Title: The Link With The Past Author: Alfred Rewane
Publisher: Aike Books, Ibadan, Nigeria
Pages: 235
Price: £12
The late Alfred Rewane was an icon of Nigeria's pro-democracy movement during the dark days of the later dictator General Sani Abacha. He campaigned tirelessly democracy and human rights, true federalism, honesty, transparency and accountability in public office, and ethics in business. While alive, he was at paint to let the younger generation of Nigerians know that there used to be a Nigeria where things worked, a country which was safe to live and work in. Hardly did any issue of national relevance pass during the latter part of his lifetime without his public intervention.
His murder on October 6, 1995 in suspicious circumstance provoked national and international outcry. And with the murder of rights campaigner and environmentalist Ken Saro Wiwa a mere month later, Nigeria was completely isolated from the rest of the world.
This book, The Link With the Past, put together posthumously and released in late 2000, is a collection of Rewane's forthright views on the burning socio-political and economic issues in Nigeria. It is an insight into what made Rewane an outstanding defender of democracy and the rule of law.
The late Alfred Rewane was an icon of Nigeria's pro-democracy movement during the dark days of the later dictator General Sani Abacha. He campaigned tirelessly democracy and human rights, true federalism, honesty, transparency and accountability in public office, and ethics in business. While alive, he was at paint to let the younger generation of Nigerians know that there used to be a Nigeria where things worked, a country which was safe to live and work in. Hardly did any issue of national relevance pass during the latter part of his lifetime without his public intervention.