Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has revealed that the late Chief MKO Abiola, despite his pro-Western stance, staunchly opposed allowing the IMF and World Bank to dictate Nigeria’s affairs had he ascended to the presidency.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme from 0:23, Falana highlighted Abiola’s resistance to what he termed the imposition of directives by young officials from the IMF on Nigeria.
In a critique contrasting Abiola’s principles with current policies, Falana lamented what he sees as a departure from the June 12 mandate.
He stressed the importance of prioritising the happiness of Nigerians, as outlined in Section 16 of the constitution, rather than succumbing to external pressures.
Falana emphasised that Abiola’s stance exemplified a commitment to national sovereignty, despite his alignment with Western ideologies.
He said that Abiola’s skepticism towards international financial institutions reflected his belief in Nigeria’s autonomy to determine its own economic path.
Falana underscored that the current adoption of neoliberal policies contradicts the spirit of the June 12 struggle, which was rooted in the desire to enhance the welfare of Nigerians.
Falana said, “What is going on now in town is the religious implementation of neoliberal policy dictated by the IMF and World Bank.
“Whereas, Chief MKO Abiola had made the point that, as president of Nigeria, he would not allow the IMF and the World Bank to control Nigeria.
In fact, in his characteristic style, he did say, Who are these young men running the IMF to tell us what to do in our country?
“I think for us to celebrate the June 12 mandate, the government in power has a duty to promote the happiness of the Nigerian people in line with Section 16 of the Constitution.”…..Sée Móre
Check Out F-151 Thunder, Israel’s Most Feared Military Bomber Jet