For many Nigerians, the June 12, 1993 presidential election was the point at which the nation’s political landscape was heading for a change as it was believed that personalities from a section of the country were the ones dominating the leadership of the country. Hence, it was believed that the crusade of the Hope ‘93 train ushered a paradigm shift, creating a new quest for alternative leadership outside the then existing caucus. The popularity and eventual victory of businessman turned politician, late Chief MKO Abiola in a poll he ran on the platform of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP), is still considered unprecedented in the democratic history of the nation and was greeted with massive celebration across the length and breadth of the country. On June 12, 1993, Nigerians could see a reflection of their choice at the poll taking precedence thereby summoning hope that all is not lost after all for the country. It is on record that Abiola won in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as well as in the military barracks. He won in over two-thirds of the 36 states and in the home state of his Northern opponent, Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). Then the big hammer fell on the result of the election as the military government presided over by General Ibrahim Babangida, annulled the election, 11 days after Nigerians went to exercise their civic rights, precisely on June 23. Predicating his decision for the annulment on external issues that borders on judicial contests over irregularities that supposedly trailed the conduct of the election, Babangida also claimed that rather than the testimony of free and fair poll from all and sundry, including the positive nods from members of international community, the June 12 election was fraught with irregularities. Without hesitation, the annulment stagnated the country politically, economically and otherwise, especially in the South- West where the presumed winner of the election hailed from. The annulment ignited protests in the South-West and other zones of the country resulting in the loss of lives of Nigerians. In several instances, security men hounded unarmed civilians at will. Though the results of the elections were not released, it was believed that Abiola got over eight million votes, and won in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory. His opponent, Tofa of the NRC was believed to have received over six million votes and won in 10 states only. It was estimated that over 14 million people voted in the election. Abiola’s victory was comprehensive as it was inferred that he won almost 60 per cent of the total votes cast. Only in two states (Kebbi and Sokoto) did Abiola fail to obtain at least one-third of the votes. Abiola even defeated his rival, Tofa, in his home state of Kano. The voting patterns in the South-West showed an overwhelming support for Abiola. In Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo, Abiola received over 80 per cent of the votes in each of these states. He also received over 85 per cent of the votes in Lagos State. Suggestions about the voting pattern in the June 12 election indicate that the pattern cuts across ethnic, religious and geographic patterns. Though Christians voted for Muslim candidates, it was believed that the Christians had little choice in the matter as the presidential candidates of both SDP and NRC were Muslim. The SDP presidential candidate and vice¸ Babagana Kingibe, were Muslims. The NRC candidate, Tofa, was also a Muslim but with a Christian running mate in Sylvester Ugoh. Both Tofa and Kingibe were Kanuri Muslims. With thousands of Nigerians already protesting on the streets, many were hurled down by the powerful fist of the military, leaving many breadwinners to run for cover abroad for the fear of either being killed or remanded in prison for standing for the restoration of Abiola’s mandate. Like a courageous leader, Abiola himself was unrelenting in the pursuit of his mandate given to him by Nigerians, especially in the face of a brutal clampdown by the late General Sani Abacha, who made his hostile nature known to the opposition and clamped down as many as possible. After much consultation, Abiola on June 11, 1994, at Epetedo in Lagos, declared himself President and went into hiding until he was arrested on the orders of Abacha a few days later. The struggle eventually became the foundation for the democracy that the country is now enjoying after over three decades of military rule. For the former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, the significance of June 12 is still relevant in the democratic process of Nigeria, adding that the election was a political benchmark devoid of religious, tribal and ethnic divide. He said: “June 12 is a landmark that should without any controversy be labelled as the democracy day not May 29. June 12 will continue to be relevant in the annals of our democracy, because we took a leap from there to whatever we are calling democracy rule today. “It is a symbol of national unity and patriotism, because it has inspired other issues in the democratic rule and it was a day Nigerians put aside religious and ethnic consideration in electing their president. So, it is expected that the government would recognise the day and give the day the regards it deserves.” According to the founder of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, the vehicle that brought the present civilian government is June 12 and all its heroes, dead and alive. Fasehun said: “MKO Abiola joined Third Republic politics, wanted to do with government resources what he had done with his personal funds, a mission to salvage Nigerians from poverty, ignorance and disease. He won the presidential election of June 12, 1993, the country’s freest and fairest polls. But General Ibrahim Babangida put that victory in the grave. “Nigerians cannot forget June 12. We remember the rape of June 12. We remember the pain of June 12. We remember the dislocation caused by its cancellation. We remember the lives lost, the limbs lost and the livelihoods lost, because of June 12. “And for this reason, the former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, must apologise to the generality of Nigerians for annulling June 12. The reckless action cost the country colossal loss in human and other resources. IBB must apologise for annulling the election and IBB must apologise for the people killed by agents of his government and those of General Sani Abacha,” he said. For one of the wives of the late Abiola, Mrs. Modupe Onitiri- Abiola, the nation is still in the wilderness 22 years after the election that her husband contested in. “Looking at the sacrifice paid by my husband, MKO Abiola and other Nigerians, I am not really satisfied with the present state of things in Nigeria. June 12 is something my husband was assassinated for, he gave his life for the present democracy and he decided not to go to war. He chooses not to go to war because he didn’t want bloodshed but unfortunately we are having bloodshed now. “June 12 is worth celebrating more than May 29 because May 29 was a date the military decided to hand over but Nigerians who are the majority made a decision on June 12. So you need to celebrate June 12 for many reasons. Number one, the people of this country came together as one and all the barriers; ethnicity, religious, regional barriers before them were broken by that election by one man. Everybody came together to say that we trust this man and we want the will of the people to prevail. They came together and they defended it also. So, this is why we need to celebrate June 12 because since then and even up till now there has never been another election like that,” she said. Clearly, after 22 years, the June 12 elections have proved that Nigerians could overlook ethnic, religious and tribal sentiments for the sake of true leadership and national integration. However, the recurring question is whether the government of President Muhammadu Buhari would recognise the hero of the election and give MKO Abiola the place he deserves in the annals of history, only time will tell.
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