Reproduced below is the speech
delivered by late General Sani Abacha, after booting Chief Ernest Shonekan,
Head of Interim Government (ING), out of office. Abacha was ‘Vice President,
Defence Secretary and Senior Minister’ by virtue of Decree 61promulgated by the
General Ibrahim Babangida. With all those positions, it was only a matter of time
before Abacha struck. He didn’t have to wait long, as a court declared ING
illegal.
********************
Fellow Nigerians,
Sequel to the resignation of the
former Head of the Interim National Government and Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces, Chief Ernest Shonekan and my subsequent appointment as Head of
State and Commander-in-Chief, I have had extensive consultations within the
armed forces hierarchy and other well meaning Nigerians in a bid to find
solutions to the various political, economic and social problems which have
engulfed our beloved country, and which have made life most difficult to the
ordinary citizen of this nation.
Chief Ernest Shonekan took over
as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces at a most
trying time in the history of the country.
Politically, economically, and socially, there were lots of
uncertainties. Things appeared bleak and
the atmosphere was heavy with uncertainties.
However, driven by a belief in himself, his countrymen, and love for his
country, he accepted to face the challenges of our time. I will, therefore, like to take this
opportunity to pay tribute to him for his selfless service to the nation. He showed great courage at taking on the
daunting task of heading the Interim National Government and even greater
courage to know when to leave.
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