Governance

Democracy Day: 12 Things You Should Know About The Renowned June 12, 1993

Published

3 years ago

Jun 12, 2022.

EDITOR’S PICK:

EKO HOT BLOG gathered that in a bid to rest the ghost of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12, Democracy Day.

The then Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida had annulled the election which the late Chief M. K. O. Abiola was said to have won. This move was greeted with national crisis and unrest.

If you are unaware of the events that took place on the RENOWNED June 12, 1993, lets look at 12 things you should know about this memorable day.

1. Abiola was a product of annulled party primary

It might interest you to know that the first primary election conducted by Abiola’s party – the Social Democratic Party (SDP) – was annulled. Shehu Musa Yar’adua won the primary election, but the military banned all those who contested. This paved way for Abiola to come on board in the next primary in which he narrowly won Babagana Kingibe and Atiku Abubakar.

2. June election was considered the freest and fairest election

National and International observers declared the election the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history. It was reported that Abiola won his rival Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in his home state, Kano.

3. Abiola’s campaign slogans appealed to most Nigerians

Hope 93’ was Abiola’s campaign slogan. He had slogans which reflected the dire condition of most Nigerians. They included: “Farewell to Poverty” “At last! Our rays of Hope” and the “Burden of Schooling”. Being a renowned philanthropist, people had hoped that he would liberate Nigerians out of poverty once he assumed the presidency.

4. Reasons Babangida gave for annulling the election

General Babangida reeled out several reasons for annulling the election conducted by National Electoral Commission (NEC) chairman, Humphrey Nwosu. In the decree which annulled the election, he emphasized challenges with the judiciary, flawed legal proceedings and the need for the courts to settle allegations of corruption against the presidential candidates, including vote-rigging on the day of the election, as major reasons for his actions.

5. Shonekan was made head of the interim government

After the annulment, Babangida handed over power to a lawyer and businessman, Chief Ernest Shonekan on August 26, 1993. Shonekan was on January 2, 1993, made the head of the Transitional Council and Head of Government under the Babangida government. This was meant to be the final phase leading to a scheduled handover to an elected democratic leader.

6. Abacha’s coup removed Shonekan

Though Babangida handed over power to Shonekan, the government was still under the subtle control of the military. This came to light when General Sani Abacha, in a palace coup, on November 17, 1993, seized power from Shonekan.

7. Abiola declared himself President

Having realized that Abacha was not willing to hand power over to him, in 1994, in the Epetedo area of Lagos Island, Abiola declared himself President of Nigeria.

8. Abacha arrested Abiola

The Epetedo declaration made Abacha declare Abiola wanted. He accused Abiola of treason and reportedly sent 200 police vehicles to bring him into custody.

9. Abiola’s wife was assassinated

Abiola’s wife, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, due to her brazen continued agitation for her husband’s release from custody and restoration of his mandate, was assassinated in Lagos, in 1996.

10. Abiola refused all conditions for his release

It was alleged that the military gave Abiola juicy conditions for him to be released. They allegedly asked him to renounce his mandate and get a refund for all his extensive election expenses.

11. International community called for his release

The international community and human rights activists all over the world called for his release during his four-year incarceration. It was reported that Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Pope John Paul II also put in efforts for his release.

EDITOR’S PICK

12. Abiola died under the unverified circumstance

After Abacha’s death on June 8, 1998, Abiola died on July 7 same year under suspicious circumstances. The official autopsy of his death that was made public noted that he died of natural causes. However, the autopsy conducted by international coroners was not disclosed.

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