by Taye Babaleye, Nigeria, March 1998
THEME = DEMOCRACY
Nigeria's paradoxical role in the restoration of democracy in Sierra Leone
On 10 March 1998, the democratically elected leader of Sierra Leone, Alhadji Tejan Kabba was returned to power, after almost 10 months in exile in neighbouring Guinea. On 27 May 1997, his government had been overthrown in a military coup d'etat, led by a group of young army rebels led by Major Johny Paul Koroma. Major Koroma's unpopular military regime, was in turn, overthrown by the Nigerian-led soldiers of the West African Peace Keeping Force (ECOMOG) in a military operation that lasted barely two weeks. ECOMOG's commander, Major General Timothy Shelpidi and his adjoint, Colonel Maxwell Khobe, both Nigerians, believed that a military option was the only way of restoring the duly elected government in Sierra Leone. Why? Because the military junta rebels had refused to respect the accord signed with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders last October, in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. On that occasion, the junta had agreed to Tejan Kabba returning to power in April 1998.
Tejan Kabba was able to regain power a month earlier than stated in the agreements, because most Sierra Leoneans wanted it. They had paid no attention to criticisms from Major Koroma and his supporters, that Nigeria's military government (equally an illegal regime), had no moral right to campaign for democratic rule in their country. Sierra Leoneans supported the ECOMOG troops as they entered Freetown to flush out the military junta.
Also, the role of the Sierra Leonean native militia, the Kamajors, mainly local hunters, cannot be under-estimated in the restoration of democracy in Sierra Leone. With dane guns, spears, arrows, clubs and matchets, the militia gave the rebels a tough time, with the logistic assistance and superior fire-power of Nigerian soldiers operating at times from Liberia.
President Tejan Kabba's return is a triumph for democracy, thanks to the role played by Nigeria in the whole episode. It is perhaps the first time in the history of West Africa, that an illegal and illegitimate military government has been driven from office by a foreign power.
When the military junta deposed Tejan Kabba last May, Nigeria wasted no time in condemning their coup. Nigeria's leader, General Sani Abacha, took the diplomatic initiative in campaigning against Sierra Leone's illegal regime. He later changed his tactics, to embarking on a military onslaught against Sierra Leone's military junta.
A somewhat bizarre episode, because after all, Abacha himself attained power at the point of a gun! He imprisoned Chief M.K.O.Abiola who had won Nigeria's 12 June 1993 presidential elections. And of all Nigeria's leaders, Abacha has the worst human rights record. Under his rule, many Nigerian democrats have either been assassinated or thrown into jail for no reason at all. Some have been lucky to escape from Nigeria with their lives. At the time of writing, more than 100 human rights activists, journalists and pro-democracy leaders, including the former head of state, General Olusegun Obasanjo, have been incarcerated on trumped-up charges.
To silence the voice of dissent, many newspapers have been proscribed, whilst editors and members of their families have been arbitrarily arrested or at the very least, detained without charges. Even organized labour and other national organisations have not escaped. These include the Nigerian Labour Congress, the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers, the National Association of Nigerian Students, the Non-Academic Staff Association, the Academic Staff Union of Universities. The list is endless. Others are rendered inactive through government intervention in senior appointments. These include the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Nigerian Union of Teachers etc.
It's ironic that a military regime with such an unenviable human rights record, has appointed itself the "saviour" of democracy in another land.
Observers wonder if Nigeria's intervention in Sierra Leone, was a deliberate strategy to win the cooperation and sympathy of the international community. Whatever the case, Nigeria has succeeded in scoring a positive point by its intervention in Sierra Leone. But the paradox remains.
The international community condemned Major Koroma and his cohorts, and applauded the role played by the Nigerian-led ECOMOG forces. Now political observers are adopting a "wait-and-see attitude", vis à vis Nigeria's own military government. Will General Sani Abacha allow the will of Nigeria's silent majority to prevail, as happened in Sierra Leone? Will he hand over power to a democratically elected leader in October 1998 as he has often promised? To champion the course of democracy in Sierra Leone is certainly good, but it is not enough.
Nigeria. Practice what you preach. The world is watching!
END
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