The Africa Fund
New York, New York, United States
June 18, 1998
2 pages
The release yesterday of nine Nigerian political prisoners, a group that includes former head of state Olusegun Obasanjo, trade unionist Frank Kokori and Milton Dabibi, democracy leader Beko Ransome-Kuti and journalist Christine Anyanwu is a victory for the Nigerian democratic movement and the international solidarity movement. We welcome this long overdue step. The releases are the first concrete indication that the newly installed military government of General Abdulsalam Abubakar is preparing to break with the repressive policies of the late and unlamented dictator General Sani Abacha. Thousands of other prisoners of conscience still languish in what has now become General Abubakar’s...
The release yesterday of nine Nigerian political prisoners, a group that includes former head of state Olusegun Obasanjo, trade unionist Frank Kokori and Milton Dabibi, democracy leader Beko Ransome-Kuti and journalist Christine Anyanwu is a victory for the Nigerian democratic movement and the international solidarity movement. We welcome this long overdue step. The releases are the first concrete indication that the newly installed military government of General Abdulsalam Abubakar is preparing to break with the repressive policies of the late and unlamented dictator General Sani Abacha. Thousands of other prisoners of conscience still languish in what has now become General Abubakar’s gulag. Among those still imprisoned is President-elect Moshood Abiola, whose instillation in office remains the non-negotiable demand of the democratic movement. Twenty indigenous Ogoni activists approach their fourth year in prison without trial for their peaceful opposition to the environmental destruction of their land by the Shell Oil Company. Human rights and democracy leader Olisa Agbakoba is still held without charge or trial for his role in organizing protests against the previous dictator’s scheme to preserve military rule through rigged elections. Thousands more remain in exile, including such outstanding democracy leaders as Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, and independence movement leader Chief Anthony Enahoro, and Ogoni rights activists Ledum Mitee and Owens Wiwa. The press release says Contact: Michael Fleshman.
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Used by permission of Africa Action (successor to The Africa Fund).
