Trials of Alex Ekwueme
Emeka Alex Duru Group Life Editor, Lagos
Daily Independent Thu Sep. 30 2010
In the widening class of contemporary Nigerian politicians who lay claims to democratic dispositions, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, stands out among the few with genuine convictions. Not known for banging his hands on the table in pushing his views, he is however known to have provided the guide light for the way forward in recent times when the nation’s journey to self actualization had hit the crossroads.
He was for instance, among the principled Nigerians who stuck out their necks in instituting the current civilian dispensation. And this was not without cost. By 1998, when the nation was literally convulsed with the maddening chorus of the late General Sani Abacha’s civilian transmogrification agenda, Ekwueme led other courageous Nigerians who called the bluff of the dark-goggled infantry officer. Abacha and his cheer leaders had manipulated the then five political parties in adopting him as their sole candidate in the 1998 presidential election.
However, Ekwueme and other compatriots fired a well-worded letter to the military ruler in which he was bluntly told that his antics were bound to fail. The authorities of the time did not take kindly to Ekwueme’s audacity. But Ide Aguata, was hardly bothered. For him, the action of his group was motivated by the need to save the fatherland.
