Document #1176548
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
No reports of the detention of Moshood
Abiola at his home/compound, nor of the compound's surveillance,
nor of the arrest of the security personnel assigned to guard the
compound in the two months following the June 1993 elections, could
be found among the sources consulted by the Research
Directorate.
However, there are numerous reports of
Abiola making public statements in Nigeria during the months of
June and July 1993, from both his home and at press conferences
(Africa Research Bulletin June 1993, 11041; AFP 19 June
1993; The New York Times 27 June 1993; The Times
6 July 1993; AFP 12 July 1993; Reuters 26 July 1993; AFP 31 July
1993; Reuters 2 Aug. 1993). On 18 June 1999, The Christian
Science Monitor wrote that Abiola "has remained in his house
in Lagos throughout the stop-and-go five days and has appealed to
Nigerians to stay calm. 'Of course he is a bit low,' said one of
his close aides, 'but he is not taking it lying down.'" A 29 June
1993 IPS report referred to Abiola as "[breaking] his silence
denying charges of malpractices levelled against him and Bashir
Tofa of the National Republican Convention." In further information
on his stay at home, The Christian Science Monitor quoted
the disappointment of an official of Abiola's Social Democratic
Party at the fact that he did not tour the country immediately
after the June elections and that "instead he stayed at home, too
frightened or too narrow-minded to venture out" (13 Aug. 1993).
On, or just before, 5 August 1993, Abiola
left Nigeria (Radio Nigeria 5 Aug. 1999; AFP 5 Aug. 1999;
Keesing's Dec. 1994). He went to the United Kingdom
(ibid.) and then went on to the United States (ibid. Aug. 1993;
The Christian Science Monitor 13 Aug. 1993; Africa
Research Bulletin Aug. 1993, 11105). He returned to Nigeria on
24 September 1993 (Keesing's Sept. 1993; Africa
Research Bulletin Sept. 1993, 11141; AFP 24 Sept. 1993).
There are also reports of the security that
was around Abiola during this period. Financial Times
referred on 26 July 1993 to the "fortified" nature of his compound
with a semblance to the "home of a head of state." This publication
stated that his compound was "besieged by well-wishers since his
unofficial victory was annulled" and that "excited Abiola fans were
admitted through massive gates at intervals by security guards." In
addition, there were reports of the presence of police escorts,
similar to those of a head of state, when he travelled (ibid.;
Time 9 Aug. 1993).
Abiola was arrested on 23 June 1994 "after
coming out of hiding to defy the military-backed government" (AFP
23 June 1994; Keesing's 1995). In a 26 June 1994 report on
the plans of Abiola to declare himself president on the anniversary
of the 1993 elections, West Africa stated that he had
"gone underground" and that "Abiola made the proclamation after
breaching the security cordon around his house in Lagos and
escaping from virtual house arrest. ... police had taken up
positions around Abiola's house as early as Friday June 10
1994."
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is
not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any
particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the
list of additional sources consulted in researching this
Information Request.
References
Africa Research Bulletin: Political,
Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. September 1993. Vol. 30,
No. 9. "Nigeria: Abiola's Return."
_____. August 1993. Vol. 30, No. 8.
"Nigeria: Civilian Window-Dressing."
_____. June 1993. Vol. 30, No. 6.
"Nigeria: Catalogue of Events."
Agence France Presse (AFP). 23 June
1994. "Abiola Reportedly Arrested After Addressing Supporters in
Lagos." (BBC Summary 24 June 1994/NEXIS)
_____. 24 September 1993. "Abiola Heads
Home After Six-Week International Campaign." (NEXIS)
_____. 5 August 1993. "Nigerian
Opposition Leader at Foreign Office." (NEXIS)
_____. 31 July 1993. "Abiola Opposes Any
Compromise." (FBIS-AFR-93-146 2 Aug. 1993)
_____. 12 July 1993. "Babaginda Meets
Military Over Political Crisis." (NEXIS)
_____. 19 June 1993. "Abiola Declares
Self Election Winner." (FBIS-AFR-93-117 21 June 1993)
The Christian Science Monitor
[Boston]. 13 August 1993. Paul Adams. "Nigeria's Political Crisis
Revives North-South Split." (NEXIS)
_____. 18 June 1993. Paul Adams.
"Elections Suspended, Nigerians Again Find Democracy in Peril."
(NEXIS)
Financial Times [London]. 26
July 1993. Paul Adams. "Nigeria's Other head of State: Abiola is
Cultivating His Image as a Leader as He Plays a Wary Game With the
Military Ruler." (NEXIS)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 29 June 1999.
Remi Oyo. "Nigeria: Riots, Boycotts Follow Political Impasse."
(NEXIS)
Keesing's Record of World
Events [Cambridge]. 1995. Vol. 41. "Politics: 1994 Key
Events."
_____. December 1994. Vol. 40. "Nigeria:
1993 Overview."
_____. September 1993. Vol. 39.
"Nigeria: Proposals for Fresh Elections."
_____. August 1993. Vol. 39. "Nigeria:
Flight of Abiola."
Radio Nigeria [Lagos]. 5 August 1999.
"Nigeria: Minister Says 'Constitutional Freedom' Allows Abiola's
Visits Abroad." (BBC Summary 6 Aug. 1993/NEXIS)
Reuters. 2 August 1993. Tunde Obadina.
"Political Crisis Still Grips Nigeria." (NEXIS)
_____. 26 July 1993. "Thousands of
Nigerians Flee to Home Towns." (NEXIS)
The New York Times. 27 June
1993. Kenneth B. Noble. "Nigerian Military Ruler Announces New
Elections." (NEXIS)
Time. 9 August 1993. Barry
Hillenbrand. "Nigeria: Brink of an Abyss." (NEXIS)
The Times [London] 6 July 1993.
Elizabeth Obadina and Kate Anderson. "Lagos Explodes in Violent
Protest Over Election Veto." (NEXIS)
West Africa [London]. 26 June
1994. "Picking up the Gauntlet."
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential. [London].
June - September 1993.
Africa Research Bulletin: Political,
Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. June - September
1993.
Indexed Media Review [Ottawa].
June - August 1993.
New African [London]. June -
September 1993.
Resource Centre. Nigeria country file.
June - September 1993.
West Africa [London]. June -
September 1993.