Those who were not born before June 12 1993 may not know what is all about .For record purposes , June 12 1993 was the day Nigerians from the East, West ,North and South rose in one voice , in amity, in unity , in concord and tandam to elect Chief M.K.O Abiola as the president of Nigeria .
But, on 21st June 1993 the former military president , retired General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the historic election and set Nigeria on the path of crisis, leading to many deaths including the winner and the wife ,Kudrirat Abiola . In a book , Heroes of Democracy (1999) the struggle for the revalidiation of that mandate and the consequences was documented for posterity and generations yet unborn .
Today we want to talk about the historical importance of that election , the pains , the sacrifices , the losses and the lessons.
Recall that the consummate winner of that historic election , a Yoruba first class leader , a chartered Accountant of note, an international scholar and a very successful businessman was hounded and incarcerated for five years and was eventually poisoned in July 7 1998 .
The wife , kudirat Abiola was shot in lagos on June 4 1996. A lot of high profile Yoruba leaders including the late Chief Abraham Adesanya, the late Chief Bola Ige , Ayo Adebanjo , late Olaniwon Ajayi , Ayo Opadokun and others were incarcerated , some like Suliat Adedeji, Admiral Omotosho , Admiral Elegbede ,Toyin Onagoruwa etc were killed. Former president OBASANJO was sent to jail for alleged phantom coup.
Gen. Ibrahim Babangida eventually took over and the military continued until Obasanjo came out of the Prison to become the democratic president.
26 years down the line…
The nation is shamefully suffering same vices MKO Abiola campaigned for.
Same bad roads, dilapidated Healthcare, no Potable water, inadequate electricity supply and above all, they added shambolic educational system.
It’s such a pitiable situation.
Watch the campaign jingle of SDP party of MKO Abiola and Kingibe in 1993.
https://twitter.com/jkcyno/status/1138881806210609152?s=19
https://twitter.com/jkcyno/status/1138882559918690304?s=19