Fortunately, Robert Owens realized Mr. Smith’s intentions and filed a writ of habeas corpus against him. In a panic, Smith attempted to cross the California border, but was stopped by a posse of local citizens, including Charles Owens, forcing him, and his entourage, to return to his ranch.
In January of 1856, Judge Benjamin Hayes declared that Biddy, along with thirteen members of her extended family, were free, despite not being allowed to speak in court (African Americans could not testify in legal proceedings) and the loss of her first lawyer, who quit because of death threats. Tragically, thirteen months after Biddy obtained her freedom, Dred Scott was denied his by the Supreme Court.
Creating Generational Wealth
Though she had no formal schooling, Biddy learned herbal medicine and midwifing during her many years in bondage. Once freed, she became the nurse of a prominent Los Angeles physician, Dr. John S. Griffin. He paid her two dollars a day, while the average daily laborer’s pay was about eighty cents.
Likely encouraged by Robert Owens, Biddy realized that land was a way to transfer wealth across multiple generations. After several years, she saved $250, which she used to purchase a lot on Spring Street in today’s downtown Los Angeles. During the early 20th century, the area of Ms. Mason’s real estate holdings was referred to as the Wall Street of the West. It is now known as Gallery Row, due to the proliferation of art studios and galleries.
In addition to amassing an impressive real estate portfolio, Biddy was also highly philanthropic during her years of freedom. Contemporary accounts indicate that strangers who knocked on her door never left hungry. She also began an orphanage, a school and co-founded the First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) church in 1872, which is now the oldest, and one of the largest, African American churches in Los Angeles.
While it’s not always possible to prevent liver cancer, you can reduce your risk by being vaccinated against hepatitis B, being tested for hepatitis C, practising safe sex, and limiting your consumption of alcohol.
Hepatitis B can be transferred from mother to baby during childbirth or breastfeeding, often resulting in a chronic infection.
What many people do not realise is that it is relatively easy to contract the hepatitis B virus, unlike viruses such as HIV.
Simply sharing a toothbrush or having small cuts on your hand and touching a doorknob with a trace amount of blood from someone with hepatitis B is enough to contract the infection.
People who become infected with the hepatitis B virus are often not ill when they acquired it and may otherwise be unaware of the infection until it does substantial damage.
If you have a family history of people who had liver disease, get tested for the disease. The consistent use of condoms can greatly reduce your risk.
If you have hepatitis B, you should advise your partner so that he or she can get vaccinated. Cut down on your number of sex partners. Limit processed foods and red meats. If you are a smoker, now is the time to quit. Don’t share injection needles and syringes.
The prominent Nigeria musician Adekunle Gold has buried his father, late Prince Hakeem Adeyemi Kosoko who was a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education in Lagos state but in a moving tribute to him wrote:
“I feel a great sense of loss to officially announce that after we fought so hard, my father passed on the 27th of May, 2019,” he wrote.
“My father was a GREAT man. He has always been the man I’ve looked up to. Growing up, I watched him work so hard for so little. He was very honest and has never been interested in shortcuts.
“Hard work and integrity meant everything to him. My father. I will always remember, what he said in this statement: “I’ve been in service far too long to let quick money ruin my reputation”. This was my Father.
“He is forever to be remembered as a teacher. My teacher. We all know that teachers weren’t big earners but my dad would ensure we always had everything we ever needed.”
“My Dad was so loving towards me. My father often wanted me to toughen up, it’s funny because he was the opposite tender and sentimental about me and my sisters.
“Sadly, I was not done making him proud, there are dreams I had with him in the picture, I don’t know guys, I really wasn’t done.
“I find little solace in something I read today. “God knows how to write straight on crooked lines” This area is very crooked for me, these are depths of grief that I have never dived. But God…God will figure it out.
“I thank you all for your prayers, your support, your kind words. None of them has gone unnoticed. I pray the love you’ve shown me will be accorded you in your time of need.
“To my Dad, the greatest man I will ever know in this life and the next, sun re o! Adieu, Papa. May your soul rest in perfect peace.”
All Praise is due to GOD Almighty Who spared our lives to be present at this great occasion. We give thanks also that the democratic process has been further entrenched and strengthened.
2. Twenty years ago, a democratically elected government took over from the military in a historic transfer of political power for our country.
3. Today, we are privileged to mark the longest period of unbroken democratic leadership and 5th peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another in Nigeria.
4. Throughout the last four years, I respected the independence of INEC. I ensured that INEC got all the resources it needed for independent and impartial management of elections in the country.
5. All interested parties are agreed that the recent elections, which except for pockets of unrest, were free, fair and peaceful.
6. I thank all the people who worked for our party, who campaigned and who voted for us. I thank my fellow Nigerians, who, since 2003 have consistently voted for me.
7. Victory is your greatest reward; peace, unity and greater prosperity will be our collective legacy.
Your Excellencies, Fellow Nigerians,
8. I and Nigerians collectively must give adequate thanks to our Armed Forces, Police and other law enforcing agencies for working round the clock to protect us by putting themselves in harm’s way and defending our values and protecting our future.
9. Terrorism and insecurity are worldwide phenomena and even the best policed countries are experiencing increasing incidents of unrest and are finding things hard to cope.
10. The principal thrust of this new Administration is to consolidate on the achievements of the last four years, correct the lapses inevitable in all human endeavors and tackle the new challenges the country is faced with and chart a bold plan for transforming Nigeria.
11. Fellow Nigerians, I have had the privilege of free education from Primary school to Staff College to War College.
12. I received my formative education in Katsina and Kaduna and my higher education in England, India and the United States.
13. I have worked and served in Kaduna, Lagos, Abeokuta, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Ibadan, Jos and finally here in Abuja. Throughout my adult life, I have been a public servant. I have no other career but public service. I know no service but public service.
14. I was involved at close quarters in the struggle to keep Nigeria one. I can therefore do no more than dedicate the rest of my life to work for the unity of Nigeria and upliftment of Nigerians.
15. In 2002-2003 campaigns and elections, I travelled by road to 34 of the 36 states of the Federation. This year I travelled by air to all 36 states of the Federation.
16. Before and during my time in the Armed Forces and in government, I have interacted with Nigerians of all ages and persuasions and different shades of opinion over a period of more than fifty years.
17. And my firm belief is that our people above all want to live in peace and harmony with their fellow Nigerians. They desire opportunity to better themselves in a safe environment.
18. Most of the instances of inter-communal and inter-religious strife and violence were and are still as a result of sponsorship or incitements by ethnic, political or religious leaders hoping to benefit by exploiting our divisions and fault lines, thereby weakening our country.
19. And our country Nigeria is a great country. According to United Nations estimates, our population will rise to 411 million by 2050, making us the third most populous nation on earth behind only China and India.
20. We have water, arable land, forests, oil and gas and vast quantities of solid minerals. We are blessed with an equable climate. However, the bulk of our real wealth lies in Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Mining. We possess all the ingredients of a major economic power on the world stage.
21. What we require is the will to get our acts together. And our strength is in our people – our youth, our culture, our resilience, our ability to succeed despite the odds.
22. A huge responsibility therefore rests on this and succeeding Administrations to develop, harness and fulfil our enormous potential into a force to be reckoned with globally.
23. Thus far, we Nigerians can be proud of our history since Independence in 1960. We have contributed to UN peace-keeping responsibilities all over the world; we have stabilized Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and two years ago we prevented the Gambia from degenerating into anarchy.
24. Without Nigerian influence and resources, the liberation of Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and ultimately South Africa would have come at greater cost. This fact had been attested by none other than the late Nelson Mandela himself.
25. Elsewhere, Nigeria is the Big Brother to our neighbours. We are the shock-absorber of the West African sub-region, the bulwark of ECOWAS and Lake Chad Basin Commission. We can therefore be proud to be Nigerians. We must continue to be Good Neighbours and Good Global Citizens.
26. At home, we have been successful in forging a nation from different ethnicities and language groups: our evolution and integration into one nation continues apace.
27. When, therefore we came to office in 2015 after a decade of struggle we identified three cardinal and existential challenges our country faced and made them our campaign focus, namely security, economy and fighting corruption.
28. None but the most partisan will dispute that in the last four years we have made solid progress in addressing these challenges.
29. When I took the oath of office on 29 May 2015, insecurity reigned. Apart from occupying 18 local governments in the North East, Boko Haram could at will attack any city including the Federal Capital, could threaten any institution including bombing the United Nations building and Police Headquarters in Abuja.
30. Admittedly, some of the challenges still remain in kidnappings and banditry in some rural areas. The great difference between 2015 and today is that we are meeting these challenges with much greater support to the security forces in terms of money, equipment and improved local intelligence. We are meeting these challenges with superior strategy, firepower and resolve.
31. In face of these challenges, our Government elected by the people in 2015 and re-elected in March has been mapping out policies, measures and laws to maintain our unity and at the same time lift the bulk of our people out of poverty and onto the road to prosperity.
32. This task is by no means unattainable. China has done it. India has done it. Indonesia has done it. Nigeria can do it. These are all countries characterized by huge burdens of population.
33. China and Indonesia succeeded under authoritarian regimes. India succeeded in a democratic setting. We can do it.
34. With leadership and a sense of purpose, we can lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
35. Following the 60 percent drop in oil prices between 2015 and 2016, through monetary and fiscal measures, we stimulated economic growth, curbed inflation and shored up our external reserves.
36. We now have witnessed 8 quarters of positive growth in the economy and our GDP is expected to grow by 2.7 percent this year.
37. Furthermore, our external reserves have risen to $45 billion enough to finance over 9 months of current import commitments.
38. This Administration is laying the foundation and taking bold steps in transforming our country and liberating our people from the shackles of poverty.
39. First, we will take steps to integrate rural economies to the national economic “grid” by extending access to small-scale credits and inputs to rural farmers, credit to rural micro-businesses and opening up many critical feeder roads.
40. Secondly, for small-scale enterprises in towns and cities, we shall expand facilities currently available so that we continue to encourage and support domestic production of basic goods and reduce our reliance of imported goods as I will outline later.
41. For the next four years, we will remain committed to improving the lives of people by consolidating efforts to address these key issues as well as emerging challenges of climate change, resettling displaced communities and dealing decisively with the new flashes of insecurity across the country, and the impacts on food scarcity and regional stability.
42. We are not daunted by the enormity of the tasks ahead. Instead, we are revived by this new mandate to work collaboratively with State and Local Governments, Legislators, the Diplomatic Corps and all Nigerians to rebuild and reposition our country as the heartbeat and reference point for our continent.
43. Fellow Nigerians, Your Excellencies, Ladies & Gentlemen:
a. Despite the enormous resources pledged to infrastructure development these past four years, there remains the urgent need to modernize our roads and bridges, electricity grid, ports and rail systems.
b. Whilst agriculture and industrial output have recovered since the recession, we are more committed than ever to work with the private sector to improve productivity and accelerate economic growth.
c. The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index which is the gauge of manufacturing activity in the country has also risen for 26 consecutive months since March 2017 indicating continuous growth and expansion in our manufacturing sector.
d. It still takes too long for goods to clear at our seaports and the roads leading to them are congested. It still takes too long for routine and regulatory approvals to be secured. These issues affect our productivity and we are committed to addressing them permanently.
e. Our Government will continue work to reduce social and economic inequality through targeted social investment programs, education, technology and improved information.
f. Our social intervention programs are a model for other nations. Together with state governments, we provide millions of school children with meals in primary schools, micro loans to traders and entrepreneurs, skills and knowledge acquisition support to graduates and of course, conditional cash transfers to the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.
g. A database of poor and vulnerable households is being carefully built based on age, gender, disability, educational levels for proper planning in this Administration’s war against poverty.
h. A database of unemployed but qualified youth has also been developed under the National Social Investment Programme which can be used by the public and private sectors for recruitment purposes. Cumulatively, nearly 2 million beneficiaries have received aid under this Programme apart from Anchors Borrowers Programme and School Feeding initiative each reaching 2 million recipients. And we will do more. Much more.
44. Fellow Nigerians, Your Excellencies, Ladies & Gentlemen, we know that there exists a strong correlation between economic inequality and insecurity.
45. When economic inequality rises, insecurity rises. But when we actively reduce inequality through investments in social and hard infrastructure, insecurity reduces.
46. The disturbing increase in rates of kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities can be attributed to the decades of neglect and corruption in social investment, infrastructure development, education and healthcare.
47. This issue is further compounded by the impact of our changing climate and ecology.
48. The ECOWAS and Sahel regions, starting from Chad all the way to Mali, are also experiencing adverse impacts of drought and desertification, which have triggered waves of human displacement; conflicts between farmers and herdsmen; terrorism; and a fundamental socio-economic change to our way of life.
49. These issues are regional and not unique to Nigeria alone. The problems call for increased regional and international cooperation in developing a sustainable solution.
50. As Chairman of ECOWAS, I will be hosting a regional security summit of heads of states in the Sahel to develop a Joint Strategy to continue our efforts in addressing these issues.
51. Fellow Nigerians, Your Excellencies, Ladies & Gentlemen, at the heart of inequality and insecurity, is pervasive corruption. When we took office we realised that if you fight corruption, corruption will fight back – and we have seen this at all levels.
52. For Nigeria to progress, a collective resolution to address corruption and foster broad-based prosperity is required to create a country that is not only for a few privileged, but for all Nigerians.
53. This charge is not only to Civil Servants, Ministers, Legislators and State Government functionaries, but also to Corporate leaders.
54. We shall make greater investments in our rural economies. We shall aggressively source locally our raw materials.
55. We have incentives for investments specifically made in rural communities.
56. However, nationwide development cannot occur from Abuja alone; it must occur at States. And Government cannot do it alone.
57. I therefore implore all State Governments, especially those with large rural economies, to aggressively solicit investments in your states. Invest in developing human capital, reducing bureaucracy and corruption, hosting and attending investment summits and improving the ease of doing business.
58. At this point, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the entrepreneurs, investors and venture capitalists who have built or are building agro-processing projects; petrochemical plants; crude oil and solid mineral refineries; energy exploration; software development projects; telecom infrastructure; health, education and manufacturing projects; and the like, across our country.
59. I would like to make special mention to promoters of our small businesses that are proudly making goods and services for export and for local consumption. The Nigerian economy rises and falls on the strength of your investments and productivity.
60. We will continue to listen to your ideas and plans not just about how we can secure more investment, but how your plans can help create a more equitable economy.
61. I also thank the labour unions, farmer groups and associations, organized private sector and the civil society organisations for their support and cooperation with our government these last four years.
62. We will continue to count on your support, guidance and understanding during the next four years.
63. I especially thank our traditional leaders and congratulate re-elected and newly elected State Governors and members of the National Assembly. Our Government will continue to count on your support so that we can together move our country forward.
64. Fellow Nigerians, Your Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies & Gentlemen, despite the challenges over the last four years, my optimism about Nigeria’s future is unshaken and Nigeria’s role in the world as an emerging economic force is without a doubt.
65. Over the next four years, we are committed to assembling a strong team of Nigerians, and allies, to implement our transformative plans and proposals.
a. We will see significant focus, resource and, where necessary reform, in tertiary and technical education to reposition Nigeria’s workforce for the modern technological age.
b. We will accelerate investments in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare programs, interventions and infrastructure as well as in upgrading of our medical personnel to stem the flight of our best trained people.
c. On food security, our farmers have made great strides in local production of rice, maize, cassava, poultry, fertilizer, fisheries and sesame. We remain resolute in supporting private sector in emphasizing backward integration and export expansion plans.
d. Felling of trees to provide energy for domestic use is taking its toll on our rain forests, our ecology and our climate. Accordingly, we are taking steps to harness cleaner and more sustainable sources of electricity. We export over 2 million tons of cooking gas, yet we consume less than half a million tons.
e. We will work to address this issue and support rural communities with challenges of safely switching from firewood to cooking gas.
f. Dedicated agro-industrial processing zones will be developed on a PPP basis to increase farming yields, agricultural productivity and industrial output.
g. Over 2,000 kilometers of ongoing Federal road and bridge projects across the country will be completed to reduce journey times and the cost of doing business. As I mentioned earlier, critical feeder roads will be built to facilitate easier transportation for people and goods from rural areas to major roads.
h. We are at advanced stages of securing investments to modernize and expand our transmission and distribution infrastructure, ensuring that electricity is available and affordable for all Nigerians.
i. Several rail, seaport and airport projects are at various stages of completion. We will open the arteries of transportation nationwide.
j. It is a fact that Nigeria has more gas reserves than it has oil. Over the last four years, we have become a net exporter of urea, which is made from natural gas. We invite investors to develop more natural gas-based petrochemical projects.
k. Fellow Nigerians, This Government will not tolerate actions by any individual or groups of individuals who seek to attack our way of life or those who seek to corruptly enrich themselves at the expense of the rest of us. We will crack down on those who incite ordinary innocent people to violence and unrest.
l. We will ensure that such actions are met with the strong arm of the law.
66. Nation building takes time. But we must take solace in the knowledge that this country, our country, has everything we require to make Nigeria prosper.
67. Fellow Nigerians, Your Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I invite you to join me in this journey of rebuilding our nation.
68. Our focus will not be to help the privileged few but to ensure that Nigeria works for Nigerians of all persuasions. That is a more just arrangement.
69. As we all know, correcting injustice is a pre-requisite for peace and unity. As part of the process of healing and reconciliation, I approved the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day and invested the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Babagana Kingibe with National Honours, as I did with the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. The purpose was to partially atone for the previous damage done in annulling the Presidential elections of that year.
70. Today, I propose the re-naming of the Abuja National Stadium. Henceforth it will be called MOSHOOD ABIOLA NATIONAL STADIUM.
71. In my first term, we put Nigeria back on its feet. We are working again despite a difficult environment in oil on which we depend too much for our exports. We encountered huge resistance from vested interests who do not want CHANGE, But CHANGE has come, we now must move to the NEXT LEVEL.
72. By the Grace of God, I intend to keep the oath I have made today and to serve as President for all Nigerians.
73. I thank you for attending this august occasion from far and near, and for all your best wishes to me, to our party and to Nigeria.
74. God bless us all, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Oyo State government has announced the cancellation of the mid-term break, for the third term of 2018/2019 academic session, for public primary and secondary schools in the state.
The announcement was contained in a circular signed by Mr I. O. Adeosun, the acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and made available to newsmen in Ibadan.
The cancellation was as a result of many public holidays and strikes, which made pupils/students of public schools stayed out of classrooms for too long.
The statement read in part: “Students of public primary and secondary schools have stayed out of classrooms for a number of days.
“For the reason of public holidays and strikes, the mid-term break for the third term 2018/2019 academic session, is hereby cancelled.”
According to the circular, the cancellation will give room for coverage of lost grounds, to the benefit of the pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday congratulated the newly elected principal officers of the 9th National Assembly.
Buhari conveyed his congratulations in a statement released to newsmen by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
Buhari hailed lawmakers and their political parties for their display of patriotism and non-partisanship before and during the 9th Assembly election.
He described the emergence of the new leaders of the National Assembly as “a new dawn, different from duplicity and perfidy of the immediate past.”
Buhari said: “The Executive does not desire a rubber stamp Legislature. While separation of powers is essential, collaboration among all Arms of Government should be the name of the game.
“The opposition need not be virulent.
“Stepping into the Next Level, the legislature has a big role to play for the goals of the administration to be achieved,” stressing that, “This is for the ultimate good of the nation,” he added.
The President also urged lawmakers who lost out to be gallant in defeat, and join hands with the victors who should exhibit magnanimity and eschew vindictiveness.
Senator Ahmed Lawan and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege emerged Senate President and Deputy Senate President of the 9th National Assembly, while Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Idris Wase emerged Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.
A gala night commemorating Nigeria’s first nationally observed June 12 Democracy Day held at the Aso Villa Banquet Hall on Tuesday, with President Muhammadu Buhari hosting some foreign leaders, along with Nigerian political leaders.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo gave the toast at the event, which was also attended by President of Namibia Hage Geingob, President of Liberia, George Weah and politicians such as the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
l-R Aisha Buhari, President Buhari, President Hage Geingob of Namibia and President George Weah of Liberia
Aisha, wife of the President and Dolapo, wife of the Vice President were also at the occasion. Photos by Novo Isioro.
June 12 commemorates Nigeria’s first freest and fairest election in 1993, won by Chief MKO Abiola.
VP Yemi Osinbajo gives a toast for democarcy
However, the election was annulled by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.
The annulment unleashed a political struggle, in which the media and the opposition political class were the targets of repression by the Abacha administration.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dolapo and Osinbajo
Dolapo Osinbajo, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and VP Osinbajo
President Buhari chats with new Senate President, Lawan, Dolapo Osinbajo, Osinbajo
Many Nigerians were jailed and many fled into exile, until 1998 when Abacha’s successor, Abdulsalami Abubakar began another round of democratisation that has endured for 20 years, since May 1999.
In a move that was hugely unanticipated last year, President Buhari declared June 12 a public holiday and gave a posthumous honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic to MKO Abiola. The award is the highest in Nigeria, the same that Abiola would have received if his election had not been annulled by the Babangida junta.
On Wednesday, 12 June 2019, Nigerians will roll out the drums to mark Democracy Day, declared so by President Muhammadu Buhari. To emphasize the importance of that day in the political history of the country, the Federal Government made the day to take the shine off 29 May, the hand-over date which, this year, was marked low-key.
On 11 June 1994, MKO Abiola declared himself the democratic president of Nigeria in the Epetedo area of Lagos. It was a day to the first anniversary of “June 12, 1993,” when Abiola, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, won the country’s presidential elections with a majority of 58.36% of the total votes cast. With that, he clinched 20 out of 30 states against the candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC), Bashir Tofa.
Notwithstanding that the election was widely considered by national and international observers as the nation’s freest and fairest, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Nigeria’s military president, decided to throw spanner in the works. He annulled the election.
It was a move that drove political activists, critical media, human rights lawyers, progressive students into the trenches. The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) was one of the outcomes.
Meanwhile, a year after the annulment and the installation of an interim government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan, General Sani Abacha sent the government packing at gun point though it was widely believed that Shonekan resigned.
It was at this point when “interim” ought to have yielded to a substantive democratic government headed by Abiola that Abacha came into the picture. The SDP candidate would have none of that! He drew a line in the sand.
Abiola, therefore, declared himself the president of Nigeria in the Epetedo area of Lagos on 11 June 11, 1994. Abacha, the Adolf Hitler of that period, in gestapo style, deployed 200 police vehicles to arrest and detain Abiola. He slammed treason charges on him.
For Abiola, it was a journey of no return. He died in detention on 7 July, 1998, after spending four years in the slammer.
Bellow is his speech
People of Nigeria, exactly one year ago, you turned out in your millions to vote for me, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
But politicians in uniform, who call themselves soldiers but are more devious than any civilian would want to be, deprived you of your God-given right to be ruled by the President you had yourselves elected.
These soldier-politicians introduced into our body politic, a concept hitherto unknown to our political lexicography, something strangely called the ‘annulment’ of an election perceived by all to have been the fairest, cleanest and most peaceful ever held in our nation.
Since that abominable act of naked political armed robbery occurred, I have been constantly urged by people of goodwill, both in Nigeria and abroad, to put the matter back into the people’s hands and get them to actualise the mandate they gave me at the polls.
But mindful of the need to ensure that peace continues to reign in our fragile federation, I have so far tried to pursue sweet reason and negotiation.
My hope has always been to arouse whatever remnants of patriotism are left in the hearts of these thieves of your mandate, and to persuade them that they should not allow their personal desire to rule to usher our beloved country into an era of political instability and economic ruin.
All I have sought to do, in seeking dialogue with them, has been to try and get them to realise that only real democracy can move our nation forward towards progress, and earn her the respect she deserves from the international community.
However, although this peaceful approach has exposed me to severe censure by some who have mistaken it for weakness on my part, those with whom I have sought to dialogue have remained like stones, neither stirred to show loyalty to the collective decision of the people of their own country, nor to observe Allah’s injunction that they should exhibit justice and fair-play in all their dealings with their fellow men.
Appeals to their honour as officers and gentlemen of the gallant Nigerian Armed Forces, have fallen on deaf ears.
Instead, they have resorted to the tactics of divide and rule, bribery and political perfidy, misinformation and (vile) propaganda.
They arrest everyone who disagrees with them. Even the 71-year old hero of our nation, Chief Anthony Enahoro, was not spared.
How much longer can we tolerate all this? People of Nigeria, you are all witnesses that I have tried to climb the highest mountain, cross the deepest river and walk the longest mile, in order to get these men to obey the will of our people.
There is no humiliation I have not endured, no snare that has not been put in my path, no ‘setup’ that has not been designed for me in my endeavour to use the path of peace to enforce the mandate that you bestowed on me one year ago.
It has been a long night. But the dawn is here.
Today, people of Nigeria, I join you all in saying, “Enough is Enough!
We have endured 24 years of military rule in our 34 years of independence.
Military rule has led to our nation fighting a civil war with itself. Military rule has destabilised our nation today as not before in its history.
Military rule has impoverished our people and introduced a dreadful trade in drugs which has made our country’s name an anathema in many parts of the world.
Even soccer fans going to watch the Green Eagles display in America are being made to suffer there needlessly because Nigeria’s name is linked with credit card and fraud and ‘419.’
Politically, military rule has torn to shreds the prestige due to our country because of its size and population.
The permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council that should be rightfully ours, is all but lost.
For who will vote for Nigeria to get the seat if Nigerian military rulers do not respect the votes of their own people?
Enough of military rule.
We are sickened to see people who have shown little or no personal achievement, either in building up private businesses, or making success of any tangible thing, being placed in charge of the management of our nation’s economy, by rulers who are not accountable to anyone.
Enough of square pegs in round holes.
We are tired of the military’s repetitive tendency to experiment with our economy: Today, they say “no controls.” Tomorrow; they say “Full controls”. The day after, they say “Fine tuning”. The next day, they say “Devaluation.” A few days later, they say “Revalue the same naira upwards again Abi?”
All we can see are the consequences of this permanent game of military “about turns;” high inflation, a huge budget deficit and an enormous foreign debt repayment burden, dying industries, high unemployment and a demoralised populace.
Our youths, in particular, can see no hope on the horizon, and many can only dream of escaping from our shores to join the brain drain. Is this the Nigeria we want?
We are plagued also by periodic balance of payments crises, which have led to a perennial shortage of essential drugs, that has turned our hospitals and clinics into mortuaries.
A scarcity of books and equipment has rendered our schools into desolate deserts of ignorance.
Our factories are crying for machinery, spare parts and raw materials. But each day that passes, instead of these economic diseases being cured, they are rather strengthened as an irrational allocation of foreign exchange based on favouritism and corruption becomes the order of the day.
Enough is enough of economic mismanagement! People of Nigeria, during the election campaign last year, I presented you with a programme entitled “HOPE ’93.”
This programme was aimed precisely at solving these economic (problems) that have demoralised us all.
I toured every part of Nigeria to present this programme to you the electorate. I was questioned on it at public rallies and press conferences and I had the privilege of incorporating into it much of the feedback that I obtained from the people.
Because you knew I would not only listen to you but deliver superb results from the programme, you voted for me in your millions and gave me an overwhelming majority over my opponent.
To be precise, you gave me 58.4 per cent of the popular vote and a majority in 20 out of 30 states plus the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Not only that, you also enabled me to fulfil the constitutional requirement that the winner should obtain one-third of the votes in two-thirds of the states.
I am sure that when you cast an eye on the moribund state of Nigeria today, you ask yourselves: ‘What have we done to deserve this, when we have a president-elect who can lead a government that can change things for the better? Our patience has come to an end.’
As of now, from this moment, a new Government of National Unity is in power throughout the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, led by me, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, as President and Commander-in-Chief.
The National Assembly is hereby reconvened. All dismissed governors are reinstated. The State Assemblies are reconstituted, as are all local government councils.
I urge them to adopt a bi-partisan approach to all the issues that come before them.
At the national level, a bi-partisan approach will be our guiding principle. I call upon the usurper, General Sani Abacha, to announce his resignation forthwith, together with the rest of his illegal ruling council.
We are prepared to enter into negotiations with them to work out the mechanics for a smooth transfer of power.
I pledge that if they hand over quietly, they will be retired with all their entitlements, and their positions will be accorded all the respect due to them.
For our objective is neither recrimination nor witch-hunting, but an enforcement of the will of the Nigerian people, as expressed in free elections conducted by the duly constituted authority of the time.
I hereby invoke the mandate bestowed upon me by my victory in the said election, to call on all members of the Armed Forces and the Police, the Civil and Public Services throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to obey only the Government of National Unity that is headed by me, your only elected President.
My Government of National Unity is the only legitimate, constituted authority in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as of now.
People of Nigeria, these are challenging times in the history of our continent, Africa, and we in Nigeria must not allow ourselves to be left behind.
Our struggle is the same as that waged by the people of South Africa, which has been successfully concluded, with the inauguration of Mr. Nelson Mandela as the first African President of that country.
Nelson Mandela fought to replace MINORITY rule with MAJORITY rule.
We in Nigeria are also fighting to replace MINORITY rule, for we are ruled by only a tiny section of our armed forces.
Like the South Africans, we want MAJORITY rule today, that is rule only by those chosen by all the people of Nigeria as a whole in free and fair elections.
The only difference between South Africa and Nigeria is that those who imposed minority rule on the majority rule whether it is by black or white, remains minority rule, and must be booted out.
I call on you, heroic people of Nigeria, to emulate the actions of your brothers and sisters in South Africa and stand up as one person to throw away the yoke of minority rule for ever.
The antics of every minority that oppresses the majority are always the same. They will try to intimidate you with threats of police action. But do not let us fear arrest.
In South Africa, so many people were arrested, during the campaign against the Pass Laws, for instance, that the jails could not hold all of them. Today, apartheid is gone forever.
So, let it be with Nigeria.
Let us say goodbye forever to minority rule by the military.
They talk of treason. But haven’t they heard of the Rivonia treason trial in South Africa? Did those treason trials halt the march of history?
People of Nigeria, our time is now. You are the repository of power in the land.
No one can give you power. It is yours. Take it!
From this day, show to the world that anyone who takes the people of Nigeria for fools is deceiving himself and will have the people to answer to.
God bless you all. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Long live the Government of National Unity.
See what Van Dijk said after 1-0 defeat to Portugal yesterday in Porto.
Netherlands captain, Virgil van Dijk, has insisted that he was “very proud” of his team after narrowly being edged out by hosts Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final.
Goncalo Guedes scored the game’s only goal after 60 minutes, with a powerful shot from the edge of the box as van Dijk and central defensive partner Matthijs de Ligt hesitated.
Although the Dutch came close to equalising a few times, the host nation held on for victory.
Senator Boroffice withdraws from Deputy Senate Presidency race for the ninth assembly.
Ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration of the National Assembly, front-line contender for the position of Deputy Senate President, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, has withdrawn from the race.
In a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Kayode Fakuyi, and made available to newsmen stated that “in deference to President Muhammadu Buhari”, Senator Borofice steps down for another contender for the position.
It was gathered that the decision was rectified last night at the caucus meeting of All Progressives Congress, APC, Senators-elect.
A source however disclosed that the third-term senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District stepped down for Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from Delta State.
The press statement issued on Monday read, “Some weeks ago, Distinguished Senator (Prof.) Robert Ajayi Boroffice, OON declared intention, through letters addressed to Senators-elect, to seek the office of Deputy Senate President. The intention to contest was anchored on the deep conviction that with his excellent public service record, rich legislative experience and personality, he has the best credentials for the position.
“Consequently, he embarked on extensive consultations with party leaders, senators-elect and political groups. Indeed, everybody that was consulted agreed that he is eminently qualified to seek the office of Deputy Senate President.
“Instructively, majority Senators-elect have assured the senator of their support and the prospect of victory is high.
“However, in deference to President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice has decided to withdraw from the race.
“For the support and solidarity, Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice is grateful to Senators-elect. He is humbled by the warm embrace and great display of camaraderie.
“We appreciate the people of Ondo North senatorial district and our friends across the country for the prayers, support and goodwill messages.
“For the far-reaching endorsements, steadfastness and unflinching support, gratitude goes to all concerned political groups across the country especially, the APC Young Stakeholders group, the Women for Buhari and Osinbajo group, and the Ondo APC Youth League,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the stepping down of Borofice has reduced the number of aspirants jostling for the Deputy Senate President’s position.
Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Kabiru Gaya, Senator Francis Alimikhena and Ovie Omo-Agege have shown interest in becoming the Deputy Senate President of the ninth Senate.
Jackie Broxton, cofounder of The Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation, and Michelle Hester, portraying entrepreneur Biddy Mason.
