Document #1226751
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
On 1 October 1998, the Joint Action
Committee of Nigeria (JACON) led by Femi Aborishade, held a protest
rally at Yaba Park in Lagos (Sunday Vanguard 4 Oct. 1998),
at which hundreds of protesters burnt the national flag as a sign
of disillusionment with the military rulers of Nigeria (ibid.; AFP
1 Oct. 1998; DPA 1 Oct. 1998). The police reportedly watched the
burning of the flag but did not react (AFP 1 Oct. 1998; DPA 1 Oct.
1998).
The Deutsche Presse-Angentur (DAP) reports
that JACON called the demonstration on 1 October because it was on
that day that the late president, Sani Abacha, who died in June
1998, had, for three previous years, been promising to handover
power to a civilians government (1 Oct. 1998).
When General Abdulsalam Abubakar came to
power, he reportedly proposed a transition program (IPS 7 Dec.
1998). In July 1998, JACON reportedly called a meeting which
"unanimously" resolved to reject General Abubakar's transition
program. JACON allegedly advocated "a sovereign national
conference" which would be organized by a government of national
unity (ibid.).
According to the DPA, at the 1 October 1998
demonstration, one of the leaders of JACON, Osagie Obayuwana,
allegedly called on the people of Nigeria to boycott the elections
scheduled for February 1999 because JACON deemed the military to be
incapable of overseeing a transition to democracy (I Oct. 1998).
For additional information on JACON, please consult NGA31548.E of
30 March 1999 available at Regional Documentation Centres.
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 see the list
of additional sources consulted in researching this Information
Request.
References
Agence France Presse (FPA). 1 October
1998. Peter Cunliffe-Jones. "Nigerian Junta Boss Urges Smooth
Transfer Amid Peaceful Protest." (NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 1 October 1998.
"Nigerian Opposition Groups Burn Flag, Leader Lauds Rule of Law."
(NEXIS)
Inter Press Service. 7 December 1998.
Remi Oyo and Toye Olori. "Nigeria: General Obasanjo's Party Wins
Local Elections." (NEXIS)
Sunday Vanguard. 4 October
1998. "Mixed Grill At Independence Celebration."
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Research Bulletin: Political,
Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. October-November 1998.
Vol. 35. Nos. 10-11.
Keesing's Record of World
Events [Cambridge]. October-December 1998. Vol. 43. Nos.
4196-4198.
West Africa [London].
October-November 1998. October-November 1998. 4196-4198.