By Chisom Asogwa
Two days ago, President Muhammadu Buhari burst a political bubble by changing Nigeria’s Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12. The May 29 was precipitated on the fact that it marked the day Nigeria returned to civil rule fully after intermittent civilian and military rule. May 29, 1999 ushered in the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo and since then the country’s democracy has been celebrated on this day.
However, the June 12 new Democracy Day was birthed as a result of the election that held in June 12, 1993 between Chief MKO Abiola of Social Democratic Party and Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
This election has been adjudged by the international community to be the freest and fairest election ever held in the history of Nigeria. It was an election that had the muslim- muslim ticket and people still voted massively. Unfortunately, the then military junta, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida annulled this election.
This annulment sparked reactions from different quarters and even a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who always loved to be referred to as Senior Advocate of the Masses, Gani Fawehinmi, was a strong campaigner for the recognition of the June 12, 1993 election. Little wonder he was included among those that would be honoured.
Here is the matter. It would be completely hypocritical to conclude that President Buhari’s decision on June 12 is purely political and has no good intention. On the other hand, there are issues surrounding this declaration.
To start with, pundits have described this declaration as a means to an end rather than an end in itself. The Peoples Democratic Party through its Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan alleged that the President is merely using the name of Chief MKO Abiola to gain political capital and that his decision is not borne out of genuine reverence and recognition for him. Perhaps, it is a ploy to get to the mind of Nigerian, most especially South Westerners and use Chief Abiola’s name as a tool to sway Nigerians even as we approach the 2019 elections.
Also, June 12 Democracy day declaration has been seen to be a means of securing the South West votes ahead of the 2019 general elections. Some have equally affirmed that declaring Chief MKO Abiola as a President is a consolation for the South Western Nigeria. However, they believe that a more alluring declaration would have made the consolation substantial.
Some sections are of the view that the declaration is a perfect response from President Buhari to the agitation that has been going on for about 24 years to recognise June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy day. This no doubt is appropriate for democracy and a good recipe for good governance.
However, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida have been perceived to be one of the targets in the new President’s declaration. It is believed to be an attempt to discredit them and strip them off their influence and ‘power’ they possess owing to the fact that these two individuals were technically against June 12 being Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
Former President Obasanjo proclaimed May 29 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day to the consternation of June 12 activist and rebuffed all demands for him to rescind the decision in favour of June 12; despite being from the same race with Chief MKO Abiola, he blatantly refused. It is not out of place to conclude that Former President Obasanjo relished sumptuously from the outcome of the annulled election.
He rode on the circumstance to emerge victorious in the 1999 general elections and fulfil Chief MKO Abiola’s ‘destiny’. The little he would have done to probably reward him posthumously is to have declared June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day. But now, new water has sprung and a new fish has entered; what Obasanjo has been preventing from happening has come to see the light of the day.
This is surprising and marvellous in our sight. Gen. Babangida on the other hand, was the vessel used to annul Chief Abiola’s election on June 23, 1993.
Therefore, because of the roles this duo played in the June 12 tale and considering their level of influence in this present Nigeria, President Buhari’s move is to whittle off whatever remains of their influence to enable him clinch a more rewarding outing come March 2019.
Finally, true democracy is not flouted; it is one that protects the three arms of government and observes the constitution. The conferment of GCFR honours on Chief Abiola negates the extant provision of the National Honours Act. The National Assembly should make necessary amendment to make the conferment of this award legal.
To conclude, as we have less than 12 months to 2019 General Elections, we should expect more of such moves from Aso Villa. Maybe or Maybe not his attempt to secure the South West votes with this antic was successful. Who knows what is in the pipeline to ‘buy’ the South East, and South South and other geo political zones.
Anyway, he might not need to ‘buy’ the North, he has been doing that since the beginning of his administration by giving them juicy appointments. Let’s sit back as the more drama unfolds.