Persisting Libération Battle
Unveiling the Unsung Heroes: The Impact of June 12 Election in Nigeria
On a memorable day, June 12, 1993, Nigeria experienced a historical moment that, unfortunately, remained hidden from the global radar. It marked the country's freest presidential election since its independence and the end of almost a decade of military rule, with a parliament already elected. But before the triumph of businessman Moshood Abiola, the favored candidate among democracy activists, could be officially declared, military ruler Ibrahim Babangida snuffed out the democratic experiment prematurely.
Babangida transferred power to a technocratic cabinet, only to be followed by another military coup that brought General Sani Abacha into power, steering the darkest military dictatorship in Nigeria's history. Abiola was jailed, and the democracy movement was viciously suppressed until Abacha's sudden death in 1998, rumored to be due to an overdose of Viagra in the arms of a sex worker. While Nigeria eventually embraced democracy, the spirit of June 12, 1993, slipped through our fingers.
And now, it's 2025. Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day, with President Bola Tinubu acknowledging the iconic figures from that time, some posthumously. Tinubu echoes, "We honor those who made sacrifices in the past, the brave souls who stood against all odds for our democracy."
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Tinubu was a Nigerian parliament member in 1992 and a co-founder of Nadeco, a faction demanding recognition of the June 12 election. After the end of military rule, he made a mark as a reformer, governing Lagos, Africa's largest city. However, he rose to the presidency of the nation itself in the 2023 elections, leaving many doubts about his ability to transform the ailing country. Yet, he is finally recognizing the nation's freedom struggle.
Among those recognized is Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, a vocal critic of Nigeria's injustices. After the nullification of the 1993 elections, Soyinka wrote on our website, "A power-hungry group has declared war on our citizens. Will the world wait until they disappear, until torture chambers are institutionalized, and all voices are silenced?" The world waited, but the voices never lost their strength.
Ken Saro-Wiwa, an acclaimed author and environmental activist, became the symbol of Nigeria's democracy movement. His crusade against the devastation of his Ogoni people by Shell's oil operations in the Niger Delta captured global attention, and his objective was to reform Nigeria as a whole. Though his movement shunned the June 12, 1993, elections, they later joined the protests against their annulment.
Recognizing Ken Saro-Wiwa's Legacy: A Step Towards Utopia
Ken Saro-Wiwa paid the ultimate price for his activism. On November 10, 1995, Saro-Wiwa and eight others were hanged at Port Harcourt's military prison; it took several attempts to end Saro-Wiwa's life on the gallows. In a secretive letter from his death cell, he wrote, "I'm not afraid of execution. I expect it. We're dealing with heartless people, bloodthirsty Stone Age dictators. They fear ideas and people with new concepts."
Fifteen years later, Tinubu posthumously pardoned Saro-Wiwa and his comrades, collectively known as the "Ogoni Nine." Saro-Wiwa's execution caused international outrage, but Nigeria's dictatorship persisted. The world had more pressing matters than the fate of Nigeria's 237 million people.
Utopian goals might seem distant, but the legacy of June 12 serves as a beacon of hope for those who believe in democracy and social justice. While Nigeria stands at a crossroads, it faces lingering challenges such as pervasive poverty, insecurity, and corruption. However, as witness by Ken Saro-Wiwa, change is achievable, one small step at a time.
- In the landmark 2025 Democracy Day speech, President Bola Tinubu acknowledged the importance of addressing war-and-conflicts and politics in Nigeria, highlighting the sacrifices made by activists like Ken Saro-Wiwa during his time as a parliament member in 1992 and co-founder of Nadeco.
- As the discussion around democratic transformation continues, it's essential to examine ongoing issues such as crime-and-justice and general-news, as depicted in articles from our newspaper during the struggle, featuring vocal critics like Wole Soyinka who addressed the impact of unjust policies on the public during critical moments in Nigeria's history.
