Category: News
Date of Article: 10/08/98
Topic: Soyinka Returns Tomorrow
Author: Philip Nwosu, Defence Reporter
Full Text of Article:

FACTS emerged on Tuesday of the return of exiled Nobel Laureate, Professor
Wole Soyinka to Nigeria after about five years on self exile in the United
States.
Competent sources close to the associates of the Nobel Laureate indicated that
Soyinka who met recently with the Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar,
in Washington, United States, would step on the shores of the country on
Friday.
The source did not, however, explain the arrangement put in place to receive
him, but it was gathered that efforts are being made by friends of the
professor to welcome him back to the country.
Soyinka and others had earlier indicated interest to return to the country
following the present government's liberal disposition towards exiles, but
rolled out conditions the government would meet before their return.
Among the conditions were the release of all political detainees and
prisoners, the probe of previous military governments, especially that of
General Ibrahim Babangida and late Gen. Abacha, and the immediate abrogation
of draconian decrees like, Decrees 2, 11, 12 and 14 of 1994.
On behalf of the Nigerian opposition members in exile, he notified Gen.
Abubakar of the need to restructure the military, the proper funding of the
police and the demilitarisation of Ogoni land.
Soyinka and a horde of other activists had fled the country in the wake of a
renewed crackdown on activists by the Abacha junta. They were variously
accused of acts of terrorism against the state.
Indeed, the treason charges levelled against the Nobel Laureate and others
were recently withdrawn by the police on the orders of the head of state, who
enjoined them to return home and participate in the socio-political
engineering process.
Others who fled the country in the thick of the repression were Chief Anthony
Enahoro and former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. General Alani Akinrinade (rtd).
Others include former Edo State governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Senator
Bola Tinubu.
However, some of the exiles have since returned to the country. They include
former Communication Minister, Col. David Mark (rtd) and Dr. Wahab Dosumu, a
Second Republic minister.
Following indications by government to pander to the demands presented by the
exiles, five of them who escaped from the repressive regime of Gen. Abacha
were to return to the country yesterday.
The team of returnees consist of Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd), the former
civilian governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and his deputy,
Reverend Peter Obadan.
Others in the team are Chief Ralph Uwechue, Mr. Tokunbo Afikuyomi, a member of
the House of Representatives in the Babangida administration, and Senator Bola
Tinubu, a leading member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
The returnee exiles were expected to arrive the Murtala Muhammed International
Airport in the evening yesterday.