June 12 Can’t Be Forgotten —CDHR

Lagos chapter Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, Comrade Isiak  Buna, has stated that June 12,1993, can never be forgotten in the political history of Nigeria because it was the day Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola won the freest presidential election in the country.

He stated this recently at a public lecture to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the annuled election.

 “June 12,1993, was a battle between the ruler represented by General Babangida, and the ruled represented by the late Abiola and the people of this country.

“That was the first time that the oppressors were defeated, and they now precipitated crisis, and arrested the person that the oppressed class gave their mandate to, incarcerated him and eventually killed him. Abiola died representing the interest of the oppressed class, so it was the ruling class that killed Abiola.”

Buna further stated: “it is not Babangida that annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election. But Babangida only represented a class interest dominated by their class character, and the late Chief MKO Abiola was another person that represented a class of interest.”

 He said prior to the June 12 election, there was division in the country between the rulers and the ruled; and “we have different people representing different interest. So when the country chose democratic dispensation, it was June 12 and the late MKO Abiola won the collective mandate of the oppressed class in 1993.”

Also speaking  at the public lecture, Comrade Sunny Nnenuwedia, the national president of CDHR, described those who do not recognise June 12 as the ‘Democracy Day’ in Nigeria as the devils Nigeria has.

He said it was on June 12, 1993, that Nigerians unanimously agreed to have the leader of their choice. But this decision was truncated by those that hate the masses.

He said the refusal not to recognise June 12 as Democracy Day is the cause of the problems plaguing this county.

Dr. Sylvester Odion, a political science lecturer at Lagos State University, LASU, said June 12, 1993, was a democratic milestone in the political history of Nigeria.

 He stated that it was the day Nigerians reclaimed their sovereignty and seized power from the military.

He said even though the democracy being practice in the country is not a genuine one, with time the country will get it right.

Odion urged the leadership of the the country to give a befitting recognition to the winner of the election, the late MKO Abiola.

Mr. Malachy Ngwumadu, a lawyer and human rights activist, described the significance of June 12,1993 general election as a day Nigerians refused to be divided along religious, tribal or ethnic lines, and gave their vote to the person they believed could deliver their needs.

He also said June 12, 1993 represented the day sanctity of the electoral process was established in the country, and that it was the day Nigerians voted for commonality of purpose and identified where they wanted to go and be.