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The founder of Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun has challenged former military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) to tread the part of honour and apologise to the generality of Nigerians for annulling the June 12 election that was widely acclaimed to have been won by late Chief MKO Abiola.
Also, the national chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, Alhaji Balarabe Musa said the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election was a lost opportunity for Nigerians.
He made the remark yesterday in Abuja.
Musa said that June 12, 1993 was adjudged to be the freest election in Nigeria, observing that the presumed winner of the presidential election was Chief MKO Abiola.
Also, governors of some states in the South West, inclucing Lagos, have declared today a work free day to commemorate June 12.
Fasehun, who was fielding questions from Nigerian Pilot on the significance of June 12 to the nation’s polity, explained that the event of June 12 served as the vehicle that brought the present civilian government into power through the sacrifice of its heroes, dead and alive.
According to him, “Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola joined third republic politics, meaning to do with government resources what he had done personally with his personal funds, a mission to salvage Nigerians from poverty, ignorance and disease. He won the presidential election of June 12, 1993, the country’s freest and fairest polls. But General Ibrahim Babangida put that victory in the grave.”
He further added: “Nigerians cannot forget June 12. We remember the rape of June 12. We remember the pain of June 12. We remember the dislocation caused by its cancellation. We remember the lives lost, the limbs lost and the livelihoods lost, because of June 12.
“And for this reason, the former military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida must apologise to the generality of Nigerians for annulling June 12. The reckless action cost the country colossal loss in human and other resources. IBB must apologise for annulling the election and for the people killed by agents of his government and those of General Sani Abacha.”
Also adding a fresh twist to several agitations from the June 12 upshot, Fasehun said, “We urge the federal government under President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately work out a comprehensive compensation plan for Nigerians who died in the struggle for democracy. We demand that government should immediately expand the scope of the current compensation plan to include victims of June 12, especially the ordinary Nigerians who were killed while protesting the annulment of the 1993 elections. Those who died for June 12 must not die in vain. Victims of June 12 must be compensated.”
Also taking a swipe at comments credited to Abiola’s opponent in that election, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention, NRC, who was recently quoted as saying Nigerians should forget June 12, Fasehun, a National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, chieftain, said “when someone in the calibre of Alhaji Bashir Tofa, presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention, NRC, and Abiola’s opponent in the 1993 election, attempts to rubbish and belittle that historical event, then Nigeria is in trouble.
“Bashir Tofa has lost a sense of history. And if we cannot learn from history, then how can we properly define the future and embrace development?”
Harping on memorable stones of remembrance from the June 12 election, the national coordinator of Rights Monitoring Group, RMG, Mr. Femi Aduwo said though June 12 signifies many things to many people, the person of Abiola represents the soul of Nigeria’s democracy.
“It’s surprising to me when I see the enemies of June 12 coming together now as progressives. I’m sure that Abiola will be turning in his grave over how the same set of people that we know were the major foes to the realisation of his ambition coming together to commemorate a day they never cherished.
“Buhari and Tinubu are now trying to form a party with a toga of progressives. These people were with Gen. Abacha. He was the PTF chairman then. Those who claim or appear to be the friends of June 12 are the real enemies.”
The arrow head of the progressives, one time governor of old Kaduna State, Alh. Balarebe Musa remembers with nostalgia that it was a real opportunity lost
“We remember on June 12 the lost opportunity we had; if the election of June 12 had been honoured, things would have been better for Nigerians by now,” he said.
Musa said that Nigerians resolved on June 12, 1993 to unite themselves in spite of their differences to achieve progress for the nation.
For Ezenwa Nwangwu, chairman of Partners for Electoral Reform, PER, a coalition of eight civil society groups, and former vice president, Transparency in Nigeria, TIN, June 12 is fundamentally about the right of Nigerians to free choice and freedom.
He, however, holds contrary opinion about Democracy Day celebration as he said what is important is the institutionalisation of democratic values which the June 12 struggle stood for.
In an exclusive chat with Nigerian Pilot, Nwangwu said what was important was the democratic values that the Nigerian people aspired for.
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