It is the anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. 18 years ago, Nigerians had defied the odds to take part in the election that was widely adjudged to meet the international standards of transparency and won by the late Chief MKO Abiola. The poll was, however, annulled by the then military regime, throwing the nation into months of turmoil. Senator Jonathan Zwingina who was the director general of Abiola political organisation, Mr Yinka Odumakin, a member of Afenifere, and Chief Supo Shonibare, chairman, Lagos State chapter of Afenifere, speak on June 12 vis-a-vis the 2011 polls.

June 12 similar to 2011 polls — Zwingina
I believe very strongly that June 12 is still very significant in our country’s contemporary politics. Firstly, because it reminds us that we should respect the will of the people and we should not tamper with it once expressed.

Secondly, June 12 represents a turning point in our electoral process because it marked an election that was truly transparent, that was free and fair, although the outcome was not allowed to stand. I believe that the only other election that compares to June 12 is the only current election that was held in 2011.

So it is very important to us that this country needs a free and fair election and also that this country needs an election that will not be tampered with and that the will of the people must always remain supreme because these are cardinal wings of democracy that cannot be wished away and the more we remember them, the more our political development

June 12 has no equal — Odumakin
June 12 remains a milestone in our democracy today and it remains the only political enterprise Nigeria is yearning for because it broke all barriers of ethnicity, religion and tribe. If you compare the June 12 elections and the just concluded elections we just had, you will realize that the just concluded 2011 elections were based on ethnic division and religion.

Also, another unique thing about June 12 was that nobody challenged the election at the tribunal including Alhaji Bashir Tofa who ran against Abiola on the opposition platform. Likewise, Chief Abiola during June 12 agitation made it clear that proceeds from oil would be published on daily basis and was ready to end poverty but what we have seen since 1999 till date is Nigerians wallowing in poverty and billions of naira being spent without accountability to anyone. So, June 12 remains a reference point to us in achieving greatness in our democracy.


We’re unable to evolve democratic culture— Shonibare
The essence of June 12 is that it was an opportunity for the people to claim back sovereignty from the predatory military junta ruling us. That opportunity was wickedly, selfishly and cruelly denied the people. Thereafter the ruling junta manipulated a contrived transition which threw up military power brokers and their civilian money mongers. We were therefore unable to evolve the democratic culture but had civilian dictatorship foisted on us. Democracy entails being able to freely elect one’s preferred candidate amongst competing contestants to manage their collective wealth and to make laws on their behalf.

When you have groups and political parties manipulating the process to enable them have access to this collective wealth for their own use, then it is not democracy but kleptomaniac at all levels and the inevitable predatory governments emanating therefrom. We hope President Goodluck Jonathan will change this trajectory.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/06/18th-anniversary-of-annulled-election-our-take-on-june-12-and-2011-polls-by-zwingina-odumakin-shonibare/