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FNM Call to Action (11/22/97) Kudirat Abiola Corner NYC
Free Nigeria Movement
P.O. Box 441395
Indianapolis, IN 46244
Phone/Fax +1 (317)216-4590
Email: PR@FreeNigeria.org
Website: http://www.FreeNigeria.org
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FREENIGERIA"
Radio Station: Voice of Free Nigeria (VoFN) 11.715 kHz, every Saturday
at 1900Hrs GMT (8:OOpm Nigerian Time)
Nigeria; Nazi Germany of the 90s
- Ibrahim H. Muhammed
For Immediate Release
(Please distribute widely)
FNM Call to Action (11/21/97) Kudirat Abiola Corner NYC
Contact: Nasiru Ikharo at +1(317)216-4590 or PR@FreeNigeria.org
Friday, November 21st, 1997
Dear Nigerians and Friends of Nigeria,
On June 4th, 1996, (Mrs.) Kudirat Abiola, Nigeria’s First-Lady,
and wife of the duly-elected President of Nigeria, Moshood Abiola, was
assassinated in broad daylight and cold blood in Lagos, Nigeria, while
engaged in activism to make the illegal Nigerian military regime led by
General Sanni Abacha restore the electoral mandates it usurped from her
husband and the other duly-elected Representatives of the Nigerian
people.
Even though as of this point in time, her murderers have not
been apprehended, the fact that the illegal and morally repugnant
Abacha led regime created a political climate where such fatal harm
could be brought on her makes Sanni Abacha and all those who support his
illegal dictatorship directly liable for her murder.
A proposal to name the corner by the Nigerian Consulate (828
Second Avenue, near 44th Street) in New York in honor of the murdered
Nigerian First-Lady was introduced before the New York City Council by
Mr. Jumoke Ogunkeyede of the “United Committee to Save Nigeria” (UCSN)
working with Mr. Mike Fleshman of the nonprofit organization “Africa
Fund” on May 5th, 1997. The symbolic importance of this proposal is
that it would name the corner by which the “diplomatic” representatives
of the illegal Abacha regime have their offices in honor of the very
woman whose husband is the head of the legitimate government of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Since May, the proposal has gone through six hearings, before
both the Community Board and the City Council, culminating with the vote
before the full Council on October 29th, 1997, where out of the 44 (out
of the eligible 55 members) present and voting members, 43 voted in
favor of naming the corner in honor of Kudirat Abiola.
Now all that is left is for Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to sign the
ordinance into law. Unfortunately, close to 25 days after it passed the
Council, he is yet to do this. Even though New York City Council Law
automatically makes an unsigned and unvetoed ordinance into law 30 days
after its official passing by the Council, having the Mayor officially
sign it into law guarantees that he would not veto it before the 30 day
consideration period (Friday, November 28th, 1997) expires.
It is important that we all get in touch with the Mayor to
respectfully urge him to sign the ordinance into law. The ordinance in
question is officially listed as “Intro 1028- Co-Naming a street for
Kudirat Abiola”, so when you get in touch, please ask the Mayor to “Show
his support for Nigerian Democracy and condemn the human rights abuses
by the illegal Abacha regime” by signing “Intro 1028” into law.
The Mayor can be reached through email, phone, fax and the
postal service. His email address is: giuliani@www.ci.nyc.ny.us
His phone lines are: (212)788-9600 (Action Center), (212)788-3000
(Direct office-line)
His fax number is : (212)788-2920
His postal address is: Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
You can also get in touch with the FNM through any of the addresses at
the top of this message if you want us to help you forward your message
to the mayor.
Please let us act to honor the memory of Nigeria’s murdered
first-lady. If you have any questions or suggestions please don’t
hesitate to get in touch with us.
Solidarity,
Free Nigeria Movement