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Suggested Further Reading

SUNDAY MUSINGS
This Man Called Abdusalami Abubakar

By: Mobolaji E. Aluko, PhD , Burtonsville, MD, USA

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December 20, 1998

Since June 9, 1998, we have had a new military dictator at the helm of Nigerian affairs. His name is General Abdusalami Abubakar.

If you read the latest December 1998 Newswatch interview of Abdusalami Abubakar, you will see that this man is a smooooooth operator, an operator with a slight touch of humor, underneath which is a lot of - shall we say - cunning. He doesn't talk much, but nowhere near Abacha's morbid taciturni(ci)ty. But the little Abubakar says speaks volumes.

I have been searching without success for a phrase to describe General Abdusalami Abubakar, until something we often used to say in primary school and secondary school hit me: "green snake under the green grass."

Well, I offer you an imaginary conversation between myself and Abdusalami to buttress my point.

An Interview with General Abdusalami Abubakar.

"Thank you for granting me an interview, Sir. My name again is Rueben Alatishe."
"Welcome, Ruby" [Wink, wink]

"How has it been since you became Head of State?"
"Fine. I came here by accident, but I am doing things by design."

"Tell us about Abacha."
"He was my boss."

"No - what was your relationship?
"When he was right, I told him he was right. When he was wrong, I told him so. Sometimes when he was wrong, and he convinced me otherwise, I then told him he was right. That is how I survived so far in my chosen profession."

"Did you tell Abacha not to run, not to try to succeed himself?"
"Are you kidding? How can you tell a man who has not told you he would run not to run? " (Wink, wink!)

"But you suspected?"
"Well, we heard and saw a few things here and there. A million dollars here, two million marchers there, just a few things."

"Do you know how he died?"
"No...well, I hear there were some women around, and when they were questioned, there was nothing to hold against them. So they were released for good foreign relations." (Wink, wink!)

"I hear that he wanted to retire you and a number of people." "Ee get as ee be, o! Nor be me alone, Akhigbe, dis, dat,.."

"When did he want to retire you?"
"The very, very day that he died!" (Wink, wink)

"Do you know why?"
"No...but since he is dead now, we will never know."

"How did he die?"
"He died."

"I mean - when and how did you know he died?"
"Well, I got a call to Aso Rock, to come to Aso Rock to meet Oga at 11:30 am. When I got there, Bamaiyi was there too, summoned to Aso Rock. We were just looking at each other, asking, "Do you know what Oga wants?"

"Then?"
"We were told that the man died. Just like that."

"Did you cry?"
[Taking a white 'kerchief and dabbing his eyes.] "Old soldiers never cry." (Wink, wink!)

"What about Abiola?"
"What about him?"

"The man died."
"Yes - he did. On the very very day that I wanted to release him." (Wink, wink!)

"This "very very day" business. Twice now - with Abacha, Abiola."
"Ee get as ee be."

"What about June 12?"
"Last one 1998 or next one 1999?"

"No. I mean the troubles associated with June 12?"
"Well, Abiola is dead now. So that is forgotten. We must move on."

"You really think so?"
"What can I say?"

"All this money that Abacha, Gwarzo, Ani, etc. had been stealing or converting into their pockets nko?"
"It surprises me too."

"Are you going to prosecute?"
"We are thinking of it...but we have so little time.."

"And all the confessions about murder of Rewane, Kudirat, etc.?"
"We are thinking of prosecuting too.. but we have so little time.."

"You have been travelling a lot.."
"I like travelling."

"...to South Africa, France, US, Britain, Burkina Faso..."
"I like travelling."

"..to Niger, Benin, again to South Africa..."
"I like travelling."

"You don't talk much, Sir."
[Silence.]

"There is no petrol in the country."
"That is bad. It is embarrassing, particularly since the petroleum ministry is under the Presidency."

"What will you do?"
"Fire the old task force, and get new members."

"What about if they don't perform?"
"Fire them again and get new members. By the time and fire and hire, May 29, 1999 will be here."

"Talking about fire. Jesse?"
"That was unfortunate. People should not steal petrol."

"But more than 1000 died, Sir! They could not all be stealing petrol."
MI> "They should not live near those who steal petrol."

"Your announcement of wage increases did not go too well."
"Not well at all."

"Why not sir?"
"Gidado Idris made me do it."

"The Secretary to the Government made you do what sir?"
MI> "Made me sign the order."

"For example, my state Osun cannot pay the minimum wage set."
"Your state is not Ekiti?" [Wink, wink]

"How is the transition program going ?"
"Very fine. The Local government elections went fine."

"There were many problems..."
"In life there are always problems."

"APP, PDP and AD have now been registered."
"My congratulations to them."

"We hear that the government is supporting PDP, and Obasanjo for president."
"Nobody is supporting President Obasanjo."

"Did you say President Obasanjo?"
"Freudian slip." [Wink, wink!]

"Are you really leaving in May 1999?"
"My father-in-law has told the world so, and I dare not disappoint."

"And he is?"
"Fatima's father, a member of NEIC. Do you know anybody at NEIC?" [Wink, wink.]

"No sir, not at all sir! So we can trust your word that you are leaving in May 1999?"
"Yes, if I want to keep my one and only wife Fatima!" [Wink, wink!]

"What will you do after you retire?"
"Set up a farm in Minna like President Obasanjo." [Wink, wink!]

"President Obasanjo?"
"Another Freudian slip" [Wink, wink.]

"This interview is almost over, Sir. So how is the First Lady adapting to Aso Rock?"
"Please call her Fatima."

"How is Fatima doing?
"Very fine."

"Did you remember to change the Aso Rock bedsheets?"
"Why?"

"You know - stains and all. Abacha was pretty active, we hear."
"Oh, yes we did. We changed the whole bed, and fumigated the place." [Wink, wink!]

"Did Fatima ever dream of becoming the First Lady?"
"Who would have thunk?"

"Thunk sir?"
"That is an Americanism. I thought you are from America? I did virtually all my senior military studies in America." (Wink, wink.)

"I hear that the First Lady is a judge."
"A very fine judge"

"Does she keep you just?" "Very much so. Just and warm. We have six kids." (Wink, wink!)

"She went to the University of Ife?"
"From 1971-74, I think."

"I was at Ife too - from 1971-76. I did English."
[Excited] "Not Chemical Engineering? Did you know my wife at Ife?"

"Well, yes. There was this lady in the Faculty of Law, the only female student from the North in Law. So she stood out."
"That is my wife!"

"Up Ife!"
"Great Ife!"

"Thank you, Your Excellency."
"Thank you, Bolaji Aluko. Only Allah is Excellent."

"Bolaji Aluko sir? Who is that sir?"
"I will get you arrested if you don't confess" [Wink, wink.]

"I confess."
"My regards to your family."

"Yes sir!"

What I am getting at is that under his wry humor is some purposive actions which will unfold only with time. And he knows more than he lets on. Like some Roman emperors of old.

We shall see where it all leads the country.

Best wishes all.

Return to August 20, 2001 Monday Quarterbacking

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Published with the permission of Dr. Bolaji Aluko