By As a freshman in College, I was forced to follow the transition process judiciously if I had to make a good grade in Pols 101. No thanks to the fear of Dappy, my “oluko to sanlori”. Fresh things came up in the course which were not in any book of political science.
Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the Chairman of NEC, introduced Option A4 and the Modified Open Ballot System into the lexicon of Nigeria’s electioneering process.
The Option A4 system of primaries was a four stage process of choosing a presidential candidate. The two presidential candidates went through the ward, local government, state and national convention before emerging as the flag-bearers of their respective parties.
Going by the intrigues and politicking that enveloped the Jos and Port Harcourt conventions, the campaigns strategies, the historic presidential debate, and the unpopular ABN activities, we were all anxiously waiting for the day- JUNE 12.
And the day came…… A very clement Saturday morning. We all wanted to end the aberration of 9 years plus. Sending the khaki boys back to the barrack was a goal for us to achieve. The first election I will be participating in as a voter.
A Presidential Election between SDP’s Chief MKO Abiola and Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the NRC. Voters, after accreditation exercise, lined behind the poster of the candidate of their choice, and they were counted. Pronto, the results were released and Abiola, the “Hope 93” messiah, WON. June 12 election was adjudged as the freest, fairest and the most credible election in the annals of Nigeria.
The celebration of jubilant Nigerians was cut short by Babangida’s AFRC, when it annulled the election, ordering for another round of electioneering process.
It was a catastrophic bombshell. Nigeria went in disarray and the Maradona hurriedly packed his bags and baggages, handing over to an impostor, an interim “fidi e” under the headship of Ernest Shonekan, while the winner of the election was later hounded into detention by the goggled Sani Abacha. Abiola never came out alive while trying to reclaim his mandate.
For 24years, the Federal Government have refused to acknowledge the significance of this date to the reshaping of our political history. This day, I feel strongly, stands as the authentic Democracy Day in Nigeria.
Hopefully, someday it will be appreciated that June 12, was a watershed in the political life of Nigeria. At least, for the first time, the whole of south west, have spoken in unison on June 12.
HAPPY HOLIDAY, EYIN OMO OODUA.
By Bello Lateef, writes from Abuja
