June 12 And Democracy Day: The Ideal And Lessons For The Future
Francis Abayomi
Introduction
Twenty five years after the election adjudged to be the most credible in the history of Nigeria, the ripples generated by the annulment of the mandate arising from that democratic exercise have remained a dominant issue of our national conversation. The 25th anniversary of June 12 presidential election today is therefore significant just as the location of this august event is symbolic as other crucial points of convergence for activists and political actors in the early years of the momentous era of that struggle.
However, we cannot conscientiously savour the joy of the recognition of June 12 as ‘Democracy Day’ without paying glowing tributes to those who paid the supreme prize in the lines of battle. “Awon Omo Oju Ina” (children of the perilous barricades) as Professor Omotoye Olorode described them in a book which captures the daring moments of sweats, tears and blood. It is therefore imperative to emphasise that the victory of June 12 we are gathered to celebrate today is a vindication of the conviction of martyrs of the struggle; a recognition of their commitment and a consolation that they didn’t die in vain afterall. Were Chief MKO Abiola allowed to render the service we elected him for, Nigeria would most probably have been a much better place today. Maybe the country would have been saved the miseries that grip the land and the callousness that could best described the wanton killings going on across the country.
Power of the Ballot outlives the Bullet
June 12 is one major political event that dominated the space of democratic struggle; cutting across two centuries. The last decade of the 19th century receded into the bowels of history but the momentum of June 12 continued unassailable into the 20th century; engraving itself on the calendar of history. It is therefore instructive that one critical lesson of June 12 struggle is that power of the ballot would always outlive the bullet! The turn of events as we were preparing for the 25th anniversary of June 12 vividly attested to the fact that peoples’ power; especially when expressed through the ballot would always prevail at some points regardless of how long and how menacingly the will of the people was trampled. It therefore amounted to mockery and misrepresentation to have indulged in the subterfuge of May 29 as Democracy Day for 19 years. It is therefore on account of the unfolding phase in the struggle of June 12 that this year’s commemoration is significant for several reasons. As we ponder on the ideals and lessons that have become relevant in redefining the way forward in our democratic journey and considering that our country faces more daunting challenges in the light of troubling signs befogging the polity, it has become imperative to also reflect on the significance of June 12.
The Ideals And Lessons of June 12
One landmark of June 12 that makes it’s recognition as Democracy Day significant is that Nigerians won the battle against military autocracy and political deception of the jackboots on that day in 1993. We should always remind ourselves that the them military President, General Ibrahim Babangida never wanted an election. Babangida and the military hierarchy never expected that the process would be hitch-free. It is therefore symbolic that Nigerians made a loud statement that defied ethnic and religious bigotry. The Muslim-Muslim ticket of MKO and Kingibe won across ethnic and religious divides across the length and breadth of the country.
On the first note, this year’s anniversary should be significant for all freedom loving citizens as well as individuals across the world who are living witnesses to the eventual victory of truth over two decades of falsehood. The news of the auspicious recognition last week of the historical relevance of June 12 as well as the honour bestowed on Chief MKO Abiola who died defending the sanctity of the mandate of his fellow country men and women came with fulfilment. Secondly, it should be gratifying enough to recall today that the struggle aimed at keeping faith with the mandate of June 12 has endured for a quarter of a century! Twenty five years is significant in the life of a country just as it marks important mileage in the life of a man or a woman. Those who were born in the hey days of the struggle for the revalidation of June 12 have since grown into adulthood. Perhaps it should be instructive to remind ourselves that the children that were born when June 12 was evolving have taken over the social media ventilating opinion about June 12 with passion regardless of the depth of accuracies or exaggerations. Here is one important lesson of history! The older generations could only bequeath history but they have no control over the momentum of history. Just as we were not around when the history of slave trades and even colonialism evolved and yet some of us have become authorities of the history books. So also is the history of June 12 would be told and retold by generations to come and for centuries when ‘National Democracy Day’ would be celebrated in Nigeria on every 12 day of June.
It is therefore appropriate that while we applaud the recognition of June 12 as the authentic “National Democracy Day”, we must not fail to be guided by the lessons of the struggle. It would be helpful to recognise that June 12 emerged triumphantly to assume its rightful place in the chequered political history of Nigeria to the utter embarrassment and as a self-indictment of those whose wish is that June 12 would end up in the dustbin of history. Again, we must always remember that beyond Chief MKO Abiola, there are countless brave men who were and still heroes of the struggle. Some of the heroes of the struggle are no longer around today but they would be remembered for their doggedness and forthrightness. We must remember those that were murdered in cold blood by the goons of the military authorities. We must always remember those who disappeared and never to be seen again! We cannot forget those who were forced into permanent separation from their families. There were households and marriages that were plunged into turmoil on account of the struggle in defence of the mandate of June 12, 1993 presidential election. The custodian of the mandate, Chief MKO Abiola was hounded into prison, denied freedom by General Sani Abacha and subsequently murdered through acts of cowardice under the cover of the Nigerian state.
As a new dawn along the path of the history of June 12 unfolds with the designation of June 12 as Democracy Day as against May 29, we must always remember there were enemies of the struggle whose actions contributed to the violation of the mandate of the people. It does not really matter today if some of these characters hide under a finger; pretending to be lover of June 12 or Chief MKO simply because we are a people that easily forget so soon. The truth remains that some of these characters behaved like villains and charlatans while the moment required courage and determination. Those who didn’t stand for June 12 when it mattered most can only be hypocrites and opportunists in their latter day attempt to obfuscate history! The enemies of June 12 were in league with the power that be in the days of the military rule between 1993 and 1998, Interestingly today, they detest being reminded of their evil machinations and perfidy against democracy and the people. They loathe any national monument or commemoration that would make generations unborn ask questions about June 12 or relate with the exemplary sacrifices of Chief MKO Abiola. Some of these individuals had hoped that the plots against history would endure, at least for as long as they live. But death has been kind enough by denying them the wish of escaping the harsh consequences of the injustices they perpetrated against MKO and the people! To their utter depression, the spirit of June 12 outlived their evil plots against history and would now remain ever indelible in the consciousness of generations yet unborn.
It is also important for us to appreciate that the battle has not be won. We have only begun on the journey to fully exorcise the evil plots against June 12 so that the nation can be truly healed. We can now hopefully look forward to engaging other issues which the struggle for the revalidation of June 12 has thrown up in the last 25 years. A trending video about a Prophetic Declaration by Pastor Tunde Bakare may have settled the quest for conferring the honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Chief MKO Abiola who was duly elected President and not just as a presumed winner as has often been misrepresented and unfortunately re-echoed by President Buhari’s in spite of his laudable and courageous deed. There is however a sense in which the spirit behind June 12 now come across as the charisma that could make things possible beyond our imagination. But we can only hope and not be too certain if we don’t press further with ideals of governance arising from the struggle of June 12.
One important aspect of June 12 is the lesson in treachery. June 12 has evolved into paradoxes amongst which is the antics of Ambassador Babagana Kingibe who was the principal stakeholder in the struggle with Chief MKO Abiola but abandoned the ship and renounced the mandate. To make matter worse, Ambassador Kingibe teamed up with Abacha in thwarting the struggle to revalidate the mandate. While Chief MKO was wasting away in solitary confinement, Kingibe was at the bosom of Abacha as a member of his cabinet. With the death of MKO and restoration of democracy, Kingibe resurfaced in Aso Rock as the Secretary to the Federal Government in the government of late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Kingibe is also back in Aso Rock as a member of the kitchen cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari and would be standing in the roll of fame to be honoured as Grand Commander of Nigeria (GCON) alongside MKO and Chief Gani Fawehinmi on account of June 12 struggle. While we may not deny Kingibe the right of recognition, the lesson for us however is that history would not be kind to such characters even as they are bound to live with the cross and burden of betrayal.
Conclusion
The villains of June 12 struggle may have succeeded in denying Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola the rights of exercising the legitimate mandate democratically vested on him on June 12, 1993 by popular approbation through the ballot. Nevertheless, the spirit of the struggle against the callous and violent annulment of peoples’ mandate has defied the plot of the power oligarchy in spite of their satisfaction for scuttling MKO presidency. Whereas the body of June 12 was effectively buried with the death of MKO, the spirit and souls of the mandate have defied conspiracies against the historical essence in making democracy possible in Nigeria. The spirit and soul of June 12 remained unbowed to the hypocrisy and opportunism of power oligarchy that instigated the coup against peoples’ mandate through the military in concert with its civilian wing.
With the restoration of civil rule on May 29, 1999, Nigerians in their overwhelming majority as well as global citizens of conscience began to clamour for the recognition of June 12 as the date the foundation for democracy was laid. The popular agitations and demands by pro-democracy activists and concerned citizens over the last 19 years of democracy were instrumental to the recognition by the federal government even though no one expected it at the time. What the development signifies therefore is that the designation of Chief MKO Abiola as a former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is possible considering that the full results of that elections was already public knowledge before the annulment. It would therefore be a welcome development if former declaration of presidential status for MKO is made without further delay.
More important however, is that the commemoration of June 12 should be pronounced a public holiday. Indeed, with relevant constitutional amendments, future presidential inauguration should be rescheduled for June 12 to properly reflect the significance of the date as the turning point in Nigeria’s democratic journey.