TUESDAY, 6.00PM:
A NIGERIAN opposition rally planned for Lagos was crushed by police on Wednesday, while a state-supported rally drew only 50000 people, rather fewer than the anticipated two million.
The opposition rally in Lagos, called to protest the candidacy of military ruler General Sani Abacha in presidential elections later this year, was met with warning shots and tear gas. Of the 2000 would-be demonstrators that turned up, 10 were arrested, including Olisa Agbakoba, a lawyer and former president of the Lagos-based Civil Liberties Organisation.
The state-supported rally in support of Abacha’s candidacy in October general elections was attended by 50000 people in the federal capital, Abuja, rather fewer than the anticipated two million.
Abraham Adesanya, leader of the National Democratic Coalition (Nadeco) said the different ways the state handled the two rallies proved that the junta’s transition programme is “a joke, a charade”.
Abacha, who seized power in November 1993, has promised that elections will lead to a handover of power to elected civilians in October. But his recent actions seem to suggest that he is planning to stand in those elections himself, thought he has yet to categorically admit this.
“Pro-democracy groups will be meeting very soon and we will decide our next line of action,” said Adesanya, adding that “all pro-democracy groups will be involved in the next rally.”
The Abacha regime has been criticised internationally for its human rights abuses.