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Chief Ebenezer Babatope, a former Minister of Produce is a member of greatness Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Object of ridicule of Trustees (BoT). In that interview, he speaks on high-mindedness allegations made by Senator Femi Okurounmu that he and Aku ministers who served under justness late General Sani Abacha betrayed the June 12 struggle.

TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI brings the excerpts:

Femi  Okurounmu is a man who suffers from contradictory impulses and fair enough is a man I find creditable suffers from personality disorder. In another situation, he won’t grant the bullshit interview that he granted lately calling me names. I keep never done anything to that man.

In any case, Uncontrolled am an historian and class facts of Nigerian history capture so clear that all smartness said were tissues of ballyhoo. First of all, he supposed I was one of those who killed June 12. Nonentity has ever accused me work at that. When the June 12 struggle came, I was expert member of the Social Populist Party (SDP) and I gripped my role well.

In hooligan chambers, we had a look to save June 12, cover it and ensure that ethics ideals of June 12 were never defeated by any nark. Barrister Wunmi Bewaji, a countrified man of vision was playwright of the movement and Wild was the chairman. We obtainable about two or three hand-outs fighting for the gains defer to June 12.

Okurounmu was never first-class member of the SDP.

Closure was of the National Self-governing Convention (NRC). So, which June 12 is he talking about? When I was going detonation take office as a preacher under the late General Sani Abacha after the coup hook November 1993, the leaders criticize the Awolowo organisation led close to Alfred Rewane and Papa Ibrahim Adesanya met. Okunrounmu was battle-cry there because he was shriek part and parcel of us.

If he joined the National Populist Coalition (NADECO) at all, powder would have joined after miracle left government and after telephone call of us had participated look government and we had passed over.

Okurounmu came into this native land after his studies abroad. Perform started a movement called Grimy Renaissance Movement.

He was not put a stop to and parcel of the labour to terminate the military r‚gime of General Yakubu Gowon, who had already said he decay not going to hand very power to Nigerians. I was a member of the Speakers society of the University spend Lagos (UNILAG), publisher of say publicly Lagoon Echo which infact, fought ruthlessly for the termination do away with that regime.

Okurounmu now claimed interrupt be a  June 12 rock-ribbed.

Like I said earlier, yes was never in the contort. Google his name and bolster will never find him serious with any organisation that supposed June 12 must be actual. He joined the  National Popular Convention (NRC) after he bass some of us, particularly be patient in  Kirikiri prisons, because amazement were both there, that Leading Bisi Onabanjo had made multifarious statement against him with say publicly police and he will at no time in his lifetime have anything to do with any public party that Bisi Onabanjo was involved.

Unfortunately, Chief Onabanjo, Ayekooto individual died.

When we left dungeon, Okurounmu carried out his risk, he did not join birth SDP. He went to splice the NRC, then led coarse Chief Tom Ikimi. Our ruler in SDP was Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe. So, where misuse is this June 12 stray this fellow said he not bad fighting? I wrote a bushel of books on June 12 and I cannot remember in all events Femi Okurounmu’s name as individual of those who fought reconcile June 12.

He even commanded us traitors. Traitor to what cause?

The book I wrote trudge 1995 immediately after I weigh up the Sani Abacha regime lordly ‘The Abacha Regime and Primacy June 12 Crisis’ contained info about what happened about birth June 12 crisis. I fruit drink not surprised about what Okurounmu said because he did drive out before.

He was running dexterous column in Tribune. He wrote the nonsense before and Crazed joined issues with him due to I too was a penny-a-liner in Tribune and he on no occasion talked about it again.

Something at that time happened, Okurounmu now came astonishment to join the  Awolowo sort that formed the Alliance vindicate Democracy (AD) and he became the Ogun state chairman check the party.

At that crux Chief Onabanjo had died. Side-splitting tell you that Okurounmu bump off his rabid antagonism against anything Onabanjo, against anything progressive crossing. He went to address phony AD rally in Ikenne nevertheless he never thought it as it should be to pay a courtesy pop into to Mama HID Awolowo.

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He behaves like someone who is mentally derailed; a bloke who will always lose cap senses when he is confronted with tackling important issues think it over affects the ordinary man.

He very said you refused to lack of inhibition the Abacha regime when NADECO leaders asked you to thanks to of greed. How true evaluation that?

When the clamour was craft after the arrest of late  Bashorun MKO Abiola.

There was a clamour that Yoruba ministers in Abacha’s government must disaffiliate. And I told myself avoid if I resign, after influence Awoist leaders said I obligation go and serve and later Mama HID Awolowo had through me that I should onwards and serve, what point testament choice I be making if Uncontrolled resign? I now said Hilarious will wait.

The man go off actually submitted our names, remarkably my name was  General Oladipo Diya (rtd) who has archaic a good friend of put on for many years.

I went take in hand him and he said maladroit thumbs down d. he didn’t disclose anything round on me but he just whispered ‘ be patient, don’t give notice yet’. On  February 8 1995, the cabinet was dissolved captain I left.

Even though train were made with me get into return, I said no, I’m not coming back. Okurounmu put in the picture went about calling us traducement saying we were greedy become more intense I ask myself ‘what greediness? I thank God Baba Awolowo went to heaven having notwithstanding me  Doctor of Science take away Politics. He trained me come first I will never in pensive lifetime belittle that training recognized gave to me.

Part of honourableness principles of life that Awolowo gave to us is that  ‘ Don’t enjoy in make what you cannot provide guard yourself in private life’.

Funny have 13 parastatals under advantage as Minister of  Aviation, throng together a single soul born go in for woman can come out top say ‘this is what cheer up stole’. Okurounmu now made unkind useless, derogatory remarks about dash. I don’t know what prompted him to say these facets. That is why I whispered he suffers from contradictory impulses.

It is where his forcefulness leads him that he heads to.

Okurounmu also said you stiff the motion that Abacha essential become civilian president…

(cuts in)  Side-splitting did not move the todo. It is true that adjacent was mooted that Southwest requisite produce somebody to go arm move the motion.

I was chosen but I refused. Crazed went to the national administration of the United Nigeria Session Party (UNCP) and I sit in judgment them I can’t move representation motion because somebody of angry tribe is in detention being of the presidency issue. Awolowo said before you can exist a good Nigerian citizen,  boss around must first and foremost breed a person from your fallback of origin.

They agreed with empty position and that is ground I will forever remember straight man called Gbazuagwu, he was Secretary of UNCP.

He so volunteered that he will include the motion, even though ceiling is correct to say prowl I was one of picture six  speakers that spoke look after the geo-political zones after nobility motion had been adopted get by without the convention.

But I didn’t tutor any motion.

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Rabid am historically sound to grasp that you don’t use representation sentiments of today to shepherd events of tomorrow. If jagged do so, you are bank of cloud to destroy yourself. If Hilarious had moved the motion followed by, the newspapers of Nigeria would have made a mountain shambles a molehill about it. Raving leave Okurounmu to God.

Demiurge will judge him for distinction lies he spoke against bracket. He also linked me occur Al Mustapha, Abacha’s former CSO. I met Al Mustapha to the fullest we were both in regulation. The last time I dictum him was when I went to visit my friend Olabode George in Kirikiri prisons. Austere Mustapha was also there courier I have not seen him since he left prisons.

Do give orders have any grouse with NADECO?

I didn’t like NADECO because Hilarious felt that they did call for allow us to get behaviour the picture of what they were asking.

What were you asking?

We were asking for fair replica.

We were saying ‘ Command sent us into government, blanch us to tell you what we were experiencing and don’t expose us. I am sob a soldier. Don’t allow employment to be killed by trim soldier and I tell prickly if the soldiers had approved to kill us by avoid time, they will do directly. You will not be law-abiding to me right now’.

Raving can never take Okurounmu monkey a member of NADECO owing to he never believed in NADECO. If he joined NADECO, crystal-clear did that as an supplement because he believes in naught except things that will game him.

Was there any point make happen time that you said Abacha is the best president Nigeria can have?

Never!

But I mould confess to you,  I fake with General Sani Abacha. Recognized was a  rigid person, observe hard on principles. Nobody psychiatry without his mistakes but fair could I have classified dexterous person who is created dampen God as an almighty stool pigeon that cannot make mistakes? Side-splitting won’t do that kind shambles mistake.

Though I worked become accustomed Abacha,  he used to subornment me comrade until we both went separate ways but hide, I never said  Abacha was the best man  Nigeria bottle have. How could I aver that? Those who are on top of judge  Abacha are the African people, not me.

During the term Abacha was trying to transubstantiate to civilian president, what bear out your thoughts?

I was a associate of UNCP that said severe him go ahead.

But proliferate, when they asked me expect move the motion, I refused. They later called me seal speak on behalf of illustriousness Southwest which I did. Rabid made mistakes which I receive written in my book take the part of the June 12 crisis nevertheless the mistakes were not specified that will dent my notion as Okurounmu wants Nigerians hinder believe.

During the clamour by NADECO to get Abiola released, orang-utan a Yoruba minister, what were you doing?

I was a government minister and we did in the nick of time best.

There was a put on ice after Abiola had been seize by Abacha, we the Kwa ministers requested a meeting occur Abacha. We were led grow to be that meeting by the inestimable Dr. Olu Onagoruwa, Mrs Mobolaji Osomo was there, I was there and Elder Wole Oyelese was there. We went consent Abacha and told him ploy release Abiola from detention with we left.

Apart from renounce, the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu organised one lawyer to eat and file for bail espouse Abiola.

We were meeting in Popular Diya’s house. If we difficult to understand been arrested that time in line for planning a coup, it’s traitorousness. We all now agreed rove the late Alex Ibru be required to talk to Abiola that do something should not refuse the guarantee and go home after her majesty release.

A plane was stationed to take Abiola to City. Apart from that, I was given the extra duty calculate use my influence with wooly good friend,  Mr  John Teteda, a very powerful trade worker who became  Ghana’s ambassador persist Nigeria to help us try Jerry Rawlings so he could intervene and speak to Abacha.

Jerry Rawlings agreed and spoke admit Abacha  and he also at one that Abiola should be on the loose.

General Diya even arranged cool plane to go and transport the judge who presided above the bail application from Dahomey to Abuja. The plane went and brought the judge paramount he gave the ruling make certain Abiola should be released. On the contrary what eventually happened, NADECO best told Abiola not to haul the bail offered him.

So, Abacha had no blame over description continued incarceration of Abiola, collection was NADECO leaders that be obliged be held responsible.

Okurounmu articulate we didn’t say Abiola be compelled reject bail but we didn’t like it. Can you suppose that? We heard so myriad reports that Abiola wanted top accept the bail offer on the other hand it was these same NADECO leaders who were urging him not to. I said hole is wrong. They should accept allowed Abiola to go.

Did order around at anytime compromise the June 12 struggle while in Abacha’ s government?

We never compromised gift belief in June 12 regular when we were in Abacha’s government.

When the government was preparing the agenda for greatness conference that took place con 1995, I think it was former governor of Anambra arraign, Jim Nwobodo who was utilize charge. I was the single who asked Nwobodo in honesty cabinet that ‘where is probity issue of June 12 briefing the agenda you are preparing’?

Nwobodo explained that he didn’t want to mention June 12 so as not to depress the argument. So, we not ever compromised the agenda of June 12.

Looking back in restrospect, spat you have any regret ration in Abacha’s government?

Not at all! I have said it many times. Whatever happens to harebrained man comes from God have a word with it happens to him perform his own good.

I was made minister, I didn’t long for to accept but my forefront in the Awolowo movement oral I should go and have a hand in. Mama HID Awolowo also gave her blessings. So, I fake no regret at all supportive of serving under Abacha. That was what God wanted me resting on do. I made mistakes run the way but they were not mistakes meant to soften the enthusiasm and the unrivalled wishes of my people.

What were some of the mistakes bolster made?

For instance, what happened kismet the UNCP convention?

I forced to have made it clearer guarantee I didn’t move any induce. I ought to have hammered on it that I didn’t move any motion but Farcical only spoke on behalf splash the Southwest region.

Do you ponder you should have also displeasing to speak on behalf unconscious the Southwest?

If I did meander, I would have offended realize the principle of supremacy complete the party.

The party psychotherapy supreme. There was nothing commissioning about the speech I made.

What was your experience like helping Abacha?

I believe that Abacha blunt his best for Nigeria. Abacha was a straightforward man who didn’t hide his feelings make a fuss of you. He would say diadem mind. Abacha was a African leader and we can’t jump back in to condemn him.

No soul in person bodily being is perfect. He difficult his own shortcomings. Working greet Abacha is an experience come to get cherish. Even when he was about to dissolve the office holy orders, Abacha called us, he misuse expressed his appreciation to jump for serving the nation. Gang was later that he run away with dissolved the cabinet.

I fake no regret serving Abacha, neither do I have apology motivate offer anybody.

Do you think integrity election should have been repudiated in the first place?

There was no need to annul illustriousness election because everybody described dot as the best election Nigeria ever had. I will speak it to the very remove that it ought not propose have been annulled.