We made a mistake when we rejected the military's proposal to transfer power in 1999 - Shehu Sani
Former Nigerian lawmaker Shehu Sani said those fighting for democracy in Nigeria made a mistake in not heeding the call of the military to seize power in 1999.
Sani explained that Sani Abacha's successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, had asked them to hand over power but they refused to cooperate with the military, which he now considers a fundamental mistake.
He disclosed this at the Nigeria Lecture and Awards Ceremony in Abuja on Thursday.
The theme of the event was "25 Years of Uninterrupted Democracy – Challenges, Prospects and Opportunities".
During a panel discussion at the event, Sani recounted how he and other democracy activists were imprisoned for several years before the death of former military leader Sani Abacha, which resulted in the release of many democracy activists.
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According to him, “Abdulsalami Abubakar has invited all of us who fought for democracy and I want to hand over power to a democratic government and for all freedom fighters to come together and assume power.” At the time, Gani was against it.
"He invited us three times but we refused to even respond to his call. He invited politicians but he didn't even invite them. They knocked on his door."
Sani regretted not seizing the opportunity to seize power from the military as the African National Congress (ANC) did in South Africa, saying that by the time they decided to turn to the military, it was too late.
"After we decided to listen to him, we came and sat down. What are we doing? This is what the ANC did in South Africa. After the fight, they seized political power, but after our fight in 1998 and 1999, we made a fundamental mistake and said we would not cooperate with the military. "Mike Ozekhome is sitting here and he was one of those who were against us joining. Gani was against Falana, Olisa Agbakoba, they were all against us. Tinubu said: 'If we don't come, who will be there?'
"By the time we all agreed to join politics, politicians had taken over all the posts. Mike Ozekhome tried to be Edo State governor and couldn't, Olisa tried to be president and couldn't, Gani tried to be president and couldn't, Falana tried to be a state governor and couldn't, he tried to be Kaduna State governor but couldn't because all the posts were filled," Sani added.
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