Every day and in every way, Abacha is ruining our lives and future. We are noe longer safe in our homes, we are not safe in the streets or at work. The economy is breathing its last under a tyranny that presides over public money as if it were the spoils of war. On national TV, we were told how 320 billion of naira was spent in far away Liberia prosecuting a senseless war. Food, shelter and jobs are no longer within the reach of millions of our people. Ethnic and religious differences are being exploited in order to keep our people fighting amongst themselves and to forget the real issue.

ABACHA HAS TURNED NIGERIA INTO ONE BIG HELL

Today, Nigeria's finest sons and daughters are fleeing the country for greener pastures. Due to the persecution by Abacha and his thugs, politicians, lawyers, scientists, journalists and ordinary Nigerians are being driven into exile. Our only Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka virtually lives out of a briefcase abroad because hoodlums have taken over his country.

Today, Abacha has grown tired of clamping people into jail. Abacha has become an oracle-gone-mad. It now craves for blood and heads. Brig. Gen. Patrick Aziza, Abacha's high priest has prepared 40 of our country men and women for slaughter.

NO TO FURTHER BLOODLETTING

Nigerians must not allow innocent blood to be spilled any longer. For too long have we allowed the likes of Abacha to brutalise our psyche in the name of punishing treason. Abacha a known coup plotter must be told that he lacks the moral right to try any one on that score. The people convicted by Aziza's Tribunal are victims of a tyranny that merely seeks to rid the country of opposition so that it could perpetuate itself in office for as long as it wishes.

For eight years, our lives were made miserable by Babangida and his group including Abacha. In the name of transition to democracy we were humiliated, jailed, killed and reduced to slaves. The world witnessed how a free and fair election was annulled and its winner clamped into jail. Abacha is set pecisely on that same course - just to answer to the title 'Head of State'. That is why he wants the blood of Dr Beko Ransome- Kuti, Mrs Chris Anyanwu and more than 70 others.

THE WAY FORWARD

This is not the time to surrender to despair nor to sit idly waiting for benevolent world powers to rid the country of blood-thirsty tyrants. Remember that with our collective will and strength, we drove Babangida and his cronies out of town. Abacha has no two heads, we can and must send him packing before the country becomes a big grave yard.

Even the pronouncements and contents of Abacha's transition programme till date has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that the junta think and plan no good for Nigeria and its people. Hence we should ignore and not participate in his domestic and devilish transition programme.

Our focus and desire remain to free our country from the control of dictators, to enthrone government based on the consent of the people which to a great extent is expressed and contained in the June 12, 1993 presidential electoral mandate.

We must brace up for this challenge and be prepared to re- enact the struggles of 1993 and 1994 on bigger scales. We have nothing to lose but a band of power-hungry brigands bent on destroying our land and people.

PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE

Meanwhile the CD calls on all lovers of freedom and humanity to adopt the following Nigerians as prisoners of conscience and struggle for their unconditional release:

1. Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, CD Chairman - released
2. Dr Tunji Abayomi, President Human Rights Africa - released
3. Mr Abdul Oroh, Executive Director, CLO
4. Mr Chima Ubani, Secretary, Democratic Alternative
5. Chief Moshood Abiola, Winner of Annulled June 12, 1993 election - died in prison
6. Mr Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, CD Secretary General - released
7. Mallam Shehu Sani, CD National Vice Chairman Northern Zone
8. Mr Ledudm Mitee, Minority Rights Crusader
9. Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa, Minority Rights Crusader - hanged with eight others
10. Chief Ademola Adeniji-Adele, Pro-democracy Politician - released
11. Mr Ayo Opadokun, Secretary, NADECO - released
12. Mr Olawale Oshun, Asst. Secretary, NADECO
13. Chief Waribi Agamene, President, NUPENG (Oil Workers) - released
14. Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, Secretary General, NUPENG
15. Col. R.A. Emokpe
16. Lt. Col. S.E. Oyewole
17. Lt. Col. K.H. Bulus
18. Lt. Col. M.A. Igwe
19. Lt. Col. R.D. Obiki
20. Lt. Col. M.A. Ajayi, (rtd)
21. Lt. Col. V.O. Bamgbose
22. Lt. Col. O.E. Nyong
23. Lt. Col. C.I. Izuorgu
24. Lt. Col. D. Usman
25. Major Akinloye Akinyemi, (rtd)
26. Major Obasa
27. Captain M.A. Ibrahim
28. Captain A.A. Ogunsuyi
29. Lt. Olowolere
30. 2nd Lt. Richard Demonohe
31. Staff Sgt. Patrick Usikpebo
32. Mr Felix Ndamaigida
33. Alhaji Sanusi Mata
34. Mr Peter Ijada
35. Mr Bulus Badeji
36. Mr Matthew Popoola
37. Mr Badejo, State Security Operative
38. Mr Ijaota
39. Miss Quinnet Ajogo
40. Mr Musa Oko Iya-Afon
41. Mr Moshood Nurudeen Yayaha
42. Mr Muhammed Sunkere Lafiagi
43. Mr Kabir Ahmed, CD, Sokoto State Chairman
44. Col. R.S.B. Bello-Fadile
45. Col. R.S.B. Bello-Fadile's Sister in-Law Rebecca
46. Col. R.S.B. Bello-Fadile's Counsel
47. Col. Ajayi
48. Col. Olu Craig
49. Col. Isah
50. Col. Ndubeze
51. Col. Lawan Gwadabe
52. Col. O. Oluruntoba
53. Mrs Chris Anyanwu, Publisher, TSM News Magazine
54. Mr Olu Akerele, Abuja Concord Newspaper Bureau Chief and 2 staffers
55. Mr Kunle Ajibade, Editor, The News Magazine
56. Mr Ben-Charles Obi, Editor, Weekend Classique
57. Mr George Mbah, Assistant Editor, Tell
58. Mr Fred Eno, Abiola's Personal Assistant - released
59. General Olusegun Obasanjo, Ex-head of State - released
60. Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, Former Deputy Head of State
61. Mr Jerry Yussuf, Leader, Movement for the Advancement of Democracy (MAD)
62. Turner Ogboru, Businessman
63. Barinen Kiobel, Minority Rights Activist - hanged to death
64. Navy Capt. Imo Fabiyi