History of Radio Kudirat International (Anti- Abacha Radio)


Radio Kudirat was a clandestine pro- democracy Radio station set up by Nigerian- London based group, United Democratic Front of Nigeria (UDFN), who had gone into exile abroad in the heart of political persecution by Abacha Administration.                             Radio Kudirat was initially launched as Radio Democrat Nigeria International but later named Radio Kudirat after Mrs. Kudirat Abiola, the wife of Chief M.K.O Abiola the claimed Winner of June 12 Election, was assasinated on June 4, 1996 in honour of her murder.

The pirate station first broadcast worldwide on shortwave of 7125 KHz, 41 Meter band Frequency but later operated on 6205 KHz, 49 Meter band due to inability to heard the station in some part of the country. the radio station was said to have been backed by the America, British, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian governments to end military dictatorship in Nigeria during abacha regime.

Unanimously, Dr. Kayode Fayemi was the founder of the nigeria opposition radio and he stated in his book "out of the shadow: exile and struggle for freedom & democracy in nigeria'' that the radio aim was to offer alternative voice to nigerians, runs programs in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Pidgin and English and the station programs were well funded by Worldview Rights Media.

He further noted that the radio objectives from the start was, namely:

* To provide an alternative voice to daily dose of Government propangada that dominated Nigeria airwaves under the military regime.

* To educate and empower the people through well defined messages on democracy, human rights, civic responsibilities and mass literacy and

* To serve as a means of getting the message across to the military and their supporter that dialogue remains the only option for non- violent change.

On Jan 7 1998, Thisday Newspaper reports 'Radio Kudirat Goes On Break.

Nigeria Opposition Radio, Radio Kudirat Is On A 2- week break for maintenance for improved services in the crucial month ahead.'

A veteran journalist, Wale Lanre Ojo posts on his facebook wall some years ago ''Radio Kudirat House located at 2505 creel road, Atlanta Georgia.''

Click Here To Listen To Audio

The brains behind # RadioKudirat were Dr. Kayode Fayemi (founder), Prof. Wole Soyinka (Head of station) , Lemi Gbolahan Olalemi (station Engineer), Richie Dayo Johnson (presenter, Idris Muhammed), Dele Momodu(presenter, Mr Saliu Elenugboro Eniolorunopa), George Kayode Noah (presenter, Silas Obi Nwachukwu), Phillip Illenbareneme( anchor of 'i wan talk to una'), Chief Anthony Enahoro, Prof. Olaokun Soyinka, Dr. Babs Onabanjo, Dapo Olorunyomi, Charles Ojuolape Diran, Sen. Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Jens- Petter Kjemprud, Gen. Alani Akinrinmade, Dele Olawole, Kjell Magne Bondevik but to mention a few.

Indeed, Radio Kudirat was a bang! it was only the source for the truthful and reliable news during Abacha regime but the station eventually wound up its operations in Jan 1, 1999 during the transitional regime of Gen. Abdul Salami Abubakar who was working to restore the country to democratic governance.

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