By MOSHOOD FAYEMIWO
Continued from Chapter Three Last Week
EXCERPTS FROM
CHAPTER FOUR
MKO ABIOLA MET MURTALA RAMAT MOHAMMAD
The ITT had dominated Nigeria’s telecommunication industry like a colossus. With MKO Abiola now at the helms, the global industrial giant became virtually a monopolist. The story of Nigeria’s telecommunication life soon became ITT nay Moshood Abiola’s story. A year after Abiola became ITT’s big boss, he incorporated another company to operate by the sidelines; Radio Communications, Nigeria (RCN) which was wholly owned by the young millionaire. ITT soon diversified into other fields like Army boots, military jeeps, naval equipments and ancillary military equipments. As the Army officers began to return from the war fronts, the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Yakubu Gown began to reward them for their gallantry in Nigeria one. Brigadier Ramat Murtala Ramat Mohammad, an Hausa-Fulani from Kano was appointed Federal Commissioner for Communications (as they were caked in those days).
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At another time, Abiola had to approach his old school mate and kinsman, Brigadier Olusegun Aremu Okikiolu Obasanjo, the Federal Commissioner for Works to help him talk to Mohammad. Later, Abiola found out Mohammad was married to an Egba lady, Ajoke; he succeeded in reaching the woman and pleaded with her to put in a word on his behalf to the tough military officer.
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Then one day in 1974, Abiola could stand it no more. As usual, he had arrived very early at the Moloney office of the General and was waiting. Immediately Mohammad arrived and as usual walked pass Abiola and headed to his office, Abiola rushed in and gate-crashed into Mohammad’s office not minding whether the tough General wanted to receive him or not. He had made up his mind to see the Honorable Minister whatever the circumstances. This time he ignored the Aide-de-Camp, Lt. Akintunde Akinsehinwa from Ondo town who was Brigadier Mohammad’s ADC and headed straight to Mohammad’s presence.
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In the presence of Alhaji Muhammed Gobir, them Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Communications
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NEXT WEEK
CHAPTER FIVE
MKO ABIOLA AND THE MURTALA MOHAMMAD REGIME
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