‘Gen Akinrinade secretly led fight against Abacha’s regime’
Members of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital spoke on the role of General Alani Akinrinade(rtd) during the regime of the late General Sani Abacha.
Among the NADECO members at the 80th birthday celebration of General Alani Akinrinade, was the governor of old Oyo State, Brigadier General Oluwole Rotimi, Governor Kayode Fayemi, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, former Minister of External Affairs.
Others are; Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Segun Osoba, former governor of Ogun State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, former governor of Oyo State, Chief Bisi Akande, former acting National Chairman of the the All Progressives Congress, General Raji Rasaki(rtd), Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, ex-governor of Oyo state, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo, Orangun of Oke-Ila and several other traditional rulers.
They took turns to speak on how NADECO fought for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria.
Governor Fayemi of Ekiti State said though, people always credit the success of Radio Kudirat to him, it was the enormous contributions of Gen Akinrinade that did the magic.
Fayemi said, “I’m always credited for being the founder of Radio Kudirat. But, let me say openly here that he paid for the first set of the transmitter and some equipment.”
Prof Akinyemi on his part, said, “Gen Akinrinade gave us his office in London to use for NADECO. To actualize our mandate, Gen Akinrinade paid for most of our travels. The retired General went beyond giving his resources; he put his life on the line. He knew he was provoking the Abacha regime. They put him on surveillance; his house was bombed in Ikeja. His son who was sleeping in the house managed to escape. Alani later joined us in London when we demonstrated.”
Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State added; “he continues to render selfless service to the nation after a distinguished career and in retirement. He was a light and a pillar during the dark days of the military when his own primary constituency, the military, annulled the 1993 presidential election and supplanted the will of the people. At personal costs, Lt. General Akinrinade aligned with the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, to restore democracy and the dignity of the Nigerian nation.
“Lt. General Akinrinade is an encyclopaedia of Nigerian politics, having actively participated in the nation’s political evolution through the military days to the present democratic dispensation.
“As a patriarch of the progressives’ family, gentleman Akinrinade continues to offer counsel behind the scenes to nurture our political family, strengthen our democracy and build a successor generation.”