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Nigeria: Abiola And the Road Not Taken
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This Day (Lagos)
EDITORIAL
14 July 2008
Posted to the web 15 July 2008
Lagos
It was time again last week for family, friends and pro-democracy activists, joined by millions of ordinary Nigerians, to commemorate the death of business mogul, Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land and the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Bashorun M.K.O Abiola. The election was annulled by the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, whose successor, the late General Sani Abacha, later jailed Abiola for four years for declaring himself president, until the death of the politician on July 10, 1998.
In a country in dire need of heroes, Abiola has become a quintessential hero of Nigeria's democracy. Since his brief but memorable emergence as the custodian of a mandate given by Nigerians in the nation's freest and fairest election ever, he has always captured the imagination of his compatriots. He is still pointing, even in death, to the path not taken in Nigeria's troubled search for free elections, unity, development and dogged commitment to the cause of nationhood. Abiola has come to represent these and many more.
Indeed, on the anniversary of his death every year, the nation has always expressed gratefulness for his sacrifice and the embrace of martyrdom in the defence of the people's will expressed freely on June 12, even long after the people had lost hope. The occasion of the 10th anniversary of his death has, however, been marked in a unique way. This was not only because it was a landmark, but also because of the background against which it was taking place.
Although, hardly a matter of conjecture, since the results of the election had been published in various forms after the annulment, the umpire in that election and former electoral commission boss, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, recently reaffirmed Abiola as the winner and published the election result in his new book which rightly identified " June 12" as a worthy foundation in Nigeria's search for an enduring democratic culture and true federalism.
We agree with this assessment. Abiola's election has become a true benchmark on this score. It seemed on the eve of June 12 he had no hope when, as a Muslim, he picked another Muslim, Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe, as his running mate in a country with touchy religious sensibilities. On the other hand, bookmakers equally said the teeming northern voters would not elect a southerner. These predictions arising from Nigeria's divisive politics before Abiola's emergence came to nought. Abiola swept to victory with an unprecedented pan-Nigerian mandate.
A new indivisible country seemed to be emerging. Then we lost it, first with Abiola's incarceration and, later, his eventual death when he seemed to be on the verge of actualising the mandate. Nigeria has since gone back to its deplorable culture of stolen elections. We seriously need to retrace our steps.
We continue to salute the courage of the late Bashorun Abiola. If ever there was a Nigerian Dream, he truly lived it and desired that his compatriots followed suit as exemplified by his manifesto, "Farewell to Poverty," and his campaign outfit, 'Hope '93'. As a stammerer, he overcame the grinding poverty of his roots to become immensely famous and wealthy because of his legendary benevolence, philanthropy and common touch. He was completely detribalised. He became Nigeria's most recognised face of wealth and success. Simultaneously, he was a'big man" who was comfortable with being the fellow next door. Nigerians voted massively for him as a result.
For brutally thwarting the wish of the people, the regimes of Generals Babangida and Abacha were unpatriotic and will always come in for censure until atonement is made. The same goes for elements that had a hand in the annulment but who are masquerading as democrats today. Conversely, the nation will always owe a debt of gratitude to those pro-democracy fighters led by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). Risking lives and limbs, they insisted that the will of the people must prevail.
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As a fitting tribute to the memory of Abiola and the sacrifice of those unsung Nigerians, the government needs to urgently acknowledge the need to officially immortalise the June 12 election winner by recognising his victory and letting him take his place among past Nigerian leaders. It should be the first step in coming to terms with that episode in the nation's history and guarding against the nation travelling that road again.
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