Former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ike Ibe in his Democracy Day message, has stated that “real democracy” should continue thrive in Nigeria.
The Former Chief lawmaker disclosed this in a statement, signed by his Personal Assistant, Chinedum Anayo on Wednesday, June 12, highlighting his experiences as member of Imo state House of Assembly and fight for democracy in Nigeria.
Hon. Ike Ibe starts, “By June 12, 1993, I had already spent 18 months as a member of Imo state House of Assembly. I was just 27 years and 8 months old then.
“I had already finished my brief stint as speaker of the house between April and May. Though I was a member of NRC then, we were already looking forward to the beginning of MKO Abiola SDP presidency.
“He won that most free elections in our national history conducted by Prof. Humphrey Nwosu who I later hooked up with as co exiles in United States. I chaired his daughter and my friend’s wedding then in Florida. Immediately upon the annulment of that election by General Babangida and subsequent takeover leading to dissolution of democratic institutions by General Abacha in November 1993, I rallied round some of my legislative colleagues and we announced that we did not accept the dissolution by the military junta.”
In continuation of his address, Hon. Ibe recounted on the military clampdown on their resistance, emphasizing that exile was the end result of all their endeavors to preserve the nation’s democracy.
“Of course some of us vocal ones were hunted down by the army and I had a brief detention at the 34 Field Artillery Brigade Obinze, Owerri.
“How I later escaped into exile and sought asylum in the United States in January 1994 is a whole other story.
“There, I quickly became one of the founding members of the exiled US branch of NADECO with Tinubu, General Okinrinade, Enahoro, Ralph Obioha, Lloyd Ukwu etc. We did everything in exile to put pressure on the western world against recognizing the junta.
“Demonstrations at White House, Congress, embassies, symposiums, workshops etc.
The former Imo state trade representative in the US spoke about his ordeals, discerning between what democracy they envisioned and what is practiced presently.
“As a co NADECO legal adviser with Lloyd Ukwu and led by our able leader Ralph Obioha, I worked vigorously on helping our members and their persecuted families gain asylum. Our office at 512 Tenth and E Street in downtown Washington DC beside FBI headquarters and close to White House was practically Nigerian democracy headquarters in exile.
“We toiled everyday there. We didn’t see our homes for many years while totally supporting the activities of the motherland branch of NADECO and our other branches in other countries. Our high point included the formation of NADECO (Kudhirat Abiola Radio Station).
“Our efforts with all other compatriots contributed immensely to the development of democracy in Nigeria. May real democracy thrive in Nigeria.
“We are not tired.” He concludes.
