Burying The Hatchet Of June 12....

Understanding the depth of every event in a nation, does not just help in retraining our misdemeanors but also takes a long train in giving us a clear picture of what needs to be done when the things fall apart. Crisis, issues and conflicts are bound to occur in every ecological habit, as a matter of fact even in the animal kingdom but it could also be avoided if we take time to think, think and think again. Wars, genocides, homicides and even manslaughter are events that have occurred repeatedly in countries, states, towns, villages and even in our domestic homes but just a pause for a moment gives the victims and perpetrators another chance. It gives us the chance to think, negotiate, resolve, appeal or let go of certain disputes that can’t be changed, controlled or reversed through the means of own human or government capacity.

The incidence of June 12 1993 rolling about 20 years ago still remains evergreen in our memory as Nigerians even to those who were and those who heard. Like a fresh wound to the effected, it still bleeds and the marks are still seen in every area of the democracy we practice today as a nation. From the planning, the campaign, the election, the result, the annulment by Gen Ibrahim Babangida, the protests, the riots, killings, arrests and change of power, all the events still stare us in the face. This also makes us accountable as a nation ever since that attempt to embrace democracy was thwarted.

Nigerians cannot sweep under the carpet the impact of June 12 in the democratic government and the politics we are plunged in today. That election was noted as the freest and fairest election since our independence by both local and international observers and it was also tagged the most successful and controversial election of all times till date in Nigeria. Why?

Aside the properties that were destroyed, lives that were lost and ethnic stigmatization and disparity in the minds of people who were most affected like Chief MKO Abiola. Many prominent Nigerians like Chief Alfred Rewane, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua, Bagauda Kalto, Suliat Adedeji and many others lost their lives while the Publisher of Guardian Newspaper, the late Chief Alex Ibru, and a leading member of the Afenifere socio-cultural organisation, Chief Abraham Adesanya, escaped assassination attempts by a whisker. Chief MKO Abiola died in prison prior to his release and the Properties lost, the businesses that were affected, and the poor Innocent Nigerians that were killed as a result of shot outs during the riots and protests cannot be accounted for. These crises also resulted in a shift of power from Gen. Babangida to Chief Shonekon and a coup by General Sani Abacha though bloodless but still an after math of the annulment of the June 12 election.

In as much as it is the duty of the government to protect the rights of the citizens of Nigeria, However, the motivation for this should not be tagged wholly on the poor governance experienced at that time but to all the wrong actions that were taken by some Nigerians citizens that resulted to a multiple chain reactions backfiring in an attempt to take laws into our hands. Though we have been able to bury the hatchet, aside the violence, murder, protests and attacks on innocent people, human rights were shattered and the victimised still heals.

The election crisis of June 12 1993, birth the 1999 democratic rule in Nigeria and the south west was given an opportunity to rule as compensation for the ciaos that occurred after the annulment. Although this was not enough as it would never make up for the lives lost, the rights dashed, the pain in the heart of the bereaved families and the properties destroyed but it also created a golden opportunity for good Nigerians to form the People Democratic Party (PDP),All Nigerians Peoples’ Party (ANPP) and  Alliance for Democracy (AD). Hereby bringing the American two party methods we adopted to an absolute end and we embracing a three or more parties democratic system in Nigeria.

Although many years have passed by and Nigeria may have healed from that traumatic experience ranging from the multiple killings, undeserved arrests, torture and human rights violation during the Abacha regime. In all these lapses, we arose stronger than the whole world expected and we still excel in all the world activities ranging from football, literature, entertainment and even politics. Yet truth be told, whatever the reason for the June 12 1993 election annulment was, the only one lasting solution to the dilemma would have just been a repeat of that election. We Nigerians should not subject our fellow Nigerians to misery and pain then expect love from other countries. We must love ourselves first and give resolution thinking to crisis and conflicts and this is because when there is a headache, a doctor is consulted; we don’t cut off our heads.