June 12 is a day popularly celebrated in honour of the presidential election held on 12th June, 1993.
Although the results of the election have never been officially certified, nevertheless, they are well known and readily-accessible. Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the Social Democratic Power won with 8,243,209 votes; while Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention lost with 5,982,087 votes.
However, the election was annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. The INEC of the day was not allowed to declare the result officially. The election was annulled because of alleged corruption and unfair activities in it despite the fact that the election was declared by almost all national and international observers as the most credible, freest and fairest ever conducted in the history of Nigeria.
Subsequently, Chief M.K.O Abiola declared himself as the elected president of Nigeria. As a result, the country was plunged into a political crisis that lasted for around seven (7) years to resolve.
Chief Abiola was arrested and detained by another military usurper, General Sanni Abacha. General Abacha died in office on 8th June, 1998. Many people expected that Abiola would be released from detention, but the reverse was the case. He died mysteriously while still in government detention on 8th July, 1998, a month after Abacha’s death. Autopsy conducted revealed that Abiola died a natural death (heart attack) while many people including Major Al-Mustapha believed he was poisoned with a cup of tea.
The Nigerian Democracy Day celebration was shifted from 29th May of every year to 12th June of every year by President Muhammadu Buhari in honour of the denied mandate of Chief M.K.O Abiola.
Today marks the 21st year of Nigeria’s uninterrupted democracy since 1999.
Isa Ismail Akindele (Akinslaw) Writes from Abuja, Nigeria.
12th June, 2020
