Statement by Chief (Mrs.) Stella I. Obasanjo

Chancellor Helmut Schmidt,
Dr. Jürgen Burckhardt,
Excellencies and distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen -

This is a profoundly moving moment for me. I am here to stand in for, and to represent my dear husband General Olusegum Obasanjo, who has been honoured by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation with its "Human Rights Prize" for 1996.

I a letter of 8 March 1996, Dr. Burckhardt informed me of this noble award to my husband. He wrote of General Obasanjo as "a man who has won great respect internationally and who is kept in custody in his own country in blatant violation of law and justice". And he concluded by saying that "we sincerely hope that General Obasanjo will be freed from his unjust and unlawful imprisonment".

Ladies and gentlemen,

My own jubilation and that of the entire Obasanjo family is however dampened because of General Obasanjo's absence at this ceremony. He remains held unjustly behind the prison wall in Yola, Nigeria, arbitrarily incarcerated for 15 years. But I can share with you my husband's feeling of happiness and gratitude when he received the news of this award. Having visited him less than two weeks ago in the ignominous place of his detention, I can assure you that my husband's head is unbowed and his spirit remains high with a clear mind and a clear conscience. Being cut-off from almost all outside communications, he has found strength and consolation in the Bible and he is uplifted by the occasional messages reaching him from old friends, collaborators, admirers - and erstwhile political adversaries.

Learning of this award, my husband could not suppress his joy and satisfaction and he remarked: "It is important that the world should know the truth and stand firm in support of the enduring principles and ideas of peace, justice, democracy, good governance, transparency, popular participation and alleviation of poverty anywhere and everywhere in the world". These are the principles and ideas my husband stands for and for which he is being unjustly and unlawfully imprisoned. In a note of consolation which a friend sent to my husband, he wrote - "unearned suffering is both redemptive and productive and Africa and indeed the whole world need some redemption".

And President Nelson Mandela, with whom my husband shares a special bond, ever since as Co-chairman of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group in 1986/1987 when he prepared the trajectory for the end of apartheid and the enthronement of democracy there, dedicated some two months ago his memoirs to him with the words: "Compliments and best wishes to a special friend who stands head and shoulders far above many who occupy high positions."

How have we come here today? Following his voluntary retirement from government, my husband returned to his Ota farm in 1979. Practising what he was preaching in Government, namely that the nation should re-commit itself to agricultural development, he showed a glimpse of his love and deep dedication for his country and the wellbeing of its people. But beyond that, he became a respected spokesman for Africa throughout the world and an honest, if sometimes uncomfortble broker among Africans in settling debilitating conflicts. He devoted most of his time to the cause of peace, justice and democracy and was not only active in South Africa, but also in other, less known hot spots such as Sudan, Angola, Zaire, Togo, Mozambique, Uganda and Burundi. He coined the phrase of "Africa's marginalisation" in 1989 and he set to work to tackle its root causes through a variety of initiatives. The Africa Leadership Forum became the prime vehicle - today one would say, the bully pulpit - for his crusade for good governance, accountability, human rigths and economic and social development. Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, for whom he was so often a trusted interlocutor during the difficult days and long-winding process of South Africa's transition, called him in a birthday tribute last year "the Father of Africa". He and I were both deeply moved by this attribution, which represents a special badge of honour.

In the process, my husband's position and pronouncements, his allegiance to and repeated calls to observe principles of democracy and human rights became a growing irritant and thorn in the eyes of the governments of the day.

And thus, my husband found himself suddenly falsely implicated in a so-called coup plot. Incredulous, impossible? No doubt, for those who knew him, his integrity and his principles.

But nevertheless, the process set in motion took its predictable course. The so-called evidence produced at the secret military trial soon unravelled, even before the case reached the highest levels of state for a final decision. During the trial, a certain Colonel Bello Fadile had falsely implicated my husband and accused him of connivance in the coup planning. Although my husband could already prove during the trial that on the alleged days of meetings he had been in the United States, the evil machinations surfaced fully when his same Colonel Fadile sent a hand-written letter of apology to my husband, from prison call to prison call. He stated that he had been procured almost at the point of being tortured to death to bear false witness (and as the only witness) against my husband. In his letter to my husband he wrote - and I quote: "I was put under unbearable threats to my life and by torture and other dehumanising treatments during the investigation. Noting that I have a first degree heart blockade that has put me on daily medication for the past ten years; and realising that a heart attack could be included under the situation and cause an end to my life at that stage. Thus as a human being I had no option but to succumb to the whims of the interrogators and made the statements they wanted about you and General Shedu Yar'Adua" (my husband's erstwhile deputy in Government, who stood equally implicated and who remains incarcerated, for life).

This Col. Fadile continued to write:"I had hoped for a fair trial under the law which would have cleared all of us arrested as I was not planning a coup d'etat. Sir, the rest of the stories you know and it is better left for posterity. Therefore Sir, it is my wish and personal desire (to borrow your words spoken some 20 years ago when I was a second lieutenat) that you accept your current situation as your further contribution do democracy on a strong footing in the country where our children can live in peace and freedom without fear. As my former Commander in Chief, accept me like the Biblical prodigal son."

Despite these known facts, abuses and false witnesses, the predictable result ensued: confinement. But the arbitrariness of the verdict was laced with a gesture of "clemency", inasmuch as whatever sentence might have been recommended - and that had never been made public, my husband's sentence was "commuted to 15 years".

Thus, it is clear that my husband is not imprisoned for alleged involvement in a coup plot. Rather, he is a political prisoner imprisoned because of his ideas and ideals which are at variance with those of the government.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

What kept amazing me during these trying days of disingenuous manipulations, fabrications and mischief was my husband's equanimity, sense of balance, tolerance and forgiving spirit. He wrote this Colonel Bello Fadile: "If God forgives me my sins, who am I not to forgive anybody who asks me for forgiveness. But forgiveness is of God and you should ask God forgiveness". He kept putting it across to members of his family, friends, loved ones and well wishers and sympathisers that he has not bitterness and that they should all adopt the same posture and attitude. His position and attitude is born out of enhanced Christian faith and attributes worth of emulation.

As an international public figure, my husband's life was and is an open book. Let me share with you only a few snapshots: He grew up as the elder of two surviving children of his father and mother with nine children. His performance at school was meteoric. He joined the Nigerian Army and specialised as an engineer. He obtained the commendation as "the best Commonwealth student" at the British Army Engineering College. He obtained a similar commendation of the Indian Military Staff College as "the best student ever received from Nigeria".

He became what you may call a soldier of peace and for peace both inside and outside the uniform. He participated in the United Nations Peace Operations in the Congo now Zaire in 1960. As a young Nigerian Officer, he was known among the Nigerian contingent for friendship and harmony with Congolese soldiers and civilians alike. He brougt the Nigerian Civil War to an end focussing in an exemplary manner on post-war reconciliation. He used to say: "I am figthing to unite and not to divide, to bind and not to break, to bring brothers together and not so scatter them".

And even as a soldier, paradoxical it is may sound, he was a great democrat at heart and in practice. Little wonder then that when he unexpectedly assumed the mantle of political leadership in Nigera, he voluntarily and without immediate need devised and implemented within a short period of time a successful political transition programme to organise free elections and to hand over to a democratically elected civilian government.

His heart, love and unabiding dedication belonged to the Africa Leadership Forum. In many practical ways, he sought to improve the performance of leaders at every level and in all walks of life in Africa. He deeply believed not only that "leaders are there to lead", as one of his friends once said, but that leaders have a responsibility to pass on experience, insight, guidance and wisdom to the successor generation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The apogee of the Africa Leadership Forum was the preparation and adoption of the Kampala document in 1991, containing a proposal for a Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa (CSSDCA) patterned along the European model of the Helsinki process. The realisation and implemantation of this CSSDCA was one of my husband's principal missions ever since - and I am happy to note that the Africa Leadership Forum continues to operate successfully in the same spirit.

It was in Bonn's neighbouring city, Cologne, that one of the preparatory conferences for the 1991 Kampala conference was held five years ago. At that time my husband captured the buoyant mood prevailing in the world following the end of the Cold War. I quote:

"Africa now has a new opportunity for seriously addressing its problems and for self-realisation as old systems break down and a new democratic system is enthroned, economic cooperation and integration and peaceful relations are being seriously pursued and civil society is being encouraged without distraction by ideological barriers, confrontations and wrangling positions. Africa will be able to contribute to the emerging new world order for one indivisible world, for the greater good of humanity and for the sake and interest of Africa's economic progress and well-being".

This remains to be the challenge as much today as it was five years ago.

I am honoured and privileged to be here in your midst to represent in all humility my husband - citizen of the world, a son of Africa, a soldier of and for peace, justice and democracy, a Nigerian prisoner of conscience unjustly incacerated by those whose conscience is dead. The "Human Rights Award" of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation is a signal honor to him, a beacon in the darkness of imprisonment and a rallying cry against forgetfulness, complacency and hasty arrangements. This prize gives added emphasis to the cause, principles and ideas my husband has lived for an continues to stand by.

To be sure, there are others like him in Nigeria, Africa and the world who are being unlawfully incacerated. For my husband, this prize is also a message of solidarity with other oppressed, to encourage them to carry on their struggle and convictions. As much as my husband is being honoured today, we must hear the week and fading voices of others and give them encouragement and succor. The struggle they are engaged in is also our struggle as it concerns humanity everywhere.

The international community should not let up in its efforts to seek the freedom of all people unjustly imprisoned.

Your country, Germany, has been generous with its friends and partners in the world, in particular Africa. We are all grateful for this practical expression of solidarity which, at a personal level, goes even deeper. I would be remiss if on this solemn occasion I would not recall with pride and appreciation the encouragement and sustained practical suport, you Chancellor Schmidt, have given my husband some 5 years ago in his quest to become Secretary General of the United Nations. He was one of Africa's leading candidates and garnered in the end 9 votes in the Security Council. But another candidate obtained an even better result and made the race. We all were honoured by your confidence then, we all are honoured by your presence and steadfast support today. My husband has always valued and cherished your friendship, advice - and not least your visit to Nigeria in 1988 to mark the opening of the Africa Leadership Forum. (I still remember that on that occasion your somewhat shunned my cooking, as you only indulged in West African rice and sauce, without other substance!).

Chancellor Schmidt, I bring you and Mrs. Schmidt special greetings from your friend, my husband, known as Olu to you, who asked me to thank you and all other friends for the efforts you have been making to secure his life, freedom and well being. No matter the insensitivity and consequent frustration, please do not relent your efforts until success is achieved.

In conclusion, let me thank especially the Friedrich Ebert Foundation for this special honour, awareness-raising, support and solidarity. Please, do not relent efforts until the world and particularly Africa becomes a haven of justice, democracy, human dignity and good governance! I know the Human Rights Prize has a relatively young history. My husband is the third recipient after the Marie-Schlei-Verein and Dr. Ewa Letowska from Poland. It so happens that the late Mrs. Schlei served as Minister for Economic Cooperation of Germany when my husband was in office and Helmut Schmidt was Chancellor. Mrs. Letowska served together with my husband on the Independent Commission on Population and Quality of Life. Indeed, sometimes life seems to be like a big family.

Thank you all for coming and honouring my husband. This is a precious moment for us all here and we are immensely grateful to you. Please be assured that we will not only carry the memories of this wonderful event in our hearts, but that we will bring it to the dark corners of the prison in Yola, where it will serve as an encouragement for my dear husband, General Olusegun Obansanjo. His freedom must come, his freedom will come!

And let me end with the last sentences of an article, which my husband contributed to a book horouring you, Chancellor Schmidt, on the occasion of your 75th birthday in 1993. Entitled "Africa on its own" he wrote then:

"Hope is the only ingredient that sustains humanity's quest for change and betterment in the face of daunting odds and a depressingly hostile environment. To lose hope is to refuse to alter in action means to die, and that is the biggest threat to Africa's survival."

Thank you very much, Ladies and Gentlemen.