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Letter from Amuda Abiola to Babafemi Ojudu

Egbon,

It is deeply disheartening that your longtime friend, political associate and fellow NADECO chieftain, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appears to have turned out worse than General Sani Abacha—the man you all opposed, condemned and, for five long years, portrayed as the Idi Amin of Nigeria.

I will not forget how the teams at TheNEWS and TELL magazines fought and disagreed with your mentor, Chief Gani Fawehinmi—one of the most sincere human rights activists in Nigeria’s history—in defence of the government of Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 1999 and 2000.

In those days, not even the men of Babangida and Abacha would have dared to appear on live television and make the kind of barbaric statement Senator Fadahunsi reportedly made yesterday. That was when TEMPO, P.M. News, TheNEWS and TELL—with people such as Femi Ojudu, Bayo Onanuga and others—were still in circulation and holding power to account.

By now, Western nations would have begun issuing warnings and speaking forcefully. The next edition of your magazine would probably have carried a screaming headline such as: “Democracy in Danger” or “Tinubu’s Men Raise Killer Squad.”

Femi Ojudu, Bayo Onanuga and another respected Egbon, Dare Babarinsa from Okemesi-Ekiti, were at the forefront of building the media support that helped Tinubu dominate the political space in the South-West, with the notable exception of the Tribune.

The monster you helped to rear has finally matured. Thank God that you and your colleagues are still alive to witness the poisonous venom now being released.

I am certain that you remain close to some of those working with the President. Kindly reach out to them and remind them of what President Goodluck Jonathan said in 2014: “My ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.”

What is happening in Osun State requires the urgent attention of the President. Ademola Adeleke and Bola Oyebamiji are both sons of Yorubaland. No election is worth the blood of innocent citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations.

We all witnessed how General Muhammadu Buhari presided over off-cycle elections during his eight years in office. Sai Baba was usually ready to congratulate whoever emerged victorious. President Tinubu must do no less. He must intervene urgently, restrain all sides and ensure that the Osun election does not descend into violence and bloodshed.