Why Memories Of June 12 Will Not Go Away

In the past 19 years, it has been difficult, if not impossible, to forget the events of June 12, 1993 and its dire consequences. A peaceful election where 14 million Nigerians took a decision to change their destinies forever was mercilessly decimated by few people who were not more than 30 in number.

A collective decision of 14 million Nigerians, who were determined, more than ever before, to change the political history of Nigeria forever was totally frustrated by fraudsters led by IBB and the late Sanni Abacha. 19 years after, I do not know how many of those people who took that ugly decision that are still alive today to witness where their bloody decision brought us to. But I know that Senator David Mark, OBJ, Tony Anenih, IBB and few others are still alive to see Nigeria they helped to destroy. I do not know whether they still remember how they came to that conclusion that Chief Abiola must be stopped even if the heavens fall.

Nineteen years after, those who witnessed that monumental event are still asking these questions: Have we recorded any free and fair election similar to June 12, 1993 election in the past 13 years? If Chief Abiola had been allowed to rule, would we have been where we are today politically and economically? Would there have been anything like MASSOB, Odua Peoples’Congress, Boko Haram, or MEND today? Would Nigeria have fared better than what it is today?

Would Nigeria have fared better in the comity of nations? Would there have been this vast preponderance of primordial sentiments being expressed in Nigeria today if Abiola was allowed to rule Nigeria even if it is for four years? Could we have been witnessing the kind of mass murder we see every day in Nigeria today? Would there have been this decay in every sector of our economy? I can go on and on, but the truth remains that Nigeria would have made substantial progress, if we did not annoy God as a nation by allowing that callous act.

The murder of Chief Abiola and his wife, the total destruction of his vast business empire, and the seed of discord Nigerian leaders sowed in the family have been making God to vomit and yet many men of God in Nigeria are keeping quiet for too long and no wonder the more we think things are changing the more we remain the same. Nigeria has been like the barber’s chair syndrome – motion without movement.

It will take a third eye and a spiritual disposition for anybody to understand that Nigeria is down because Nigerian criminal leaders killed an innocent man and ruined his business and family. An Igbo adage says “if you do not know where you are coming from you may not know where you are going”. After almost two decades of June 12, I think time has come for us to go practical and do the right thing.

We need to appreciate President Goodluck Jonathan for deeming it fit to recognise Chief Abiola after 19 years of that historic election. He has recorded a great history where OBJ failed woefully. The world may not like President Jonathan for naming our dear UNILAG after Chief MKO Abiola but the world will not forget in a hurry that it is President Jonathan who made an attempt to do what others could not do.

I say once again that history will forget us for taking wrong decisions but history will frown at us if we fail to take decisions at all. President Jonathan may have failed to meet the expectations of the people of Nigeria but woe betides those who came, saw, but did nothing. One recalls that the National Assembly once passed a motion calling for the recognition of Chief Abiola’s enormous sacrifice by naming the Abuja National Stadium after him.

But now we must get these things straight. Did Chief MKO Abiola win the June 12, 1993 presidential election? If the answer is yes and it is yes (all things considered) I submit therefore that he was a President of Nigeria throughout the time he was incarcerated until the time he was murdered by the state. Prof Humphrey Nwosu, the man who conducted the election said he won the election fair and square

Naming the University of Lagos after Chief Moshood Abiola is an indication that we are coming to terms with Chief Abiola’s huge sacrifice for Nigeria but we need to take further steps. First recognise Chief Abiola as President and put his photograph after that of Abdul Salami Abubakar before OBJ and Yar’Adua in the seat of power. Name Abuja National Stadium, or Aso Rock or National Assembly after him as Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports and Pillar of Democracy. After that, Nigeria must pay heavy compensation to the family for loss of lives and property. This nation must have the courage to do this to move forward.

•Joe Igbokwe is the publicity secretary of Lagos State Action Congress of Nigeria.