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| Members of June 12 committee of CDRP during Commemoration Service @ All Saint Cathedral Osogbo |
The Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People(CDRP) takes a
cursory look at the events that shape the 19 years remembrance of the
annulment of June 12 ,1993 Presidential which was adjudged by the
local and international communities as freest and fairest election in
the political history of Nigeria and won by the business mogul,Chief
Moshood Khasimawo Abiola but annulled by the military junta of General
Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
According to the saying that “History has shown that a true statesman
is prepared to step back and will ultimately stand for what is right
when on reflection and due consideration of the correct course of
action is clear”..
Since the introduction of the elective principle into the Nigeria
politics by Sir Hugh Clifford's Constitution of 1922 during colonial
era,series of problems have marked the political development process
in Nigeria before and after independence,particularly June 12,1993
electoral process.
June 12 has become a beacon of history in Nigeria political land
scape development and Nigeria political history could not be completed
without examining the role played by the military in the election
process of June 12 saga.
The turning point in the political history of the country took place
on 23rd of June ,1993,when the military administration of the then
General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida annulled the presidential
election,which was adjudged as the freest and fairest in the nation
since independence.This singular act of repression was affecting our
political development with several more cases of military repression
taking place,which were reactions to the struggle for the
actualization of the election and the return to democracy in Nigeria.
The people of the country including Osun State now State of Osun
received the news of the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential which
was also adjudged locally and internationally as the freest and
fairest with rude shock,sorrow and agony like recent Dana aircraft
crash where no fewer than 185 people perished in Iju-Ishaga,Lagos
State.
Since June 23rd ,1993 that the evil genius leader, General Babangida
annulled the said election,where 14 million Nigerians casted their
votes for the acclaimed winner of the election,Chief Moshood Kashimawo
Olawale Abiola,the political system of the country are not the same
again.
Also,the hope of the people that choose their leader without minding
religion,ethnic and political affinity on that fateful Saturday of
June 12 ,1993 for economic, education, health,security,employment
opportunity,agriculture recovery were dashed by the military junta.
To add more salt to the injury caused by the annulment as the struggle
for its re-validation was gathering momentum from progressive minded
of Nigeria likes Senator Abraham Adesanya,Gani Fawehinmi,Bola Ige,Bola
Ahmed Tinubu,Balarabe Musa,Sheu Sanni,Ayo Opadokun,Rauf
Aregbesola,Amitolu Shittu,Osagie Obayuwana,Femi Aborishade,Femi Falana
among others ,calling on the imposed Chief Earnest Shonekan led
interim government to reverse Babangida's decision by declaring the
winner of the election and subsequently sworn in Chief MKO Abiola as
substantive President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of
Nigeria.
In a twinkle of an eye,General Sanni Abacha took over the reign of
government with a view to handing over the power to the acclaimed
winner of June 12 election,Chief Abiola within the shortest period of
time but to dismay of the people,General Abacha arrested Chief Abiola
and kept him with other pro-democracy members in the prison custody
till Abiola died,also killed his wife,Alhaja Kudirat Abiola in cause
of struggle to restore her husband mandate.
As Abacha was trying to stabilize his illegal government,the human
rights community,Civil Society groups and National Democratic
Coalition(NADECO),Afenifere and others body were demonstrating and
calling for re-validation and restoration of June 12 election and
release of acclaimed winner of the election,Chief MKO Abiola from
Abacha gulag,through which many lives and property were lost and the
June 12 struggle nearly torn the countries into different entities if
not because of divine intervention and members of the opposition were
clamped down into prison custody without trial.
It is against this background that the human rights community led by
Comrade Amitolu Shittu,the National Coordinator,Committee for
Democracy and Rights of the People(CDRP) in the state of Osun join
millions of Nigerian and Non-Nigerian,home and abroad to turn the saga
to annual ritual event which the grand finale of its 19 series are
slated for tomorrow June 12,2012 with a public lecture to be held at
Osogbo City Hall,Olonkoro,which it will give the opportunity to call
for reflection on the political development of the country.
It is also on record in the state that Comrade Shittu gingered other
self acclaimed comrade in the state on the importance of the June
election being the watershed in the political life of our great nation
and it is on this note that Committee for Democracy and Rights of the
People(CDRP) organized a week long programme for the commemoration of
the this year 19th annual June 12 celebration with Jumaat service and
Sunday Church service at Solahudeen Mosque,Opposite SUBEB Junction and
All Saints Church,Balogun Agooro,Osogbo respectively.
The organizing Committee Chairman and its members of the programme are
Comrades Sualiman Adeniyi(Revolutionary Alfa),Abdul Ganiy Sahid
Ezra,Wale Daodu,Adekunle Adeoti Saka Waheed(MAO),Laide Eseola and
Akinkunmi Akinkunle and part of the activities line up for the event
is the visitation to the Orphanage and Motherless Babies Home in
Osogbo.
Also to know the importance of the Supreme sacrifice made by Chief MKO
Abiola for the enthronement of civil rule in the country,the Committee
For Democracy and Rights of the People(CDRP) has organized a grand
finale of the event with a public annual lecture/symposium with the
theme:Corruption and Future of Democracy In Nigeria:Any Hope? to be
delivered by the duo of the Dr Osagie Obayuwana,the Attorney -General
and Commissioner for Justice,Edo State and Dr Ife Adewumi,the
Chairman,Academic Staff Union of University(OAU),Ile-Ife branch.
The State Governor,Mr Ruaf Aregbesola will be the chief host at the
event and the Chief of Staff to the Governor,state of Osun,Alhaji
Gboyega Oyetola will also be the Chairman of the occasion while the
Speaker,State of Osun Assembly,Rt Hounourable Najeem Salaam will be
the Special Gust of Honour and Secretary to the State Governor,Alhaji
Moshood Olalekan Adeoti and Immediate past Speaker,State of Osun
Assembly,Barrister Adejare Bello will be the Guest of Honour
respectively.
They also the opportunity to invite the general public to their public
lecture where those who really fought for June 12 struggle will be on
ground to discuss with the Nigeria masses of the state of Osun again.
However,the CDRP used the opportunity to commend the state governor,Mr
Rauf Aregbesola for declaring Tuesday June 12,2012 as public holiday
for the civil servants in the state,saying that his name has gone to
record that in the history of the 21 year old state,Aregbesola is the
first governor to declare public holiday in recognition of the
supreme sacrifice made by the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993
election.
While commending President Goodluck Jonathan led federal government
for renaming University of lagos after Chief MKO Abiola which they
believe he did it at wrong time for ulterior motive,CDRP urged
President Jonathan to recognize Chief MKO Abiola as president of the
country post posthumously and name more national institutions after
him as hero of democracy because no family in the nation has paid a
supreme sacrifice being paid like Abiola's family for defence and
enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.
CDRP called on the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to
learn a lesson from the June,1993 presidential election and do all its
best to conduct 2015 election without fear or favour so as to
guarantee the unity,oneness,growth,progress and development of the
country in 2015.
The piece was put together by Comrades SEFIU AYANBIMPE and DAWOOD
AJETUNMOBI who are members of the CDRP in State of Osun.
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