PRESS CONFERENCE BY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF NIGERIA

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF NIGERIA

Ibrahim A. Gambari, the Permanent Representative of Nigeria, opened a press conference at Headquarters this afternoon by confirming the death of Chief Moshood Abiola. On behalf of his Government, he expressed condolences to the family of Chief Abiola and to all Nigerians. Describing Chief Abiola's death as an act of God, he called on Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the goal of establishing a democratic government in Nigeria.

He said an autopsy would be performed in the presence of Chief Abiola's doctors and some members of his family. Nigerian President Abdulsalam Abubakar would make good on his recent promises to the Secretary-General to release political prisoners and to implement a programme of transition to democracy.

Mr. Gambari explained that Chief Abiola had fallen ill during a meeting with United States Under-Secretary of State Thomas Pickering and other officials of the United States and Nigeria. The Chief was rushed to the hospital, where he died. Mr. Gambari called on all Nigerians to accept his death calmly and as the will of Allah. The people of Nigeria should rededicate themselves to the peaceful attainment of a democratic Nigeria.

A correspondent asked if the death of Chief Abiola would affect the democratization process. Mr. Gambari replied that while there would be a period of mourning, it would not adversely affect the democratization process. The President, he said, would soon address the nation and lay out the steps that must be taken to establish a democratic civilian government.

What was the nature of Chief Abiola's illness and how long had he been sick? a correspondent asked. Mr. Gambari said the Chief had suffered a heart attack, but the autopsy would provide precise answers.

A correspondent, noting that the Secretary-General had met with Chief Abiola last Tuesday, asked why he was still in jail. Mr. Gambari said that consultations had been going on. The Nigerian Government, responsible for maintaining peace and order, had wanted to release Chief Abiola in a way that would not prejudice the security and peace of the country. Consultations on the Chief's release had been completed and President Abubakar had been scheduled to make an address to the nation announcing the release of all political prisoners, including Chief Abiola.

In response to another question, Mr. Gambari said that Mr. Pickering had been the latest in a very long list of foreign visitors to meet with Chief Abiola. That process was a demonstration of the steps taken by President Abubakar towards greater oneness and respect for human rights.

Nigeria Press Conference - 2 - 7 July 1998

Did any of the Nigerian people think that foul play was at work? a correspondent asked. Mr. Gambari said that while there might be some Nigerians and others who believed that, he appealed to all not to rush to judgement and to wait until the autopsy was completed. Nothing would be gained by inflaming passions and inciting people to violence. He stressed that the death of Chief Abiola was a tragedy for all Nigerians, not just his family.

A correspondent said that the odds were astronomical against deaths of the President and President-elect occurring within one month. Would the Nigerian Government be amenable to having an impartial autopsy performed by doctors recommended by the World Health Organization? Mr. Gambari said that, according to the Islamic faith, respect for the dead required that they be buried as soon as possible. Chief Abiola's autopsy was already under way. Nigerians were perfectly capable of conducting an autopsy and abiding by the results.

To avoid controversy, could not Islamic law be deferred and the autopsy conducted on neutral grounds by neutral people? a correspondent asked. Was not vindication a part of Islamic law and would the Nigerian Government adhere to that? Instead of presuming there had been foul play, Mr. Gambari said they should wait for the autopsy results.

Replying to a query, Mr. Gambari said that President Abubakar would keep to his schedule and make a speech to the nation by Thursday, or perhaps earlier. The President was as shaken as everyone else by the death of Chief Abiola. The President had intended to keep his promise to the Secretary-General to release political prisoners.

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