Men of SSS almost killed me in detention during June 12 struggle because of my physique–Abosanyin

Comrade Akin Abosanyin, a renowned pro-democracy activist is not new on the field of struggle for democratic rights. He was one-time Chairman, Campaign for Democracy (CD), and later Chairman, Committee for Defence of Human Right (CDHR). He held the positions during and after the anti- Military struggle and campaign to actualise the June 12 mandate of Bashorun MKO Abiola, the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election. In an interview on Friday June 12, in Lagos, Abosanyin relived the experiences of activists during the period, disclosing that security agents pounded him like a dangerous criminal while in detention because of his intimidating physique. He relieves his experience to PATRICK OKOHUE.

**********What does June 12, 1993 mean to you as a pro-democracy activist?

June 12 is a very important day in the annals of Nigeria history and a day to be remembered or relived with great nostalgia. With the lessons, inspirations, aspirations and its challenges, especially as regard democratic and effective leadership in Nigeria in the last two decades, it is most qualified to be named Democracy Day. And we have to thank the authorities for seeing it our own way by naming it Democracy Day.

***********Can we have a brief insight into some events that led to the struggle?

That is asking for a long thesis, because a lot of water has since passed under the bridge of time. So, if we must relieve events past particularly our popular struggle against the annulment of that experience by the military junta most especially in the South Western Nigeria, we may have to start from the beginning.

Against this background, it would be most appropriate and equally not out of place to put Lagos State as the spring board of pro-democracy activism that later spread across the country. It would also be more appropriate to properly situate the role played by Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the engine room of pro-democracy vehicle that moved across the country. It was the movement that occasioned today as Democracy Day. In a nutshell, Lagos State has always been the springboard of pro-democracy and revolutionary activism in Nigeria, the role which is still being played till date through Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

**********Apart from Tinubu, who were other active soldiers of the battle, dead and alive?

Thank you very much for that question, because it would be unfair not to mention, at least, a few names of major participants in the struggle. In that wise, there must be the need to chronicle some of the events of those grim days and some actors’ names must also be mentioned. Some of the known individuals were the likes of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, late Beko Ransome-Kuti, late Alao Aka Bashorun, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), Chima Ubani, Rotimi Obadofin, both of blessed memory, late Gani Fawehinmi also the late. Out of the above mentioned names only Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Femi Falana are still around today even as we celebrate the 27th anniversary of that episodic event.

And of course, occurrences during this historic period cannot be concluded without the mention of the following names among others, Comrades Abiodun Aremu (Arymson), Sola Olatunde who is now the monarch of his community. Others are Femi Obayori, Funso Mojuba, Adebayo Ojo, Razaq Olokoba, Rasaq Obasola Oladosu (Buska), Taiwo Otitolaiye Tunde King and a host of others including Prof Poju Akinyanju, Dr. Oloruntoba-Oju, Profs Odunleye Olorode, Dipo Fashina and Wumi Raji. The list is endless and the names are inexhaustible. 

This is needless to mention that all the aforementioned individuals suffered greatly in the hands of the military junta. They suffered psychological, physical torture, illegal detention in various jail houses and detention camps in Nigeria while a large number were exiled until the advent of “democratic rule” in 1999.

During our incarceration after the arrest, I was the most brutalised. My fear inducing physique and tough appearance made me their number one subject to deal with. They never for once underrated me. One of them, name withheld, wanted to shoot a colleague, Comrade Funso Mojuba who they suspected was psyche-influencing me through the use of cult signals to communicate with me.

So, the SSS guy attempted to fire a bullet into his left knee with a pistol but it was averted and the gun dropped, banging across the floor. That caused a lot of commotion. The team leader, an Ekiti man, then asked five other operatives to pound me to a pulp. They at the same time pounded me like I was a dangerous animal.

This pounding continued for the first two weeks of our detention. From the cruel direct – on – the face slaps and pounding, I am still suffering from sight and arthritis ailments till today.

***********Going by the current situation in the country, can you foresee the silver linen in the political horizon of Nigeria?

Well, it appears as if there is hope for full democratic footing in the country going by the way Lagos Governor, Babajide sanwo-Olu is handling the affairs of the most populous state in the country. We must always remind ourselves his noble and patriotic commitment. He has continued to keep the fire of good governance burning at making sure that our Eko remains truly the Center of Excellence, and the forefront of our national liberation movement from the Tinubu period down to Fashola’s era.

If not for Sanwo-Olu, one would have concluded that, some events in the country today have grossly shown that enough lessons of June 12 have not been learnt and that its inspiration also has not been properly drawn as well as aspirations of average Nigerians have not equally been met. So, with the Lagos administration’s performance therefore, it appears to those of us who still believe that a democratic governance and not mere civil rule in Nigeria is still possibly.

***********Do you have any word for your co-compatriots in the struggle, dead or alive? 

Yes. I will say, as we commemorate the June 12 today, I salute the courage of those citizens, cadres who were brutally gunned down like Alhaja Kudirat Abiola in the street of Lagos, being the heart of the struggle and across the country like Pa Alfred Rewane, may their soul find rest. And to those of us left behind, I enjoin them to sustain the courage to carry the struggle to a logical conclusion in the interest of our collective wellbeing.

Finally it is important to salute the courage and the commitment of Sanwo-Olu to toe the footsteps of Tinubu and Fashola which has continuously yielding democracy dividends to the citizenry and thereby keeping the flame of our struggle burning.