Months leading to the annulled June 12, 1993, Presidential election in Nigeria, millions of Nigerians who felt dissatisfied with military impunity, rascality, and brutality, and wanted a return to democratic governance had no idea what lay ahead.
As a matter of fact, they never knew that despite the credibility and transparency of the poll as local and international observers asserted, the eventual winner, Chief M.K.O Abiola would be denied his mandate by then power-drunk military leader General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
In a convincing and undisputable manner, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola not only defeated his archrival, Bashir Othman Tofa, but he did so in grand style. According to the election result, MKO who polled eight million votes in 19 states also beat Tofa in his Albassa Gyadi-Gyadi ward in Kano State. Despite contesting the election with a Muslim-Muslim ticket, the businessman was massively voted for by all and sundry across the country’s nooks and crannies. The young and elderly, men and women, southerners and northerners were spellbound by the Concord publisher’s HOPE manifesto.
Unfortunately, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida nullified the election over flimsy reasons plunging the country into an unprecedented crisis. Some of the valiant activists, students, journalists, and other Nigerians who were critical of IBB’s high-handedness and the annulment were tortured and jailed by the military guys. While some were reportedly killed, others such as Senator Bola Tinubu, now the President of Nigeria, Professor Wole Soyinka, Anthony Enahoro, and Dele Momodu were forced to go into exile for years.
As Nigerians gear up to celebrate this year’s June 12, which now coincides with the country’s Democracy Day, it’s important to remember those heroes who sacrificed their lives in the course of fighting the military to restore Chief MKO Abiola’s mandate. It’s unfortunate that it was in the course of the struggle the businessman also lost his life. He was picked and locked up by the military for allegedly declaring himself the winner of the election. Sources said the torture meted to him in the prison subsequently led to his death.
Kudirat Abiola
The late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola was the wife of the winner of the annulled June 12 election, Chief MKO Abiola. She was a daring and outspoken woman who fought for the course of her husband and Nigeria’s democracy until her unfortunate death. Kudirat and her chauffeur were reportedly gunned down around 7-Up Depot/Bus Stop in Ikeja in Lagos State. Her killers, according to observers, didn’t just kill a woman, they killed a true democrat, bold Nigerian, and champion of democracy.
Anthony Enahoro
The late Anthony Enahoro was one of the leaders of NADECO whose role in the fight against the military junta can’t be underestimated. As the Chairman of NADECO, he was daring and his voice was said to be one of the loudest. The pro-democracy activist and journalist went into exile when the military junta was after his life. He was reportedly trailed like Kudirat Abiola before he escaped to exile. While he was alive, he was one of the Nigerians who called for the recognition of June 12. Enahoro died in 2010.
Gani Fawehinmi
Abdul-Ganiyu Fawehinmi was one of the uncompromising lawyers of his time. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, a former Nigerian despotic leader who annulled the peaceful June 12 election once revealed how his moves to be friends with Fawehinmi were unsuccessful. He said the human rights lawyer was one of the few “good critics” in the country. The “Senior Advocate of Masses” was known for his unwaveringly fight against the military junta over the nullified June 12 election and his call for the return of democracy.
Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua
The late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua was one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) under which MKO Abiola contested the June 12 1993 election. After the election, Yar’Adua alongside former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Lawan Gwadabe, and others was accused of conniving to overthrow the then-military leader. He was later sentenced to death by a military tribunal for calling on the military government and the Provisional Ruling Council to transfer power back to the civilian government.
Alao Aka-Basorun
The late former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Alao Aka-Basorun, was one of the Nigerians who were critical of the military regimes. Fondly called “The Lion of the Bar”, Aka-Basorun was one of the undaunted lawyers who defended MKO during his “treason” trial, the aftermath of his “Epetedo Declaration.” The ex-President of the NBA reportedly valiantly fought military oppressors until he died in 1997. Before his death, he was said to have suffered a memory loss and he couldn’t remember many events.
June 12, Democracy Day!
The former President Muhammadu Buhari despite his numerous leadership shortcomings will be remembered for recognising June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, a shift from the May 29 celebration. The ex-military and civilian president didn’t just recognize this historical day, he also conferred the winner of the election, MKO Abiola, the posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), and his running mate, Babagana Kingibe, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
A watershed moment
Analysts say June 12 is a watershed in Nigeria’s political history and commend former President Buhari for declaring it a democracy day as it was the day Nigerians trooped out to vote for their choice of president shunning religion, ethnicity and all other divisional factors. They, however, contend that the current dispensation of leaders is abusing the tenets of democracy which many Nigerians lost their lives over while fighting the military regime. They urge those at the helm of power to use their offices to promote democracy.
