Arrest, detain, and kill him: The Day Late Gen. Abacha Gave Instruction How Sen. Adefuye’s survived-Editorial

“Unknown to me, they kept me there, while arranging for the ammunition as well as those who will do the execution. Secondly, they were looking for vehicle to convey me out of lagos. The arrangement was that, on their way to Kwara, they should kill and dump me anywhere, and allege, that, I escape from custody”Sen. Adefuye

-November 14, 2023, News-Editorial

Sen. Anthony Adefuye is the Olugbon of Lagos and also, Chairman and Chief Executive officer, Aresco Construction Company Limited, based in Lagos. He is one of the Nigerian patriots, that represented Lagos East Senatorial district in the second and third  republic. A close associate of the self-acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola.

In a book written in the Senator’s honour by Dr. Taye Popoola, a University of Lagos lecturer in the department of Mass Communications, titled “The Man, Sen Anthony Adefuye, Olugbon of Lagos, narrated the ordeal the Adefuye went through towards cheating death when the late Military Head  of State  and dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha wanted the Senator’s head, having perceived him as an enemy of the state alongside other patriotic Nigerians, in the struggle for the annulment of June 12 by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. It could be recall that Anthony was Abiola’s electoral agent at Jos 1992 Social Democratic Party (SDP) convention.

The Narrative according to Sen. Adefuye as captured in the book:

The Abacha years disrupted so many of my plans in life. Since then, I have struggled to recover.

During the UNCP era, we were in Owerri for the convention of the party. You would recall that I was the Lagos State chairman of the party. At Owerri, I was introduced to the crowd just as other  state chairmen were introduced. Later, somebody came and was paying so much attention to me.  He was following me closely  and at a stage, he embraced me and I was also watching him very closely because of the way he was looking at me with admiration and excitement.

The second day of the conention,  I was going to see Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in his office and I was standing by the road looking for a taxi, when this brand new Honda car stopped and reversed and asked me to come on board, that he will take me to wherever I wanted. Around this time, the  ‘Otokoto’ sage was making wave in Owerri and so, I declined his offer.  As a matter of fact, I told him, ‘ you want to go and use me for ‘Otokoto’, na lie, you no get me’. Then, the man came down  only to be the same person who hugged and embraced me the previous day at the convention.

He asked, do you remember me ?, I said, no, how can I remember you’ Otokoto’ man. He said. No. don’t be funny; he was the same person who was greeting me at the convention ground yesterday’ Then what, I replied. You will never get me for Otokoto. He persisted and said I should come on board, that he would drop me wherever  I’m going. I said, I was going to see Chief Iwuanyanwu. He said, he was going the same direction. Otokoto was the nickname of the hotel in Owerri where some guests were reported to have been killed for ritual.

So, I entered his car.  After about two minutes of dead silence in the car, I was watching him and very at alert to see what his next move would be. He then enquired why I’ve not asked him why he was so interested in me. I said, I’m just watching you and your next move because as I’m in your car, I’ve prepared my mind that both of us will die together if you make any wrong move. He started laughing and said no. He then introduced himself as a security operative and personal friend to Gen. Jeremiah Useni, the then FCT Minister, Abuja. He said he was with him (Useni) the day Gen. Abacha phoned and gave instruction that I should be arrested , detained, and killed.He said after Useni had answered his call, he went into a rage and said. Aha! This man will kill everybody.  He has ordered that we should eliminate Senator Adefuye. The said, Useni was depressed and waited for sometime, before passing the information to Ibrahim Coomasie, the then Inspector-General of Police who in turn passed the information to James Danbaba, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State at the time.

I was busy working on my table, when a man came one early morning, even though it was not unusual for people to enter my house and seek help. I had though it was he was probably here to seek help. I told him him to please wait in order to finish what I was writing. In fact, if I he had seen what I was writing then, probably, he would have killed me immediately’ because it was about June 12 annulment and Abacha issues.

After 30 minutes, and I was still writing, he coughed and said, look I cannot wait till eternity. Then, I asked, what can I do for you?. It was then I saw a walki-talkie with him. He said the Commissioner of Police wants me. I asked him to inform the Police of Police that by 12noon,  I will be with him. He said no I’m supposed to take you there. I said then you will drag me there and I will shout for everybodys help. Then, the man made a comment in Yoruba, that what I was doing was not the best. That he was instructed since last night to pick me up that he wanted me to enjoy my sleep. Then, I called him a bastard. That you have been told since last night and you cannot inform me, so that I can escape! So, your agenda is to arrest and kill me?. I told him’ do you know we are fighting for your rights?. I said by the grace of God, you will not benefit from this struggle at the end of the day

The man sir, ah! Sir, is it a curse?. I said it is more than a curse. We both then agreed that we will call the Commissioner of Police on his walkie-talkie and seek advice, if I could come later. Danbaba, the then Commissioner of Police agreed that I could come at 12pm.

As soon as he left, I took the phone and called Gen. Oladipo Diya who was the then second-in-command to Gen. Abacha, I asked him the nature of the offence I have committed, that warranted my arrest, that my house has to be surrended by heavily armed policemen this early morning?.

He was surprised and exclaimed!, arrest? I said yes sir, my house was even surrended by policemen who demanded I should follow them to their office but that I was just lucky to have sent them off in order that ic ould phone you, but promised to meet them at 12noon. Gen. Diya then said, Tony, he called me three times and said,I should make sure at 12noon, I am there.

I said, after that, what next?. He asked me to leave the rest to God and for him to handle. After the discussion, I got prepared to visit the police commissioner at noon. At exactly 12noon, I was there. In fact, the police at the gate were aware of my was coming.  They put me in one room that was poorly ventilated. Worst still, there was no air conditioner. After about fifteen minutes, they started coming to peep at me one after the other. You can as well read from their faces that they were not happy at all, and they were taking a glimpse of a man they may never see again

Unknown to me, they kept me there, while arranging for the ammunition as well as those who will do the execution. Secondly, they were looking for vehicle to convey me out of lagos. The arrangement was that, on their way to Kwara, they should kill and dump me anywhere, and allege, that, I escape from custody. After about four hours, these people (i.e, policemen) came back again. This time, their countenance has changed. Their utterances were equally pleasing. They said one after the other, ‘we are coming sir, and things like that.  Later, the Commissioner invited me to his office. He had summoned all heads of departments who sat round a big conference table. He said, “Yes, Senator, we are giving you the first public warning to desist from causing trouble’.  I said Sir, when did I become a  troublemaker?. He said, “But they said you are making trouble?. He had forgot himself and had said it before he realized it. Then, he asked the HOD to leave. He then embraced me and advised that whatever I’m doing spiritually, I should keep doing it, that the Lord is with me. He however pleaded that I should drop the June 12 struggle. He reminded me that Amb. Babagana Kingible who was Basorun Abiola’s running mate had given up the struggle and was made a minister, so, what is my own problem. It was later, when I saw this man, ( I mean, the security operative and personal friend of Jeremiah Useni) in Owerri that I knew everything that happened. The man said, look, you must have a friend at Aso Rock who saved you. Whoever that friend is, go and thank him.

Later, I went to Gen. Diya and narrated what happened in Owerri to him. He said I should forget about it. I insisted I want to know what happened. Gen. Diya said I am a lucky man. He told me that for a very long time, Abacha had not come down because he was sick and that when I phoned him, he was highly disturbed because he knew such instruction could only come from Abacha. He said fortunately, at 12noon, he can came down wanting to go the Mosque, it was a Friday. I just rushed to him without protocol to say sir, I want to talk to you. And after the necessary greeting, told him that Senator Adefuye is a friend. “What has he done? He said if he is your friend, you ought to have advised him to desist from making trouble in Lagos. Gen. Diya then told Abacha, that, someone must have given him wrong information. He said he pleaded with him for a long time and that suddenly; it just occurred to him that he could suggest they phone the Governor of Lagos State to confirm whether or not Senator Adefuye is a troublemaker. He then said Abacha obliged and a call was made to the governor, Col. Olagunsoye Oyinlola who was then the governor of Lagos State to verify the allegation made against me. He responded and told Abacha that I’m not a troublemaker.

He further explained to Gen. Abacha that in fact, I helped them sometimes when there was a need. Gen. Abacha now asked him to give example of such occasions that I have been of help. When we approached Senator Adefuye of the possibility of epidemic if the refuse is not cleared, he agreed to help. We always go and pick him every 12 mid-night for road cleaning operation/exercise. Gen. Abacha then said, ‘are you sure he did that and Governor Oyinlola answered in affirmative.

The Head of State then directed Oyinlola to phone the Police Commissioner immediately to release me.  That is why till now, Gen. Diya remains my very good friend. You know a friend who could save one’s life is more than ordinary friend.

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