Forward to the Past (Echoes of June 12 and M. K. O. Abiola as Pivots in Nigeria's Developing Democracy)

By Paul Olorih

'FORWARD TO THE PAST: Echoes of June 12 and MKO Abiola as pivots in Nigeria's developing democracy' highlights the events leading to one of the biggest landmarks in Nigeria's political development. The June 12 1993 presidential election and the events following its annulment by the Ibrahim Babangida-led military junta remain significantly relevant in our narrative. Pivotal to the political trajectory is the role of MKO Abiola as the symbol of the struggles that ensued following the ignominious truncation of an election adjudged fairest and most peaceful by Nigerians as well as the international community.

It offers poignant insight into the political life and times of MKO from his grand entry into the political scene to his unique campaign strategies, his speeches, interviews and theatrics laced with appetising humour and colourful dress sense.

Arrested and detained for exhibiting uncommon courage and refusing outrightly to renounce his mandate, MKO Abiola was incarcerated for about four years and eventually died while still in detention in 1998.

The book highlights the contributions of Nigerians, at home and abroad, to sustain democracy. It is intended for general readership and as a handy tool of historical reference. It should also make a great addition to political documentations, valuable to historians, politicians, scholars, book collectors and researchers all over the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: FocusMedia (PCL) Ltd
• Release date: Jul 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201454777

Paul Olorih

Paul Olorih, journalist and public affairs analyst, has cognate experience in various sections of the mass media. An indigene of Ugheli in Delta State, Nigeria, Paul is an alumnus of Nigeria’s premier citadel of higher learning, the University of Ibadan. He has worked at various times at Federal Government Press, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Lagos and as the editor of Focus Magazine, published from the United Kingdom. Aside his vast experience in editing and contributing to national news and entertainment journals, he also had a stint as a co-presenter on television and was National Programme Officer for the Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organisations (NNNGO) and GirlWatch. Paul is author of two published books, Africa’s Kindergarten Democracy and Trials and Triumph of the Girl Child.  Aside spending time with his family, he enjoys writing, travelling, music, and football.

Book preview

"Only real democracy can move our nation forward towards progress, and earn her the respect she deserves from the international community."

— Bashorun MKO Abiola (1937 – 1998)

"Politics, like religion, hold up the torches of martyrdom to the reformers of error."

— Thomas Jefferson, Letters of Thomas Jefferson

FOREWORD

Memorable events are far and in-between in most people’s lives, and the vast majority of us simply engage with accounts produced by others. But that raises two very important questions: What events qualify as memorable, and second, how are memorable events to be recorded. The first is in itself a huge challenge as it brings to the fore the critical essence of the account recorder. Is this just a superfluous engagement with events which allows the recorder to pander to the yearnings of their own fancy or is there a concretely evidenced issue worthy of being recorded? There are two issues to consider here. First, history, as they say, is what one generation finds worthy of note in and by another generation.

The challenge for the historical account is making that decision about the worthiness of what they have recorded. Every account, therefore, projects the competence of the account writer in the context of decision making and appreciation of contemporary and future contexts. Second, and as Tosh reminds us in his treatise on history, it is essentially what the writer at the time thinks is interesting in relation to their contemporary environment and not essentially aimed at what might be of future interest. History is, therefore, both contemporaneous and asynchronous. Deciding on issues that can assume both dimensions is the immediate challenge of the historical writer.

There is no doubt that historical accounts can be full of contradictions and challenging situations. Historical accounts compel us to look at how people responded to complicated dilemmas. They also induce a consideration of issues such as motivation, actions and their attendant reactions. More importantly, however, the central role of historical accounts is to enable us to reflect on past actions of others, not for its own sake, but for us to make connections with contemporary events. In essence, a historical account ought to be an instrument for learning, which ultimately should induce a change in behaviour.

Although history is reputed for reflecting the bias of the writer, the good recorder of event leaves room for subsequent readers to understand where the element of bias might arise and the potential for re-interpretation. In other words, a good historical account leaves room for a multiplicity of voices which permits different readers to draw lessons from the account. But therein lies the irony in the very composition of historical accounts. While on the one hand it encourages a multiplicity of interpretations, it insists on the legitimacy of these interpretations through an insistence on factuality. A good historical account must, therefore, be factual, accurate and properly contextualised if it is to achieve the goal of enlightening and becoming the fulcrum for societal evolution.

It is in this context that this account by Paul Olorih becomes a valuable tool for our collective learning. Paul’s account addresses all the elements of the effective historical account. It does not focus on individuals but on events and the context in which these events take place. In presenting contexts, Paul’s account not only highlights events but also the causative drivers of these events. In doing this, he leaves room for us to make our interpretations, but ensures that we all remain firmly anchored to the factuality embodied in the narrative. While the ongoing addresses the ‘how’ of Paul’s account, we are yet to confront the salient issue of ‘what’. What is the importance of the issues that Paul has recorded in this account? To what extent are these issues of both contemporaneous and asynchronous relevance?

This is the genius of Paul in presenting this account. He leaves the reader to decide on the importance of these events. Even though his own voice, and in a sense, inclinations hum along stridently in the background, there is no sense of persuasive compulsion. I assume this was the original goal of this writer - recognise and learn, or ignore and discount the lessons offered by this account. The choice is yours. That stance, in my view, makes Paul’s account a worthy historical account and recommend it to you.

Gordon O. Ade-Ojo

Professor of Language and Literacy Policy in Lifelong Learning Faculty of Education, Health and Human Sciences

University of Greenwich London, UK.

PREFACE

This book is not published to serve as a propaganda for any person, group or  associations.  It  is  written  out  of  the author’s genuine and very conscious effort to address some issues that made the most impact in our march to achieving true democracy.

Even as it is a not a commissioned project, the decision to pull resources and commit to its research, preparation and eventual publication stemmed largely from the author’s genuine intention to document for posterity the nuggets of information and factual bits such may help inform, educate and enlighten the reading public on the very thorny path we have threaded towards realising a unique and dynamic democracy. I was compelled to complete the documentation of this chronicle when it became very clear that the political yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians were heading for a gigantic crash. Nerves were frayed and tensions heightened. In that atmosphere, I believed that something had to be put down for documentation and historical benefit, in order to inform and educate generations yet unborn on how we came this far to achieving a working democracy for the nation’s future republics.

Events in Nigeria have the tendency of turning out differently compared to other countries. Ours has often been characterised by unconventional dictates and realities. Our process of learning and experimentation was like one very long and unending journey; yet we often pull through. This then brings to the fore the fact that the Nigerian-nation is indeed very complex and of divergent tendencies. There are forces of dissent, just as there are seas of progressive and uncompromising forces throughout the Nigerian federation. The political terrain has been filled with intrigues and suspense that were as amazing as they were intolerable. For one, we were very unanimous in our resolve that democracy can only come about if we are genuine in our resolve and sincere in our disposition to making it work.

Nigerians are today much more aware, matured and politically alive, and it is my belief that both the cheerful and turbulent moments in our nation’s march to democratic governance ought to be stored and preserved for the sake of historical reference. Likewise, as we marched on, one man stood out and Nigerians were unanimous in their choice of him as their HOPE for a better living. Having fought so many battles in his lifetime and winning almost all of them, Bashorun MKO Abiola faced what seemed the most difficult and incredible period in his entire adult life. He embarked on a task to give Nigeria a new sense of political direction and vision. The electorates believed in him, and they said so, in what remains to date, the most peaceful, freest and fairest election ever, in the history of this nation. He won convincingly and overwhelmingly; but sadly, some people felt very uncomfortable, and they deprived him of his well-earned mandate.

In my desire to be very genuine, I choose to periscope the events as they unfolded in a state of utmost neutrality and fairness. This is a book that must be read by all. It is a work of genuine sincerity of purpose. This is one book that will make an invaluable possession on our bookshelves.

I wish to state now, though in a very clear terms, that when work was started on this book, the unfortunate state of political darkness in which we found ourselves, which consequently led to a long impasse, was very much in its early stage. General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd) was still very much in power as Nigeria’s military president, while Bashorun Abiola was Nigeria’s president-elect. As the political stalemate was not one to be resolved with any expected ease, panic, confusion and uncertainty then set in, but that did not dampen the spirit of hope, confidence and enthusiasm that inspired this work. As the problem appeared insoluble, so did I remain resilient with great optimism, for I believed strongly that justice shall prevail.

During this project, Bashorun Abiola left the country for 54 days, ex-president Babangida ‘stepped aside’ and an Interim National Government (ING) was put in place to serve as a stop- gap body to fill the vacuum in the executive branch of government. However, I remained undaunted in my mission of writing this piece for history’s sake. The driving forces were ‘hope and courage’. The two unique attributes which kept the Nigerian masses going; and which also kept Bashorun Abiola bubbling.

Thus, despite the foggy state of unending logjam, I remained firm in my belief that true democracy shall be realised, and justice shall prevail above all perceivable obstacles. I never wavered because popular wish had always held supreme. I was ultimately glad that I believed resiliently in myself, just as I am glad also that hope and courage saw Nigeria and Nigerians through what remains our most turbulent period in the nation’s recent political history.

It is important to note here that work on this project started in 1994, as it was. I gathered and put together bits and pieces of materials for this project while embarking on painstaking research and studies to come up with this book which could be described as an invaluable historical document for yesterday’s people, today’s generation, tomorrow’s people and generations to come. I may not have perfectly and accurately captured all the intrigues and nuances of what really went down, but I want to believe that I made quite an effort to tell the stories and paint the pictures the best way that I saw them play out. I saw all of it. I went through it, and was in the thick of it. I wasn’t told about it. I was indeed a living witness to the dark era, so I can say without let or hinderance that that my involvement stands me in a good stead to  justify this documentation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Iwish to appreciate God Almighty for giving me the inspiration and strength to gather my thoughts together  and  write  this book even in the face of daunting  odds  and  personal challenges. His grace and mercies are the enduring tonics that saw me through. Therefore, I cannot thank Him enough. I also appreciate the effort, support and encouragement of my wife and children who stood firmly by me and urged me on relentlessly, especially at such moments when I felt like giving up.

I thank my pastor, Jeffrey Okaekwu, and his lovely wife, Adaeze, for their moral and spiritual support. I appreciate the support of a wonderful friend, Mr Lekan Oguntunmibi, his dear wife Adedayo and their adorable children. I am grateful for the ever-supportive love of Magdalene Akhalumemo-Akilo, Elizabeth Oluwatoyin Petinrin, Elizabeth Bola Davies, Mazino Ayerota and her sweet mother. I also want to thank Mrs Chidima Awa-Agwu; Mr and Mrs Taiwo Banjoko; my ‘boss of life’ Dupe Ashama; Segun Fajemisin; my dear brother, Bashorun Dele Momodu and my adorable sister, Victoria Ataro and her children who all contributed in no small measure to encourage and challenge me to complete the manuscripts.

I appreciate everybody who would find the time to read and reflect upon the contents of this book, thus contributing to the enrichment of our history as a people and a nation.

God bless Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION

Aseed can only yield good fruits if it is sown on a fertile soil. Often, we talk about things that we don’t have the faintest idea of. But then, even when we have a grasp, these may

be susceptible to misinterpretation or being unduly abused. That indeed has been one reason Nigeria does not seem to move ahead, politically and socio-economically, but if we are to jaw-jaw on this issue then, we shall without prejudice arrive at the rational conclusion that our colonial masters contributed to making Nigeria and Nigerians look ridiculous and uncoordinated.

Simply put, the British colonial authority did not actually bother to fashion out and inculcate in us a particular political framework, culture and pattern. Apart from attempting to make the average Nigerian look and feel second-rated, the colonialists also dominated our every existence and lorded themselves over us. They did not impart to us any tangible political reasoning. This, though, does not appear to be much of a surprise to me because lessons from historical experience show that slave-driving is one of the attendant characteristics of colonialism. However, try as they (colonialists) did, Nigerians could still get off their stranglehold, thus gaining political independence and a leeway to self-governance on the 1st of October 1960. Being that political and electioneering activities had begun in the country long before 1960, it remains an immutable fact that the colonial masters left without bequeathing unto us a sound springboard on which to build the Nigeria of our dream, politically. The First Republic, which saw Nigeria experimenting with the parliamentary system of government, failed to endure. The Second Republic tested the viability of the presidential system of government but sadly collapsed