June 12: Renewed Hope 2023 As Hope ’93 Reincarnate

The Insight by Lateef Adewole

On Monday, Nigerians celebrated the 30th anniversary of the annulment of a watershed presidential election in the history of the country. June 12, 1993 presidential election has remained a reference point in our democratic journey. Despite its abortion by anti-democratic forces, its spirit remained resilient and refused to die, three decades after. It was this resilience that eventually made the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of the former President Buhari to recognise the day as the true Democracy Day, contrary to the previous May 29th, that is now referred to as ‘hand over day’, which is observed once in four years at every transition from one administration to another.

On that faithful day in 2018, former President Buhari posthumously honoured the winner of that election, late Chief Mashood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola with the highest National Honour of the land, GCFR, which is only meant for Nigerian presidents. Although, Buhari did not accede to the demand from some quarters to validate and declare the results of that election, and declare the actual winner, who was Abiola, as president of Nigeria. This was to make him a former President and be entitled to all the rights and privileges so attached.

However, the much that Buhari did was very commendable. He was appreciated for it by the family of Abiola, the civil society organisations involved and Nigerians who struggled and sacrificed for the actualisation of that mandate for years. As they say, “half a loaf is better than chinchin.” That was what his predecessors failed to do, despite all entreaties to them in previous 16 years under PDP. They did not believe in the propriety of doing so.

Buhari also decorated the vice presidential candidate to Abiola, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, who is fortunate to still be alive, with the next highest National Honour, GCON. He also recognised the sacrifice of the late Chief Gani Fawehimin (SAN) and posthumously honoured him with GCON as well. The families of these duo were so appreciative, and indeed, Nigerians in general. This was one thing Buhari was so right about, in spite of all the autocratic tendencies associated with him then, in his first term.

This year’s celebration of June 12 is unique and special. Why? There is a Yoruba poem that we were made to commit to heart as children in school and at home in those days. It was titled “Isé l’oògùn ìsé”. Some stanzas of it read as: “Oun ti a ko ba j’iya fun, kii t’ojo. Oun a ba f’ara s’ise fun, nii pe lowo eni” (what one didn’t suffer to get, never lasts. Anything one labours to achieve, will be held dearly by one and made to last). What am I saying?

Today, the president of Nigeria is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A true thoroughbred democrat, who was part of the struggle for the enthronement of the democracy in this Fourth Republic that we all are enjoying today. In 1992, he was elected into the Nigerian senate as a senator, on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). This was the same party on which Abiola contested that June 12 presidential election, which was annulled. That threw the country into crisis and instability of monumental proportion for the following six years till 1999.

Tinubu, despite his lofty position as a senator then, jettisoned that to side with the popular demand for the de-annulment of the annulled election. He was “Abiola’s boy”. He, with other Nigerians of good conscience, numerous human right activists and civil society organisations, Labour Unions, student unions, and the masses, fought tooth and nail in their demand for the restoration of the mandate. National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), the umbrella body of the struggle was birthed, and Tinubu was a member and a strong pillar of the organisation, home and abroad. He was among those who were lucky to escape with their lives to exile.

In sacrifice, based on various narrations from many who were deeply involved in the struggle, apart from those who made the ultimate sacrifice through losing their lives to the struggle, like the great MKO Abiola himself, who was arrested and incarcerated by late General Sani Abacha for demanding for his mandate; his wife, late Kudirat Abiola, who was murdered in cold blood, Chief Alfred Rewane, also assassinated, Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (Rtd.), and many others who were killed in the struggle, Tinubu was one of the rest alive who made sacrifices next to death.

There are many people still alive who were also involved then. Professor Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana, Olisa Agbakoba, Col. Umar Dangiwa (Rtd.), Kayode Fayemi, Frank Ovie Kokori, Omoyele Sowore, and many others too numerous to mention. Many have died, not during the struggle but at later time. Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (Rtd.), Bola Ige, Beeko Ransom Kuti, Gani Fawehimin, Abraham Adesanya, and so on. May their souls rest in peace. These are known names and faces. There are countless unsung heroes of June 12, dead or alive, like the story of the four young boys who highjacked a plane, planned to divert it to Germany, but eventually landed in Niger Republic, all in an effort to call the world’s attention to the evil of that annulment and demand for its restoration.

Students, under the umbrella of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), in those days, were the life of any “aluta”. Labour Unions and civil society organisations’ contributions were unquantifiable. All made sacrifices for us to enjoy democracy today, even if June 12 was not restored, the military was forced to transit to civil rule in 1999, even if they still “picked and installed” one of their own, though retired, as our president then.

Unfortunately, while all these democracy crusaders fought and eventually won with the return to civil rule in 1999, majority of them left the space and abandoned it to people who knew nothing about their struggles up till that moment. This might have been caused by their scepticism about the genuineness of the military to hand over power. There had been endless transition programmes since the time of “Maradona” to the time of the “dark shade goon”, who wanted to become life president by transitioning from military head of state to civilain president.

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He compelled the five parties he formed to adopt him as their sole candidate, before Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar took over after his sudden death. The crusaders must have thought that Abdulsalam was not sincere and not ready to relinquish power too. This paved way for the “professional” politicians to fill in the gap and eventually got elected to various offices in 1999. Only a motley part of those who fought for June 12 got involved and got elected. Tinubu was one of them. Few others too, like Olusegun Osoba, Lam Adesina, Bisi Akande and Adeyinka Adebayo. Chief Bola Ige and Olu Falae failed to clinch the presidency, which was the most crucial, as compensation for the annulment of June 12 and the death of Abiola.

Ironically, and sadly too, those who were against Abiola and even worked against June 12 restoration benefitted most from it. I don’t want to start mentioning names. How would such people appreciate what they got when it was handed to them on the platter of gold? “Ajogun ewu etu, komoyi agabada nla”. That was why June 12, despite the clamour for it since 1999 to be declared a special day, was never valued. This continued until 2018 when Buhari recognised the day. That was a redemption for him actually. He too was in bed with Abacha all through the years he tormented those who were fighting for the actualisation of the mandate.

Lagos State, under Tinubu as the governor, led the pack that kept June 12 alive. With other states in the South Western region, the day was made public holiday. So, when I say this year’s celebration is special, I believe readers can now understand where I was coming from. One man, who stood with Abiola, fought viciously to reclaim the mandate, sustained the struggle all through the Abacha years, with others, kept the spirit of the day alive as a democratically elected governor for years, and facilitated the declaration of that day by the president of his political party as the true Democracy Day, now sits on that very throne. What more could make it special?

I congratulate him for his tenacity in the last 30 years of relentless struggle. I congratulate all those who contributed and sacrificed for June 12 from then till today. Your sacrifices were never in vain. To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, providence has placed you in a position to redeem what June 12 stood for, as encapsulated in the Hope ’93 campaign mantra of Abiola, which Nigerians bought into across the country, irrespective of tribe or religion. Abiola was a man who the masses were after his heart. He loved the masses and wanted to make their lives better, reason he wanted to be president of Nigeria. There was only so much he could do as a private individual, as he did as much as he could. He remained unparalleled in philanthropy, not just in Nigeria, but all over Africa, till date.

President Tinubu, let it not be that your political journey has similitude with Abiola’s only physically, as exemplified in many things you and your journey share with his, but in spirit and actions that back it. By coincidence, both of you are brilliant, astute accountants. You run on progressive political parties with same religious tickets that won eventually. Your vice presidential candidates are from Borno state in North Eastern Nigeria. Some even brought your poll results as being close, just over 8 million votes (Abiola- 8,341,309 and Tinubu- 8,794,726).

Anyone who has followed your presidential journey since last year and knew about Abiola’s presidential journey too, would have also seen the similarities in the ideas you both espoused. The plans you have for Nigeria and all you want to do, are so similar. Therefore, christening your own campaign slogan as “Renewed Hope 2023” was not by accident but deliberate. It seemed to be an attempt to reincarnate the dashed “Hope 1993”. May you succeed.

In actual fact, the actions of Tinubu in 19 days in office showed a man who was very prepared and ready for the job. The swiftness with which he has acted on critical issues that used to fester in the past, the decisiveness and boldness with which they were done, have endeared him to many Nigerians, even those who did not support him or vote for him during the elections, within his short time in office. We are feeling like we have not had such a president for a long time. His actions have brought back hope to many, who hitherto, felt Nigeria’s situation was irredeemable. There seems to be possible light at the end of the dark tunnel.

Tinubu has been so overwhelming with his actions that it is the Nigerians who are struggling to catch up with him. It is interesting how public commentators and analysts struggle to get enough time to critically analyse each of his decisions or actions in detail before another falls on their laps. Many times, while previous events are being discussed or analysed on televisions, you will suddenly hear “Breaking News”. One would be like: what has Tinubu done again? It has been a roller coaster.

Interestingly, there is no cabinet of ministers that constitute the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in place yet. If, without a standing cabinet, the president could do all of these, we wonder what will happen with a full team, provided he appoints people who are as prepared and ready to work as hard as he does. This few weeks should tell whoever has the (mis)fortune of being appointed that this administration will not tolerate laxity and incompetence, something that we have seen in abundance in the recent past. The swiftness with which Tinubu suspended the CBN governor and EFCC Chairman must be a warning to his “would-be” appointees. “Iku to n pa ojugba eni, owe lo n pa fun ni”. They need to roll their sleeves and tighten their belts. It’s time to work.

His political sagacity and leadership capabilities in governance shone through in the first major task of the elections of the leadership of the 10th National Assembly. Against some people’s projections of having a repeat of 2015 “Sarakilised” national assembly leadership, that projections failed woefully. The preferred candidates of the party and Tinubu won in both chambers, fair and square. It was also so smooth and impressive. That was leadership at play.

Those in the know talked about the serious efforts that Tinubu personally put to make that happen, including “sneaking out” to meet critical stakeholders. We all witnessed how almost all those who were against his candidates stepped down their ambitions, and declared their supports to the party’s choices one after another as the president intervened, including lawmakers from the opposition parties. The video of Hon. Ogah Amobi, representing Isikwuato- Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Abia State, on the platform of Labour Party, where he eulogised Tinubu after they had a meeting with him before their inuaguration, went viral. That is how infectious Tinubu’s personality is on people who get in contact with him.

Like he referred to in his Democracy Day speech: “The democracy that will yield right dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just freedom of choice and right to get people into elective offices. It means social and economic justice for our people. To the winner of June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty. Thirty years ago, he christened his campaign manifesto, ‘Farewell to Poverty’ because he was convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty. It is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies.”

“It is for this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave effect to the decision taken by my predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto being pocketed by a few rich. I admit that the decision will impose extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.”

“Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives.”

“The democracy MKO Abiola died for is one that promotes the welfare of the people over personal interests of the ruling class and one where the governed can find personal fulfillment and happiness. That is the hope MKO Abiola ignited throughout our country in 1993.”

This is exactly what we expect from him. He has started on good notes in that respect, he must sustain the tempo. We have seen action being taking on the promised student’s loan, whose bill was signed into law by the president on Monday. The electricity bill and data protection bill have equally been signed into law. Petrol subsidy has been removed. The exchange rates are being unified. All these are liberalising the sectors to work effectively.

As Nigerians’ hope are beginning to be rekindled, may its light never go off or dim again. As we start to experience ‘what could have been, had MKO Abiola been allowed to govern Nigeria in 1993 to 1997’, may we continue to experience progress and positive developments in Nigeria, as a country and as individuals. We should have it at the back of our mind that “eni ma j’eyin inu apata, ko ni w’enu aake” (no pain, no gain). We must brace up for the initial difficulties that will come with many revolutionary reforms being executed, the government will need our patience and support. We demand that similar sacrifices must be made by the leaders too, not just the led.

Once again, congratulations to all Nigerians on this year’s Democracy Day and the 30 years anniversary of the annulled June 12 presidential election. May our sacrifices and that of our heroes past, never be in vain.

May God continue to protect us and guide us aright.

God Bless Nigeria.

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June 17, 2023.