‘‘General Babangida‘s regime was an eloquent testimony of disaster…His hidden agenda to perpetuate himself in power became open, when he blatantly cancelled the freest election (June 12 1993, presidential election) in the chequered history of Nigeria.” – Quoted in Nowinta’s book-2009: WHERE WE ARE (page 60)
Pebbles with Igbotako Nowinta
June 12th 1993, Presidential Elections in Nigeria has really become an albatross on the necks of those that shamelessly stood against its actualization by Chief MKO Abiola.
It reminds me of a very dark period in our nation, a period when some men preferred to sell their conscience for a pot of porridge.
June 12th 1993 reminds me of General Sani Abacha; how he locked up Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola after the famous Epetedo Declaration and went on to establish a personal dictatorship quite unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.
National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) became a stunning reality in 1993,in a swift response to the demented posture of General Abacha, where the likes of late Chief Tony Enahoro, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, late Abraham Adesanya, General Alani Akinrinade, Amb. Ndubuisi Kanu, Kayode Fayemi etc. waged a relentless battle against the Abacha demonic regime.
It brings to my mind Major Hamza Mustafa, the dreaded Chief Security Officer to General Abacha, who became defacto Minister of Defense and ensured that Alhaja Kudirat Abiola (wife of MKO Abiola), Chief Alfred Rewani, General Shehu YarAdua were permanently put out of circulation.
The fall out of June 12th 1993 Presidential Election led to the phantom coup allegedly planned by General Olusegun Obasanjo, General Oladapo Diya etc., which General Sani Abacha cooked up to remove his perceived political enemies out of the way.
One thing that is clear is the fact that on June 12th, 1993, the people of Nigeria rejected one Alhaji Bashir Tofa, who represented mediocrity, backwardness, incompetence and national shame, and opted for a man who believed in humanity and progress.
For the first time in our bitter chaotic history sectionalism, regionalism, tribalism and cabalism were rejected as Chief MKO Abiola emerged as the president-elect of Nigeria.
Candidly, that was the second time that a character adequately prepared himself for political power in Nigeria and was cruelly denied.
The events that emanated from the gigantic fiasco called Ibrahim Babangida’s Transition Program almost snowballed into a civil war in Nigeria.
The first time ever that Nigeria would have been blessed with a character who was absolutely prepared for political leadership was during the 1979 Presidential Election in Nigeria when the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was manipulated from winning the Presidential Election in Nigeria.
From every indication, Obafemi Awolowo won the 1979 Presidential Election, but the controversial ‘two third majority’ decision by the Supreme Court in favor of President Shehu Shagari scuttled a huge opportunity for Nigeria to have the benefit of the ‘cerebral, proactive and altruistic president.
Now the point being made here is that, even as the June 12th anniversary was marked recently in our shores, the heinous wounds inflicted on us in 1993 has been soothed with the thunderous democratic exercise practicalized by the people of Nigeria on March 28th, 2015.
Though, the great injustice done to Chief MKO Abiola will ever remain green in our minds, the fact of the matter is that the third character that has adequately prepared himself for political leadership in Nigeria is presently sitting on the political throne in Aso Rock Presidential Palace.
I think that is enough compensation for the massive electorate whose votes have never really counted in the chequered political history of Nigeria
The line between June 12th,1993 Presidential Election and March 28th 2015 Presidential Election in Nigeria is simply that here is a wonderful opportunity for poverty stricken and social-economically abandoned masses to have the benefit of a President that emanated from their collective choice.
What the masses lost in Chief MKO Abiola in 1993 and in Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1979 has incredibly metamorphosed into the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency of today, as a result of the commonsense democratic revolution of March 28th, 2015.
By achieving what was seemingly impossible in our clime since 1960, President Muhammadu Buhari should translate his electoral promises into a perfect reality.
The expectations are really gargantuan; Mr. President simply must do something out of the ordinary to put smiles on the hopelessly smashed faces of the ordinary people of Nigeria.
President Buhari should emulate Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, who uncompromisingly brought his country from the abyss of shame, ridicule and helplessness to the pinnacle of success and prosperity.
It is indeed a unique opportunity for President Buhari, who is now second term lucky to be at the helms of affairs in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Even at the age of 72 years, he does not need to bother about whose ox is gored in his efforts to reposition our country on the path of prosperity.
Nowinta wrote, WHERE WE ARE – A Call for Democratic Revolution in Nigeria
