Its June 12 again and there's a national public holiday to afford the Fed govt and the citizens the chance to celebrate the day and event that made May 29 1999 possible.

On that day, Chief Moshood Kashemawo Olawale Abiola defeated Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa in the 1993 presidential election. The defeat was so comprehensive because Abiola even beat Tofa in his ward, local govt and home state of Kano. It was a truly national mandate. However the military junta of Babangida annuled the election and kick-started a resistance that threw up heroes and villains alike.

I want to remember those, apart from Abiola and his family, who sacrificed for the cause here. Some of them are today in APC, PDP, APGA, civilian life etc and some are even dead but no matter where they're today or what they're doing today, they made June 12 the enigma it has become today. They made the world remember June 12

Chief Gani Fawehinmi. Went to prison countless times for June 12

Prof Wole Soyinka. Marked for death, forced into exile and even there was still harrassed severally.

Femi Falana. Jailed many times

Segun Maiyegun. NANS president. Jailed many times

Chief Ralph Obioha. Lost his business. Harrassed severally.

Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu. Lost a lot. Harrassed severally.

Dr Beko Ransom Kuti. Jailed

Chief Abraham Adesanya. Harrassed. Assassination attempt. Escaped jujuically.

PA Adekunle Ajasin. Harrassed severally. Threatened

Chief Frank Ovie Kokori. Former NUPENG boss. Faced Abacha resolutely. Jailed for 5 years

Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife. Harrassed. Threatened by the military.

Comrade Shehu Sani. Jailed for 4 years. Harrassed severally.

Chief Bola Tinubu. Harrassed. Threatened.

Bagauda Kaltho. Bombed and killed.

Adams Oshiomhole. Stood strong as deputy NLC boss in the face of intimidation. Harrassed severally.

Chief John Oyegun. Harrassed severally.

Lt Col Abubakar Dangiwar Umar. Lost his commission. Harrassed. Ostracized. Marked for death

Commodore Dan Suleiman. Harrassed severally.

Col Yohana Madaki. Harrassed severally.

Dr Bala Usman. Harrassed severally

Alhaji Balarabe Musa. Harrassed severally. Threatened. Ostracized

Chief Olu Falae. Jailed

Comrade Chima Ubani. Arrested severally.

Omoyele Sowore. Arrested. Beaten. Threatened

Chief Olisa Agbakoba. Beaten. Arrested. Harrassed severally.

Prince Adeniji Adele. Harrassed severally. Beaten. Jailed

Comrade Erubami. Arrested. Beaten.

Senator Ameh Ebute. Arrested.

Senator Iyorchia Ayu. Harrassed severally

Other Nadeco chieftains.

Journalists too numerous to mention at TELL, Newswatch, Punch, Vanguard, Guardian, Tempo, TheNews etc

There are a lot more but these I can remember off hand. Whoever knows more should pls post them. If I remember some more, I'll post.