12 Years After June 12
By Godfrey Azubike
Monday, June 20, 2005
Democracy activists gather in Lagos to honour the late MKO Abiola who died trying to actualise his electoral mandate annulled by the Babangida administration
Twelve years after the June 12 debacle, its apostles have still not wavered in their resolve to keep that epochal event alive. On Sunday June 12, Nigerians and pro-democracy groups defied the heavy down pour in the south-west geo-political zone to honour the late Moshood Abiola, acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election which was annulled.
This year's June 12 rally took place in Magodo, Lagos. The event was significant because new apostles including Muhammadu Buhari, former head of state were won. Buhari who was reacting to the annulment for the first time called for a granite coalition against the unidentified enemies of democracy in Nigeria. "The annulment was a big crime against the people of Nigeria because their votes were ignored, cancelled and annulled. The men who perpetrated this crime were in fact telling the people of Nigeria that their views do not matter, only the will of the government in power mattered," he said.
Bola Tinubu, Lagos State governor said June 12 represents the struggle for power between progressives and reactionary forces, and urged Nigerians to rise against imperialist government as being witnessed in Abuja, pointing out that June 12 represents true federalism, accountability and transparency. "It is a shame that Nigeria which is blessed with natural resources is asking for debt forgiveness when millions of dollars had accrued into the coffers of the nation since 1999 without anything to show for it." Tinubu said by implication the Swiss government does not want to release the Abacha loot because it would go the same way it was looted by the late military dictator.
"What the Swiss is saying is that Obasanjo should account for the nation's resources to the World Bank before the money is released," Tinubu said.
The governor described the present administration as a government of imperialism, and urged the people to resist it. He pointed out that the refusal of the federal government to respect the various court verdicts in the country was an indication that there was no rule of law. "If there is no rule of law, there is no democracy. The only thing needed for democracy to grow, is the rule of law", he said. The governor lauded what he called self cleansing efforts of the judiciary which he noted had performed well since the inception of the present democratic dispensation.
He noted that the judiciary through the National Judicial Council, NJC, has demonstrated its readiness to support the growth of democracy by disciplining corrupt judges. According to him, the institution itself is now facing intimidation from the government.
Pro-democracy actvists and politicians under the aegis of June 12 also organised a symposium at the Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Lagos. Gani Adams, national coordinator of the Odua People Congress, OPC, in his address at the occasion appealed to government at all levels to show tolerance. He described as embarrassing, the current face-off between the federal government and the Lagos State over the withholding of local government allocations.
Ndubuisi Kanu, former military governor of Lagos State called for the replacement of the present state structure with a regional arrangement as a prelude to true federalism.
Oronto Douglas, a member of the National Political Reform Conference, NPRC said agitators for the restructuring of the country may opt for the PRONACO alternative if the outcome of the NPRC failed to lead to the restructuring of the country.
Tony Momoh, former minister of information said one of the lessons of June 12 was the need to make politics an unproductive business through the practice of true federalism and devolution of powers to the federating units.
Frank Kokori, former secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and National Gas, NUPENG, said the goals of June 12 had not been realised 12 years after because pro-democracy activists have not mounted enough fierce struggle.
Also at the conference were Dayo Adeyeye, Tunji Otegbeye, Bashir Kurfi, Sunny Okosun, Joe Okei-Odumakin, Yinka Odumakin, Denja Yaqub, Usman Shettima, Jim Agbaje, Brght Ezeocha and Uchenna Nwankwo.
In Abeokuta, Ogun State, Abiola's home town, Governor Gbenga Daniel joined other residents to honour the late business mogul turned politician. Abiola was arrested and clamped into detention for declaring himself Nigeria's president by the late military head of state, Sani Abacha. He died in detention on July 8, 1998, and since then pro-democracy activists have been observing June 12 of every year as Nigeria's democracy day.
Remembering Kudirat
By Catherine Mark & Blessing Ajayi
Three students emerged the winners of the second edition of the Kudirat Abiola annual essay competition, June 4. The essay titled "A female President in this Millennium: A Myth or a Reality" organised by the Kudirat Initiative For Democracy, KIND, was to mark the 9th memorial anniversary of Kudirat Abiola. The essay competition drew participants from 15 secondary schools in Lagos, Ogun, and Osun states. Judith Eke, an SSI student from Ajeromi Ifelodun High School, Ajegunle, Lagos State won the star prize of a lap top computer. Olubukola Nwokoro of Anglican Commercial Grammar School, Osogbo, Osun State came second winning a photocopying machine for her effort. Oluwafisayomi Ogunleye of Government Senior College, Agege also in Lagos State won a small power generating set for coming third.
According to Hafsat Abiola, the chairperson of KIND and the daughter of the slained Kudirat Abiola, the aim of the essay was to inculcate and nurture leadership ideals in nation's youth, to pursue noble ideals and show commitment to serve the nation as demonstrated by the late pro-democracy activist.
Abiola said the objective of KIND was to celebrate women leaders who work to strengthen democracy and development in Nigeria and also foster an awareness of her model of leadership by highlighting other women leaders who currently lead by serving. "Our mission is to empower democracy and development in Africa by strengthening organisation and creating initiatives dedicated to the advancement of women," she said.
Beko Ransome Kuti, a doctor and activist described Kudirat Abiola as a strong and courageous woman who supported her husband in his political ambition during the military dictatorship of late Sani Abacha's regime.
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