by Alexander O. Onukwue

For two decades, Nigerians have annually commemorated the annulment of the Presidential elections of June 12, 1993. The elections of the still-born Third Republic were contested between the candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC).

Though results were never officially called, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale ‘MKO’ Abiola of Ogun, candidate of the SDP, was the winner of the elections, with 58.36% of the 14.2 million votes cast, against the 41.64% polled by Bashir Uthman Tofa of Kano.

In the over twenty-year period that has followed, June 12 has assumed many things to many people. While a good number believe it should be designated as Nigeria’s de facto Democracy Day – “the mother of May 29” according to Bola Tinubu – some others have pointed to the foundational matters leading up to the elections and its subsequent annulment as the main items to be focused on.

For the present, we will rely on the facts and dates to explain what June 12 is, as against what it ought to be.

1. It is not The Commemoration of the Annulment

Sorry, we had to begin with what it is not, and this is merely a clarification (for JAMB and Promotion exams purposes). The elections were annulled in a gazette on June 23, 1993, and pronounced by General Babangida on June 26, 1993, two weeks after Election Day.

2. It is not ‘MKO Abiola Day’

And June 12 is not necessarily the day for celebrating the adjudged winner, MKO Abiola, as THE champion of democracy or the reference symbol of ‘The Resistance’. For a start, he was able to run on the platform of the SDP for the 1993 elections (created by IBB, along with NRC) because the previous primaries in 1992 were cancelled; the winner of the cancelled SDP primaries was Shehu Musa Yar’adua. The popular sentiment for voting MKO was that he was a rich man who would not need to steal money, but rather will work for the people. That said, he was also known to be a friend of IBB (at least he thought he was) at the time. In fact, as President, he was expected to be “the civilian version” of the Head of State, as the famed activist human rights lawyer, Alao Aka-Bashorun, put it. The legendary former NBA chairman also observed that “if MKO Abiola had been installed President, his first six months would have been very terrible” and that “we would have had to either reform Abiola or ask him to leave”.

Stating this fact is also important for another reason, even if less profound. Students, alumni and staff of the University of Lagos should be able to celebrate June 12, but continue to reject the prospect of a rebrand to ‘MAULAG’.

3. It is a day to judge the Judiciary

The memory of the June 12 election as an ‘annulment’ is not mere semantics. Any other words could have been used to describe the elections; the results could have been rejected, it could have been reported that the candidates were later found to be incredible hence disqualified. Words have meanings, and if an election that held nationally, with massive turnout, and popular support for a candidate, could be “annulled”, an intellectual instrument had been implemented. For better or worse, the only arm of Government where certified intellect is a pre-requisite is the Judiciary. The two court orders delivered to the Arthur Nzeribe-led Association of Better Nigeria (ABN), to prevent the election from taking place (June 10), and to declare it void after it had held (June 13) were significantly influential in emboldening those who wanted it annulled.

Twenty-four years after and seventeen democratic years without military disturbance, the Nigerian Judiciary is still grappling with its position as the arbiter of Justice, as against a tool of validation for the highest bidders.

4. It is a day to celebrate the faith of the Nigerian Voter

The ordinary Nigerian has his or her share fair of blame for the problems in the country today, but those who have always turned up during elections are the real heroes of our democracy. Without their defiance of the fears associated with Military rule, without losing hope on the possible recurrence of the massive rigging that plagued the Shagari elections of 1979 and especially 1983, and by believing in ‘Change’ long before the seismic events of 2015, there would be no substance in celebrating June 12. As a concept, ‘June 12’ is about these persons denied the joy, the spontaneous group hugs in streets and markets, and ecstatic fist pumps of having effected Change. One wonders if the majority of them felt redemption in 2015, as Against-the-Run-of-Play as it may have been.

5. It is about the need for strong leadership that does not dribble

How will future generations remember the eight years of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida? In terms of programs and policies, the jury is out on whether they were designed to favour him and his cronies, or plainly designed to fail. But without doubt, ‘June 12’ will always be synonymous with the failure in leadership. Various accounts have it that, in the weeks after the annulment, his singular wish was to leave Aso Rock alive, and not be killed in a coup. He got his wish, but the environment he enabled through appeasements (refusing but later rescinding the ban on old breed politicians), unnecessary postponements (four times in the eight years) which created the impression he was seating tight, and the eventual annulment which denied the people’s mandate in 1993, will remain the synopsis of the Maradona’s political career.

Going forward, June 12 may become the fancy date for National Meditations as States now declare public holidays. However, it will not amount to much if the spirit of the Day does not take flesh and engender real transformations in the country. Celebrating the feeling should inspire progressive actions.