COMMEMORATION OF JUNE 12

Reports on commemoration of June 12, 1993 election anniversary

Sunday, 13 June 2010 00:00 Nigerian Compass


17 years after: Family wants Abiola immortalised

Patrick Okohue

Seventeen years after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and eventual death of the winner, Chief MKO Abiola and his wife, Kudirat, the family has demanded justice from the federal government.

The family wants Abiola immortalised.

Making the demand yesterday on behalf of the family, his son, Jamiu Abiola, declared that the progress that Nigeria is searching for will continue to elude it unless his father and mother who gave their lives for the democracy that the nation now enjoys are given due recognition and their pride of place.

The younger Abiola, who spoke at a breakfast interactive session organised by the Action Group of Nigeria (AGN) in conjunction with Eminent Political Stakeholders and Social Democrats at the Abiola residence, noted that if someone made the kind of sacrifice that his parents made and people benefitting from the sacrifice did not care to recognise it, it could be painful.

“What is the big deal in honouring those to whom honour is due. When people call us monkeys, this is what they mean, there is too much injustice in this land.

Also at the event, a chieftain of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), Prof. Pat Utomi, noted that most nations across the world are built on myth around their past leaders, urging Nigerians to declare June 12 a Memorial Day in honour of past national heroes.

Also at the National Theatre where the Ijaw Monitoring Group brought members of the Ijaw nation to celebrate the anniversary of June 12, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Dokubo Asari declared Nigeria as a nation of injustice.

Asari who claimed a personal relationship with Abiola called for the posthumous naming of Abiola as Nigeria’s president, so that his name could be listed as one of the former presidents of Nigeria.










Civil society groups, labour unions, students demand true federalism

•Daniel declares Monday work-free in Ogun

Kunle Olayeni, Abeokuta

Civil society groups, labour unions, student bodies and other stakeholders yesterday staged a rally in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola.

This came as Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State declared Monday a work-free day to commemorate the annulment and honour the late Abiola, whom he described as one of the major pillars of democracy in Nigeria.

The governor also urged the generality of Nigerians to use the anniversary to renew their commitment to the ideals of good governance, democracy, free and credible elections and the unity of the country.

At the rally held in Abeokuta, hometown of the late Abiola, members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Campaign for Democracy (CD), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Young Democrats (YD) and National Association of

Nigerian Students (NANS) among others, moved round some major roads in the state capital chanting solidarity slogans.

Participants at the rally carried placards with inscriptions bearing, among others, “MKO Abiola, symbol of democracy;” “No retreat, no surrender;” “Ogun shine your eyes; IBB must not rule Nigeria again;” “Ogun NANS warns IBB to stay off Ogun;” “Attahiru must deliver, else…”

They demanded the enthronement of true federalism in the polity, implementation of electoral reforms and also enjoined the National Assembly to urgently pass the Freedom of Information Bill to enhance transparent governance.

Meanwhile, Governor Daniel has asked all residents of the state to use Monday’s public holiday to reflect on the immense contributions of Abiola to the country and humanity in general and work towards a better society which the deceased stood, lived and died for.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, the governor described Abiola as “a successful businessman, selfless and patriotic leader, pan Africanist, consummate politician, statesman and philanthropist of the first order.”

“Citizens of our State and Nigerians should use the day to reflect on the lessons of the historic event and pray for the full realisation of the dreams of that great day. Our democracy is on course and we should use the coming elections to further deepen it,” Daniel said in the statement.













Be vigilant, Adams, Odumakin warn Nigerians

Victor Oriola

National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, and the President of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, have warned Nigerians to be vigilant in the forthcoming general election to ensure that people’s votes count.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos at the 17th anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola, organized by the OPC, the pro-democracy activists warned that the price of eternal liberty was to be vigilant.

Adams, while reflecting on the lesson of the 1993 election maintained that Abiola should be immortalised posthumously.

“He should be conferred with the highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR). The Abuja stadium and some other notable monuments in Lagos and Abuja should be named after him. June 12 of every year should be recognized and declared as national work free day,” Adams declared.










Emulate Abiola, make your votes count, says Fashola

Muyiwa Oyinlola

Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday urged Nigerians to emulate the ideals of the late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, by making their votes count in future polls.

He noted that Nigeria was liberated from military rule in 1999 because the late business guru and politician paid the supreme price, by insisting on the peoples’ mandate when his electoral victory was annulled by the regime of the former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, in 1993.

Fashola, who made this appeal during the 17th anniversary of the annulment, held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, regretted that the nation got so close on June 12, 1993 and literally threw it away. He noted that the unresolved issues of the ill-fated poll now reverberate today in the form of electoral reforms.

Speaking further at the event organised by a group known as June 12 Coalition, he recalled the shocking events that followed the annulment, noting that the streets of Lagos were the battleground grounds, adding that “blood was shed, lives were lost, martyrs were slain and, from there, emerged the victory of the peoples mandate over totalitarian authority in the 1999 elections.

While speaking on the benefits of making one’s vote count and insisting on credible elections, Fashola noted that “whereas Abiola was a philanthropist and highly influential, his most defining legacy had nothing to do with how rich he was; it has everything to do with his morality and courage to sacrifice everything for June 12.”







Group wants National Assembly complex named after Abiola

An NGO, Conscience Nigeria, has urged the Federal Government to immortalise the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola by naming the National Assembly complex, Abuja, after him.

The group, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Tosin Adeyanju, on Friday in Lagos described Abiola as a “political institution” whose political struggle gave birth to the current democratic dispensation.

Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential poll, died in custody in July 1998.

“M.K.O. Abiola deserves to be immortalised by naming the National Assembly complex after him.

“He was a symbol of democracy; his struggles as symbolised by June 12 led to the birth of the current democratic dispensation in 1999.

“If we consider June 12 (1993) presidential election as the fairest in the history of Nigeria and how Abiola died in the struggle, Nigeria should honour him,” the statement said.

Conscience Nigeria said that Abiola should be seen as a political institution and not as an individual whose contributions would remain indelible in the annals of the country.

On the 2011 general polls, the organisation urged Nigerians, the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the elections were free, fair and credible.

It said, “We owe it a duty to conduct free, fair and credible elections to show the whole world that we can repeat what happened on June 12, 1993.

“History beckons on us again to do it right.”




Civil society groups shun anniversary

Cajetan Mmuta, Benin

Civil society groups and political parties in Edo State on Saturday shunned the 17th year anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election in Nigeria.

Attendance at the low-key ceremony held at the National Museum, Ring Road in Benin, the state capital, was witnessed by a few members of the Nigeria United for Democracy (NUD), Nigeria Labour Congress, Labour Party and about two serving commissioners, with a great number of policemen manning security in the area.

However, the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, whose speech was read by the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Cordelia Aiwize Aiyowieren, said the acclaimed winner of the election, Chief Moshood Abiola, and other Nigerians paid the price in the struggle for the sustenance of democracy in the country.

Oshiomhole urged the electorate of the country to ensure they elected credible leaders in the forthcoming general election through wise and effective use of the ballot papers.

He also challenged the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to make positive impact in the nation’s electoral process by making sure that the labour of the heroes past was not in vain.

The governor reiterated the resolve of his administration not to betray the confidence reposed in it by millions of residents of the state but to strive towards credible elections through the application of the principles of one man, one vote in the state.

According to him, the electorate should use the power of the ballot box to choose those they want and vote out those they do not want.

He added that Nigerians should learn serious lessons from the June 12 elections and the country’s political history.

The state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kaduna Egboigbodin, challenged elected and appointed leaders as well as the various organs of government to use the opportunity provided by the June 12 struggle to reach out to millions of citizens of the nation who have been abandoned by inculcating the ideals of positive and exemplary leadership lifestyles.

He also appealed to members of the national and state houses of assembly to use their privileged positions to ensure that the recommendations of the Justice Mohammadu Uwais report on electoral reforms were implemented while positive steps should be taken to accord traditional rulers and local government councils the much desired recognition in view of their roles and importance in grassroots development .

In addition, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Osagie Obayuwana, said that the mission of June 12 anniversary was initially a tribal issue despite the fact that Edo State has played a frontal role in the struggle for democratic justice and freedom before, during and after the annulled election.

He charged Nigerians to rise to the challenge in the forthcoming polls as there are still a lot of challenges to be surmounted.







‘Quit blames, move ahead’

Geoffrey Ekenna

For Nigerians still mulling over the annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election won by late Business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, time has come for the country to move ahead and stop laying blames on individuals.

That was the position of, Seyi, a daugther of the founder of the O’odua Peoples Congress, OPC, and a politician, Alhaji Hammed Adekunle Makama, at the 17 year anniversary in Lagos yesterday.

They held that rather than continuing to point fingers on the unfortunate annulment, Nigerians need to move ahead in nation building and ensure that next elections, particularly in 2011, achieved the milstones for which June 12 was known.

Makama, who was the guest speaker at the event organised by the Nigerian Rennaissance Group, said that time had come for Nigerians to forgive former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida who annuled the election.

Makama said it was improper for Nigerians to continue to blame Babangida over an election that he supervised, was considered the best in Nigeria’s history, without actually giving him credit for the election itself.

He wondered why Nigerians could forgive Chief Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, who led the Igbo to a war against the country; why former President Olusegun Obasanjo ruled Nigerians for eight years without acknowledging Abiola and not forgive IBB 17 years after the annulment.

He said,”The annulment was an institutional decision with lots of external pressures from the present day beneficiaries of the June 12 saga. It is saddening that it is these group of over night democrats and freedom fighters that are now making the worst noise about June 12. It is a remarkable act of courage that IBB assumed the responsibility and despite serious pressure, he failed to indict any other person or group of people to the present time. The annulment was a product of military climate. That era has gone”

He pointed out that it was actually June 12 that paved the way for the present day democracy the country is enjoying.

Also speaking, Seyi said time had come for Nigerians to start building their country and advance the country to the next level.







Group supports June 12 as Democracy Day

Olusola Sanni

A political group, Democracy Forever Movement, has called on Nigerians to reconsider the choice of date for the nation’s Democracy Day.

This according to the group is in view of the significance of June 12 as compared to May 29 which is recognised by the government as Democracy Day.

The group said there was nothing symbolic about May 29, but that it was rather, the product of the arbitrariness and characteristic lawlessness of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

The Ibadan based group said May 29 could only be remembered for despotism, extreme executive recklessness and other vices which were characterised by Obasanjo’s eight year rule.

In the opinion of the political body in a statement by its General Secretary, Comrade Abdul Rasheed Yinusa, June 12 is a more ideal and suitable for Democracy Day.

The group however failed to fault General Ibrahim Babangida on account of the annulment of the memorable election.

According to Comrade Yinusa, it is hypocritical to blame IBB for the annulment without first commending him for organising a free and fair election in the first instance.

“It is unimaginable to expect a human being to organise a free and fair election with the plan for the annulment of the same election. If such happens as was the case on June 12, it could only have been for forces outside the control of the organiser of such election,” he said. .

He argued that the annulment was not a personal decision of IBB.
He said even after even after IBB stepped aside, the military did not restore the mandate to MKO. Rather, Yinusa said, the acclaimed winner was arrested, incarcerated and humiliated to death by successors of IBB in government.

He said even after even after IBB stepped aside, the military did not restore the mandate to MKO. Rather, Yinusa said, the acclaimed winner was arrested, incarcerated and humiliated to death by successors of IBB in government.