14th June, 2011
Eighteen years after the criminal annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential elections won free and square by the late Chief MKO Abiola, Nigeria cannot afford to continue to play hide and seek game with that monumental history. 18 years after the criminal silence from the conspirators, the traitors, the fraudsters, the murderers, the annullers, the gangsters and the enemies of democracy, Nigeria must now remove the kid gloves and come to terms with those who laid down their lives for Nigeria . 18 years after playing the ostrich, Nigerian leaders must as a matter of urgency rise up from the slumber to do what is right.
I am told by George Orwell that “the political language from conservatives to anarchists is designed to make lies sound truthful, murder respectable, and give an appearance of solidity to pure wind†Now, the Nigerian conservatives, anarchists and predators can tell lies a thousand times, they can treat the murder of Chief Moshood Abiola, his wife Kudirat, and many others as a non issue, they can continue to pretend that nothing will happen but the truth remains that time is running out on Nigeria to address the injustice meted out to Abiola and others.
Mr. President, there are strong compelling reasons why President Goodluck Jonathan must take the bull by the horns by initiating a process that will lead to the healing of deep wounds inflicted on Chief Abiola, his wife, his children, his business empire, friends and well wishers. The same to thousands of people that were killed between June 12 1993 and June 8 1998. Firstly, 12 years after our renascent democracy, we are yet to record ant significant progress socially, politically, economically and this is true. Secondly, Nigeria has earned more money from 1999 to 2011 (12 years) than what this country had earned from 1960 to 1999 (39 years) and yet there is nothing on ground to show for the trillions earned. Thirdly, the chairman of National Electoral Commission (NEC) then Professor Humphrey Nwosu told the nation recently that Chief Abiola won the election fair and square, beating his opponent Alhaji Bashir Tofa hands down even in his home state, Kano, winning 80% of the votes in all the military barracks throughout Nigeria. Fourthly, the June 12 1993 presidential election was a collective decision of 14 million strong and active Nigerians. Fifthly, the International Observers rated the historic election as the freest and fairest election ever held in Nigeria. Six: those who conspired to annul the election are not more than 100 men military uniform. Seven: the huge weight and the instrumentality of the federal government was used to destroy Chief Abiola, his wife, his huge businesses and other prominent Nigerians which time and space will not permit me to mention here. Eight: no genuine reason or reasons were offered for criminally destroying the collective decision of 14 million Nigerians. The annullers were caught with the bug of what the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo called morbid tenacity for public office. Nine: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up by former President Obasanjo has the facts on June 12 1993 presidential elections in their report. Please ask Rev. Mathew Kukah for the report. Ten: Chief Abiola’s businesses have been decimated and his family has been suffering. Nigeria must immortalise Chief Abiola and compensation paid now to enable the family pick up from the pieces.
Finally, Mr President please know that no nation on earth no matter how powerful is above the decency of the human spirit. God has been so kind to you, President Jonathan. God has a purpose for throwing you up this time in the nation’s history to carry out some critical assignments. Nigerians voted for you and not PDP because they see you as a unique person that has some divine luck going with you and they want to tap on it. Others before you have paid lip service to June 12 martyrs and I do not want you to make the same mistake. You must deal with the issue head-on if you want to succeed. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Peace and development will continue to elude this country until we come to terms with June 12 matter. The time to act is now!
•Joe Igbokwe wrote from Lagos