12/06/2025
HAPPY DEMOCRACY DAY!
*"JUNE 12 IN RETROSPECT: POWER, BETRAYAL, MARTYRDOM, AND THE TRIUMPH OF DEMOCRACY"*
*Penned By: AYENI, Rufus Oladele, FCA*
*(Tax Audit Consultant / Forensic and Investigation Expert)*
*1. The Genesis of June 12:* Salient Historical Facts, Dates and the Key Players
*June 12, 1993*, represents a watershed moment in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. This date marks the presidential election widely regarded as the freest, fairest, and most credible in Nigeria’s history. It was the day Nigerians defied ethnic, religious, and regional differences to vote for *Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)* against *Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).*
The road to this historic event was paved with decades of military dictatorship, economic decline, and political instability. After the 1983 coup that overthrew the civilian government of *President Shehu Shagari, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari* seized power. In 1985, he was ousted by *General Ibrahim † Babangida (IBB),* who promised a transition to democratic rule.
*Key players in this epochal saga include:*
*Chief M.K.O. Abiola* – Business mogul, philanthropist, and presumed winner of the 1993 election.
*General Ibrahim Babangida* – Military president who annulled the *June 12 election.*
*Professor Humphrey Nwosu* – Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), who oversaw the 1993 elections.
*Alhaji Bashir Tofa* – NRC presidential candidate.
*Rear Admiral Augustus Aikhomu* – Then Chief of General Staff.
*General Sani Abacha* – The military strongman who later seized power and ruled with an iron fist.
Despite the credible conduct of the elections, *Babangida* annulled the results on June 23, 1993, plunging the country into chaos and political crisis.
2. The Symbolism of June 12 in Nigeria’s History
*June 12* is more than a date; it is a national metaphor for democratic aspiration, unity, resistance to tyranny, and the right of the people to choose their leaders. It exposed the fragility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions under military rule and simultaneously demonstrated the capacity of Nigerians to transcend ethnoreligious divides in the pursuit of national progress.
*The election was unique:* *Abiola,* a Yoruba Muslim, overwhelmingly won in the northern and southeastern regions – areas traditionally suspicious of southern candidates. *June 12* shattered identity politics, becoming a symbol of political hope and national integration.
*The declaration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari* was a long-overdue recognition of the historic significance of the day and its principal hero, *M.K.O. Abiola.*
*3. The Attackers – The Barracks Boys and Their Victims*
Following the annulment, a shadowy alliance of military elites, known in popular parlance as the "Barracks Boys," moved to suppress dissent and quash democratic demands. This junta, led by Generals like Sani Abacha, Aikhomu, and others, resorted to systematic oppression:
Pro-democracy protesters were brutalized.
Media houses such as Tell Magazine, The Guardian, and Punch Newspapers were shut down.
Activists and politicians were jailed without trial.
Civil society groups like Campaign for Democracy (CD) and NADECO were targeted.
The victims were countless—journalists, activists, students, and ordinary Nigerians who dared to demand that the mandate of June 12 be respected.
*4. The 1993 Election: Evil’s Expectations and the Unexpected Outcome*
The military had anticipated a continuation of status quo politics—regionalism, voter apathy, and easy manipulation. However, the unexpected happened:
Over 14 million Nigerians voted across ethnic lines.
M.K.O. Abiola's message of "Hope '93" resonated deeply.
Even in Tofa’s Kano stronghold, Abiola performed strongly.
The unexpected national consensus terrified the ruling elite. The fear of a truly democratic Nigeria, where the power base could no longer be controlled by the military oligarchy, prompted the annulment.
It was a classic instance of democracy confronting authoritarianism—and for that moment, democracy had won the heart of the people.
*5. The Breaking of Chains at the Barracks*
The tide began to turn gradually against military rule. The international community imposed sanctions. Local resistance surged. Underground movements, covert publications, and diplomatic pressure mounted.
The death of *General Abacha* on June 8, 1998, and the emergence of *General Abdulsalami Abubakar* set the stage for transition. Under mounting internal and external pressure, the military bowed out.
By May 29, 1999, Nigeria returned to civilian rule, breaking the chains of 16 years of consecutive military dictatorship. But the scars of *June 12* remained indelible.
*6. Martyrs’ Arrest and Elimination: A Litany of Heroes*
The price of June 12 was paid in blood and tears by many, notably:
*Alhaja Kudirat Abiola (Assassinated: June 4, 1996) – Wife of M.K.O.,* gunned down in Lagos by state-sponsored assassins under Abacha’s regime.
*Chief M.K.O. Abiola (Died: July 7, 1998)* – Arrested after declaring himself president; died mysteriously in detention under suspicious circumstances.
*Alhaja Simbiat Abiola – First wife of M.K.O.,* died on November 11, 1992, shortly before the elections, a woman of immense courage and backbone.
*Pa Alfred Rewane* (Assassinated: October 6, 1995) – NADECO financier, killed in his home.
*Bagauda Kaltho (Disappeared: 1996)* – Courageous journalist allegedly killed via a planted bomb.
Countless unnamed students, activists, and civilians perished in protest and prison.
These names must be engraved in the annals of national heroes.
*7. The Military Take-Over and Their Tyranny*
After Babangida’s “stepping aside,” a contrived interim government under Chief Ernest Shonekan emerged. It was short-lived, overthrown in November 1993 by *General Sani Abacha*, who ruled until his death in 1998.
*Abacha's tyranny featured:*
Systematic arrests of pro-democracy activists like *Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Bola Ige, Beko Ransome-Kuti, and Femi Falana.*
Kangaroo trials and secret executions, such as the hanging of *Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 Ogoni activists* in 1995.
Massive looting of public funds, with over $5 billion later recovered from his foreign accounts.
His rule was marked by paranoia, repression, and unprecedented corruption.
*8. 26 Years of Unbroken Democracy: The Journey So Far*
Since 1999, Nigeria has experienced six consecutive electoral cycles. While flawed, this uninterrupted civilian governance is a triumph of the June 12 spirit. Key milestones include:
*2003–2007: Political transition from President Obasanjo to Yar’Adua* – the first civilian-to-civilian handover.
*2011:* Peaceful transfer despite intense post-election violence.
*2015:* Historic defeat of an incumbent by an opposition party *(Buhari defeating Jonathan)*.
*2023: Election of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a known NADECO veteran, as president.*
Democratic institutions like INEC, civil society, and the judiciary have grown stronger, though challenges of electoral integrity, insecurity, and executive overreach persist.
*Conclusion: The Way Forward – Lessons from Similar Global Struggles*
The June 12 saga remains a potent lesson in resilience and people’s power. Like South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, or Chile’s ousting of Pinochet, Nigeria’s democratic evolution was fueled by persistent civic engagement.
*Recommendations:*
*Memorialization* – National curriculum must include June 12. Monuments should honor martyrs.
*Electoral Reforms* – Strengthen INEC, ensure electronic transmission of results.
*Justice for Victims* – Set up a truth and reconciliation tribunal for families of June 12 victims.
*Civic Education* – Promote active citizen participation and political literacy.
*Protection of Press and Activists* – Guarantee press freedom and protect whistleblowers.
Nigeria must never forget *June 12.* Not just as a date, but as a declaration—that the people’s will is sacred.
*Penned By:*
*AYENI, Rufus Oladele, FCA*
*(Tax Audit Consultant / Forensic and Investigation Expert)*
