----------
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Nigeria: Recent Documents
> Date: Monday, November 03, 1997 9:16 AM
>
> Nigeria: Recent Documents
> Date distributed (ymd): 971103
> Document reposted by APIC
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Region: West Africa
> Issue Areas: +political/rights+
> Summary Contents:
> This posting contains a press release from the Africa Fund
> announcing a New York City Council committee vote to rename a
> street corner in honor of the slain Nigerian democracy
> activist Kudirat Abiola. It also provides references to
> several other recent documents on the situation in Nigeria.
>
> +++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> The Africa Fund
>
> For more information contact The Africa Fund, 17 John Street,
> New York, NY 10038 USA. Tel: (212) 962-1210 Fax: (212)
> 964-8570 E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
> U.S. Ambassador "Convinced" Nigerian Regime Murdered Opponent
> -- New York City Votes To Honor Slain Democracy Leader
>
> October 27, 1997
>
> New York -- Former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Walter
> Carrington told the New York City Council today that he was
> "convinced" that the Nigerian military dictatorship was
> responsible for the murder of democracy leader Kudirat Abiola
> in June 1996.
>
> Carrington's charge came in testimony before a City Council
> committee in support of a motion to name the street corner in
> front of the Nigerian Consulate in honor of the slain
> democracy leader. The unanimous committee vote in favor of the
> renaming is a major political defeat for the Nigerian military
> government, which mounted an intense effort to block the name
> change. Final action on the motion is expected on Wednesday
> before the full Council, where approval is a near certainty.
> The idea of naming the corner after Mrs. Abiola was suggested
> by The Africa Fund and a New York City-based Nigerian
> democracy group, the United Committee To Save Nigeria.
>
> Mrs. Abiola, the wife of imprisoned President-elect Moshood
> Abiola, was in route to the Canadian Embassy to press for
> stronger international sanctions when she was gunned down in
> what the United States Government termed an "apparent
> assassination."
>
> "Kudirat was the opposition leader the Abacha regime most
> feared," the Ambassador said. "She was indefatigable in her
> efforts to unite all those who fought for a return to
> democracy in Africa's largest and potentially richest country.
> And for that I am convinced she was assassinated by agents of
> the military government."
>
> Ambassador Carrington, who represented the United States in
> Nigeria from 1993 until earlier this month, described to the
> Council a September 18th raid by heavily armed Nigerian
> security forces on a farewell party in his honor hosted by
> Nigerian human rights groups.
>
> Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, internationally
> respected for his leadership role in the anti-apartheid
> movement, made a second appearance before the Council to speak
> in favor of Kudirat Abiola Corner. Mayor Dinkins told the
> Council that they should do no less for the people of Nigeria
> than they did for South Africa in supporting the cause of
> freedom. "The cause of freedom knows no national boundaries
> and the people of the city of New York know that we can make
> a critical difference. We know because of our contribution to
> the peaceful liberation of South Africa. Censure and economic
> sanctions did in fact work."
>
> "The Council Committee vote today in favor of Kudirat Abiola
> Corner is a victory for the Nigerian people," said Africa Fund
> Executive Director Jennifer Davis. "It demonstrates that their
> struggle for democracy is supported by the people of America.
> Citizen action is important because the United States buys
> billions of dollars worth of oil from Nigeria every year. This
> gives the United States powerful economic leverage over the
> dictatorship."
>
> Reverend Richard Wills of Harlem's historic Canaan Baptist
> Church,representing civil rights leader and American Committee
> On Africa President Reverend Wyatt Tee Walker, spoke about the
> great concern of America's Christian churches, and
> particularly the African American churches, about the
> suffering of Nigeria's 110 million people under the
> dictatorship. Nigerian democracy activist Edward Opaoroji also
> spoke in favor of the street change, arguing that Kudirat
> Abiola represented the aspirations of all Nigerians.
>
> Chief Anthony Enahoro, one of the last great living leaders of
> the Nigerian independence movement and head of the National
> Democratic Coalition of Nigeria delivered a moving appeal for
> Kudirat Abiola Corner. Naming Kudirat a heroine who gave her
> life for something bigger than herself, he added:
>
> "If it is true that to die completely a person must not only
> forget but be forgotten, then Kudirat will never die
> completely, because she will never be forgotten.
>
> "Mr. Chairman and Council Members, yours is the historic
> opportunity to accord enduring recognition to an inspiring
> heroine, a victim of an awesome tragedy, a young African woman
> who dared to confront a brutal military regime and demand
> democracy and human rights for the Nigerian people -- Kudirat
> Abiola."
>
> **************************************************************
>
> Recently released:
>
> * From Human Rights Watch (Africa), Transition or Travesty?
> Nigeria's Endless Process of Transition to Civilian Rule
> Copies of this report are available from the Publications
> Department, Human Rights Watch, 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
> 10017-6104 for $8.50 (domestic shipping) and $13.00
> (international shipping). For more information Human Rights
> Watch (Africa), 1522 K Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20005;
> TEL: 202/371-6592; E-mail: [log in to unmask]; Web Site Address:
> http://www.hrw.org
>
> * A joint letter signed by 31 press freedom groups worldwide
> to the leaders attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government
> Meeting (CHOGM) in Edinburgh, Scotland on 24-27 October,
> calling attention to the numerous violations in Nigeria
> against freedom of expression. For further information,
> contact Akin Akingbulu, IJC, Box 7808, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria,
> tel/fax: +234 1 4924998/4924314, e-mail: [log in to unmask];
> or the Canadian Committee to Protect Journalists (CCPJ), 490
> Adelaide Street West, suite 205, Toronto, Ontario M5V 1T2
> Canada, tel: +1 416 703 1638, fax: +1 416 703 7034, e-mail:
> [log in to unmask], Web: http://www.web.net/ccpj
>
> * The magazine Delta, with extensive background on the Ogoni,
> Shell and other related issues, has released its October
> issue.  Contact Box Z, 13 Biddulph St., Leicester LE2 1BH UK;
> tel/fax: 44-116-255-3223; e-mail: [log in to unmask]  A web site
> (http://www.oneworld/org/delta) has been announced but is not
> yet operational.  The issue can be located, however, at
> http://www.essential.org/listproc/shell-nigeria-action
> in files named msg00348.html through msg00360.html
>
> ************************************************************
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