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By Uche Anunne
On this day 30 years ago, precisely on June 12, 1993, Nigeria witnessed the conduct of an election that was widely adjudged the most free and fair in its political history.
The Presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party, Chief MKO Abiola, alongside his running mate, Babagana Kingibe, swept past his National Republic Convention opponent, Alhaji Bashir Tofa (now late) and his running mate, Chief Sylvester Ugoh.
However, the result of the election was later to be annulled by the military junta led by Commander-in-Chief, President Ibrahim Babangida,
The infamous Association for Better Nigeria, led by now late Chief Arthur Nzeribe, and Abimola Davis had gone to court to get an order to halt the announcement of the result based on what they saw as irregularities.
A military regime that was reluctant to vacate power took advantage of the situation to nullify the election.
After failed attempts to claim his mandate, Abiola left Nigeria on a diplomatic shuttle to get international support for his struggle. He returned to Nigeria and declared himself president at Epetedo, in Lagos Island.
Piqued by Abiola’s action after Babangida had been forced out of office through a combination of international pressure and civil disobedience championed by civil society groups, the new military government led by Gen. Sani Abacha, now late, that usurped the late Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, arrested Abiola.
He later died in incarceration on July 7, 1998 one month after Abacha’s death on June 8.
The groups that were in the forefront of the campaign for actualisation of June 12 mandate included Civil Liberties Organisation, Campaign for Democracy and National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which had in its fold, President Bola Tinubu, Commodore Dan Suleiman and Ralph Obioha.
In 2018, then President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously conferred Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) reserved only for presidents, on Abiola. June 12 has also been officially recognised as Democracy Day marked with a public holiday.
Thirty years after the annulment of the election, June 12 remains one date in the history of Nigeria has continued to reverberate in Nigeria’s political discourse culminating in return to democracy in 1999.
Reflecting on the events around June 12 and subsequent developments, Tinubu, in a national broadcast to mark the day, described Abiola as someone who made the supreme sacrifice that delivered democracy to Nigeria.
“We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled.
“He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defense of the ideals of democracy as symbolised in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as their duly-elected President,” he said.
For Nigerians to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy such as free speech the election of their leaders, it is important that steps are taken to avoid the mistakes of the past.
Tinubu said his administration is conscious of that and would take necessary steps to protect democracy and good governance.
“It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.
“The point is that we must never take this democracy for granted. We must forever jealously guard and protect it like a precious jewel.
“For a people can never truly appreciate the freedoms and rights democracy guarantees them until they lose it,”
Tinubu said.
To ensure that Nigerians fully benefit from what Abiola died for, experts say democracy institutions should be strengthened to enable them function optimally.
“If we must advance from the present civil rule to a vibrant democracy such as ours, efforts should be made to strengthen bodies such as the legislature, judicial, electoral body, civil society organisations, police and civil public.
“These institutions provide the buffer need to safeguard democracy from the vagaries of individual or groups vested interest that can scuttle the system
“Development, unlike in other advanced democracies, has remained elusive in Nigeria because of the pseudo nature of our democratic system,” says Dr Olawale Adewale, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU).
The need to consolidate on the gains of democracy birthed by June 12 is not lost on Babangida, the most prominent of all key actors in the annulment.
“The gains of June 12, 1993, presidential election have not been exploited by political leaders in succeeding elections in Nigeria.
“It was adjudged the freest and fairest election in Nigeria, yet politicians have blatantly ignored that beauty; the beauty of credible elections.
“In recent years, there is thuggery in politics in Nigeria, too many litigations and many issues that transparent elections ought to have addressed.”
“Nigeria’s democracy is getting older. Democracy has come to stay but despite the imperfections, we can still get our act together to correct some of the issues and continue on that trajectory.
“It is a learning curve and a work in progress. Our leaders must continue to invest their time, energy, and resources to deepen democracy and sustain democratic ideals,” the former military ruler,” Babangida said.
He said this through a statement to mark June 12 anniversary issued by his media aide, Kassim Afegbua,
The Secretary-General of NADECO, Pa Ayo Opadokun, in a message titled: ‘June 12 and the Search for Democracy’, said the Tinubu administration should return Nigeria to a Federal Constitutional Governance.
“As an activist and pro-democracy leader, there can be no excuse to retain this unsustainable system that negates all known transparent, technological and value-driven, modern governance.
“President Tinubu, perhaps, was brought to government to return Nigeria to the path of sanity where it will be able to establish a productive government that lifts its people out of prolonged misery and poverty.”
Meanwhile, in the spirit of June 12, Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger has pardoned 80 inmates in various correctional centres in the state.
The governor also approved the immediate payment of their fines, to enable the inmates rejoin their families.
In a statement issued by Alhaji Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), in Minna, Bago said that the gesture was in line with his power of prerogative of mercy.
As the nation marks June 12 anniversary, it is important that the occasion offers Nigerians the opportunity for sober reflection on the country’s political trajectories with a view to taking steps that will consolidate democracy. (NANFeatures)
