The June 12, 1993 presidential election had its own twists and turns. Many Nigerians have described the election as the most credible election in Nigeria. However, some of the members of the political class still believe that the election deserved to be annulled. On a rational and objective scale, there is a widespread belief that the June 12 election must be celebrated because of the following reasons:
(1) It is the freest and fairest election ever to be conducted in Nigeria. Even today, international organizations such as the UN, EU and AU (formerly OAU) give credence to this.
(2) It is the only election ever to be held in this country in which the Nigerian electorates set aside ethnic, religious, geographical and political sentiments to vote for the candidate of their choice (not party) which culminated in a Muslim/Muslim ticket. Pastors and even the core North voted massively for a muslim South Westerner and Bashir Tofa won convincingly in some regions of Southern Nigeria.
(3) It is the only election ever to be conducted in Nigeria in which people trooped out en masse (majority of registered voters) without being disenfranchised by large scale electoral skirmishes such as multiple thumb printing, stealing of ballot boxes, stuffing of ballot boxes with ballot papers, police harassment, politically-motivated polling disorder, absence of electoral officers during voting hours and other electoral malpractices.
(4) It is the only election ever in Nigeria in which congratulatory messages were sent by the defeated party to the victorious one, acknowledging the latter’s victory!
(5) It is the only election ever in the country that provided level playing ground for candidates by completely eliminating or reducing the influence of godfathers. It allowed a situation where Shehu Yar’ Adua initially could beat LK Jakande in Lagos, beat Layi Balogun in Oyo state and Olu Falae all over South West, excluding Ondo and Ogun states.
(6) Apart from the fact that it was free and fair, it was the best organized election in the country and it was conducted by an unbiased and transparent electoral commission (NEC).
(7) It is the only election ever to be conducted in Nigeria that produced a non-opportunist as President. The winner, Bashorun M.K.O Abiola, refused to trade his mandate for position or money and finally gave up his life for democracy.
(8) It is the election that ushered in the present democracy. Without June 12, there couldn’t have been a May 29. Though not celebrated by the current elites, it was an election that claimed the lives of a husband and his wife in one family and other pro-democracy activists.
(9) It gave the country the best political structure it ever had – a formidable two-party presidential system.
(10) It will certainly give our dear country an action plan for future elections.
Is June 12 the true democracy day in Nigeria or May 29? Should June 12 be celebrated as a public holiday by the federal government? It will be just and appropriate if our governments at all level can have a sober reflection of what happened before and after this historic day.
