18 Years After June 12: Nigerians Want Jonathan To Immortalise Abiola

Eighteen years after the botched 12 June 1993 presidential election, Nigerians have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immortalise the acclaimed winner of the election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola.

On Sunday 12 June, it will be 18 years since General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the election adjudged to be the freest in the history of the nation.

Founder, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran said for Jonathan to properly immortalize Abiola, he should name the National Stadium in Abuja or Lagos after him.

“Another way to immortalise Abiola is to ensure that true democracy reigns in the country. It is not the type of election that we have held so far. It lies in the ability of the government to meet the basic needs of the people in order to reduce poverty.

“Abiola was the pillar of sports in Africa; I believe the National Stadium in Abuja or Lagos should be named after him. The spirit of June 12 is still alive, although the disciples of June 12 are fading out,” he said.

Comrade Bamidele Aturu, lawyer and activist believe that Abiola could be immortalised by Jonathan by naming the Abuja National Stadium after him.

“He can also immortalise Abiola by dedicating himself to good governance and fight corruption; that is the best way to immortalise Abiola because corruption has taken the lead in the nation. He should also tackle the problem of power,” he added.

Mr. Yinka Odumakin, politician, said he did not know if Jonathan would immortalise Abiola since the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had refused to do this in the last 12 years.

“We have always said Abiola should be given posthumous president and that a national monument should be named after him as well as declare June 12 public holiday,” he stated.

Mr. Joe Igbokwe, Publicity Secretary, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Lagos State said the date, June 12 remains “a watershed in the chequered history of Nigeria, a monumental event, a silent revolution, a historical necessity so long as Nigeria continues to exist as a political entity.

“Eighteen years after that historic election, Nigeria is yet to beat the records set in 1993. 18 years after, Nigeria is yet to come to terms with those who laid down their lives to get us where we are today.”

“Those who destroyed our yesterday are the ones who control our potentials today. The well known enemies of democracy are the ones calling the shots in Abuja and many states in Nigeria.

“Nigeria made more money from 1999 to date than what this country had earned from 1960 to 1999 and yet, you cannot see anything on ground in the past 12 years. God is not happy with us because the blood of more than 5,000 Nigerians killed between 1993 and 1998 including the winner of that election is still crying for justice,” he added.

According to him the nation had continued to dance on their graves since 1999, adding that Jonathan should as a matter of urgency immortalises those who paid the price for “our democracy we have today.”

National President, Campaign for Democracy, CD, Dr. Joe Odumakin said “as Nigeria marks the 18th anniversary of Babangida’s unfortunate act, the Campaign for Democracy, CD, takes an incursion into the past and is saddened to conclude that nothing spectacular has changed 18 years after.

“While the sacrifices that went into the struggle to revalidate the annulled election cannot go unappreciated, it is particularly pathetic that the democratic height expected of the country is yet to be attained.”

According to Odumakin, “while we cannot but acknowledge 12 years of uninterrupted civil rule, it is sad that, 18 years after, it’s been so far, so sad! In truth, there is no doubting the fact that Nigeria is at a crossroads.”

—Kazeem Ugbodaga