By Sam Anibueze
“The result of a situation is what counts.” –Norman Vincent Peale
Democracy is a significant political order. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States of America (USA), 1861-1865, defined democracy as: “Government of the people, by the people for the people.”
The implication is that in a democratic country such as Nigeria, those who rule are elected by the people: president, governors, local government chairmen, legislators and councillors. These people appoint ministers, commissioners and supervisors respectively for public service.
Nigeria was created by the British government in 1914. The country started its own democratic government in 1960. That was the year it became independent. In 1966, democracy in the country went to sleep as the military struck. Military rule continued till 1979 (13 years). The military struck again in 1983 and ruled till 1999 (16 years). Since May 29, 1999, democracy has prevailed in the country and hopefully will continue.
How did democracy return to the country after military rule?
The task began with president (Gen) Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. He became military President in 1985. At a point, he promised to hand over power to a civilian elected president in 1993. Later, the chairman of the National Election Commission (NEC), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, announced the election would hold on June 12, that year.
Unfortunately, an unregistered organization: Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), sued NEC to court to stop the election. Surprisingly, the case was tried in court on the night of June 11. The court ruled against holding the election. Based on the court rule, the President ordered NEC not to hold the election. But NEC went on and held the election.
After the election, as NEC started displaying the results in its Abuja office, the president annulled the election. The annulment was not that the election was cancelled but that it was invalid, should not have been held.
But NEC was convinced that it had the right to go on with the election despite the court judgement and presidential order. In her judgement, the judge, Justice Bassey Ikpeme, stated “I am convinced that I have justification to hear this matter. NEC is not to determine a stable stage for democracy but only to conduct election, and the decree cited by NEC’s lawyer, does not preclude me but encourages NEC to disregard any ruling…”
The results released by NEC, at the time of the annulment showed 30 states and Abuja, including Kano. Kano is the state of Bashir Tofa, Abiola’s major opponent. Abiola won the state. Based on the results released at the NEC’s office, many Nigerians held Abiola as the “assumed winner” of the election. Abiola was aggrieved about the election annulment. He sued the federal government to court but lost the case.
Turmoil ensued in the country. At a point, powerful nationalist group: National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) raised revolution against the military government. Their objective was that the military must go; Abiola must be the president. President Babangida set up an interim national government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan. The interim government was set up in November, 1993 with the intention to leave by February, 1994 when another election would be held. But the turmoil persisted. President Babangida “stepped aside.” He was replaced by Gen. Sani Abacha. By November, 1994, Abacha sacked Chief Shonekan as head of the interim government. Then Abacha formed his own cabinet.
NADECO organized a national gathering in Epetedo, Lagos, in support of Abiola. During the occasion, Abiola delivered the famous “Epetedo Speech.” In the speech, he revealed the election results. Convinced of the speech and the results revealed, significant personalities on the occasion emerged. They declared Abiola the winner of the election and president of the country. They even performed what could be likened to a swearing-in ceremony.
President Abacha struck. Abiola was arrested and detained. He was later charged to court for treasonable felony. While in detention, he felt sick and died. That was in 1998. A good number of NADECO members were also arrested, charged to court and imprisoned. Some were detained without trial. Some fled the country into exile. Some were ambushed by soldiers and killed. One of them was Abiola’s wife, Kudirat.
Abacha also died in 1998. Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar became the next and last military Head of State. Things began to change. Abubakar was seriously concerned about the tension in the country. He pursued immediate peaceful return of democracy. Although he took over as military president in June 1998, he handed over to an elected civilian president, Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999. Since that date till now, democracy has prevailed in the country.
Since the year 2000, Nigerians had been celebrating Democracy Day on May 29, till 2018. After celebrating democracy day on May 29, 2018, President Buhari on June 8 of that year, changed the date of the celebration to June 12. On the first celebration of democracy day on June 12, 2019, President Buhari in his speech stated: “Today, we are privileged to mark the longest period of unbroken democratic elected leadership and fifth peaceful transfer of power from one democratic elected government to another in Nigeria.”
It is clear in Nigerian history that the longest period of unbroken democratic elected leadership started on May 29, 1999, not June 12, 1993.
Continuing his speech on the occasion, Buhari also said: “Twenty years ago, a democratic elected government took over from the military in a historic transfer of power.” From 1993 to 2019 was 26 years. From 1999 to 2019 was 20 years. So, in that speech, the President, actually meant May 29, 1999 not June 12, 1993.
The focus of this article is that May 29, is the appropriate day to celebrate our Democracy Day every year. But that does not mean that June 12 is insignificant.
The people of South West states in recognition of the significance of the Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Oluwole Abiola in June 12, 1993, election and its aftermaths, gathered at Oshogbo, capital of Ogun State on June 12, 2012. They lamented the collapse of Abiola and described it as a sacrifice to democracy. They celebrated him and declared June 12, every year “MKO Abiola Day” with public holiday.
Nigerians rethink. May 29 should be our democracy day; June 12, MKO Abiola Day
•Dr. Anibueze, a former Senior Lecturer at Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, writes from Enugu and could be reached via: [email protected]