The Power of Silence

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Last month's riots were quelled only when Babangida announced, after conferring with remnants of the two political parties, that he would hand over power to a handpicked interim governing council headed -- on paper -- by a civilian. But the idea of anything less than a full transition to an elected government has been received with suspicion and derision.

"Abiola must be allowed to take office because Nigerians said so," said novelist Chinua-Achebe. It is not so much that the industrialist is personally popular: once seen mainly as a fat-cat crony of Babangida's and widely believed to have contributed money to the coup that brought Babangida to power, Abiola became, by winning the election, a symbol of dashed hopes. "The people voted the military out of power," said labor leader Didi Adodo. "They looked for one who could run the country better and saw Abiola as the one."

He seems to have warmed to the role of democratic standard-bearer. Two weeks ago, Abiola slipped quietly out of Lagos and flew first to London and then to the U.S., looking for international support. The Congressional Black Caucus arranged for his visa and set up meetings on Capitol Hill and at the White House. But he left the U.S. last week without getting what he wanted. "We don't back individuals -- we back the process," said a State Department official. When Babangida annulled the election, the U.S. responded by suspending all but humanitarian aid and sharply curtailing military relations. But senior U.S. officials have not ruled out the viability of an interim government, if it is not a stalking horse for continued military rule, and feel it would be presumptuous to insist upon Abiola's installation if Nigerians cannot find a way to do it themselves.

Last week's successful strike signaled a new determination to move the country in the direction its citizens say they want. But the process is only beginning, and fear of a military crackdown remains strong. More protests are planned as the August date nears for the military's promised return to barracks. The only question remaining is how civil the disobedience will be.