June 12, 1993 election annulment, worst thing in Nigeria history, says Eze Ndigbo

Segun Showunmi in Ibadan

The Eze Ndigbo of Oyo State, Dr Alex Anozie has declared that the annulment of June 12 Presidential election was the worst thing that has ever happened in the history of Nigeria, describing the annulment as injustice.

Penpushing reports that Anozie said this on Friday during the celebration of June 12 Democracy Day, held at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku Ibadan, stressing, “the annulment of June 12 was one of the worst things that has ever happened to Nigeria, because it was an injustice in its totalty.”

The Eze Ndigbo noted that religion and ethnicity should not be a problem in Nigeria, adding that if the 1993 Presidential election was allowed to stay, that would have been the best thing to have happened to Nigerian history, adding, “injustice is forcing us to do what we are doing now in Nigeria, religion and ethnicity has also been dividing us.

Penpushing further reports the Oyo Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Comrade Ademola Babalola in his welcome address, pointed out that Abiola was a man of many parts that has contributed immensely to Nigerian press, adding that late Abiola was a detribalized Nigerian during and after his life time.

“In 1993, Nigerian put aside tribalism and sentiment apart and voted for the candidate of their choice as president but the election was later set aside. He was a philanthropist who has touched many lives of Nigerian citizens’.

The journalists boss however commended President Muhammed Buhari for immortalising Abiola, calling on cooperation between Yoruba leaders and monarchs on need for them to come together and place Yoruba race to where its originally belongs.

Penpushing also reports that, a nephew to late Abiola, Alhaji Sufi Kazeem said that the voting pattern for 1993 Presidential election was a unity, saying that the late politician tried his best using all his wealth and connection worldwide to bring unity to Nigeria.

“Many things started changing immediately Abiola was voted, but even with that, there are still group of people who are still not ready to cooperate with him because of they were envious’, he said

Penpushing further reports that, a Human right lawyer, Femi Falana, (SAN) was of the view that immortalizing the late business mogul, was  not enough, saying that the last 21 years Nigeria has returned to democratic rule have been full of sorrow and tears.

The legal luminary while speaking on a live radio programme in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital urged true patriots in the country to intensify the struggle for genuine democracy.

“One of the policies carried out by the Buhari administration is the recognition of June as a public holiday and replacement of Democracy Day which was originally May 29. Those who set May 29 as a Democracy Day did so out of spite.  It was very good on the part of this administration to have recognized that day’, he said.

“But it is not enough to immortalize MKO. It is not enough to recognize June 12 as a democracy day. The last 21 years have been civil rule of disenchantment and frustration on the part of the majority of Nigerians’, Falana said.

“Only a few people, infinitesimal of politicians, can be said to have benefited from civil rule. Only a few politicians are smiling to the bank at the expense of our people. The point I’m making is that, the last 21 years have been years of sorrow and tears for our people. That is why the struggle to have genuine democracy must be intensified by genuine patriots in this country”.