NIGERIA’S SADDEST WEEK — Mike Awoyinfa Column

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For those too young to know what happened, I bring you reminiscences of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, the freest and fairest elections ever in Nigeria, starring Chief MKO Abiola of the SDP and Alhaji Tofa of the NRC. Abiola won, but Ibrahim Babangida’s military junta suspended the vote count midstream and annulled the election, opening up a Pandora’s Box of political troubles. It was Nigeria’s saddest week. Juxtapose that to Nigerians going to vote today on empty stomach, unable to withdraw the new naira from banks and their old naira now worthless. As they did in 1993, Nigerians are going to vote with vengeance for their candidates and their future. Below is the election week column I wrote in the Weekend Concord of June 1993 titled: “NIGERIA’S SADDEST WEEK.”
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Americans call it the majesty of democracy. The majestic feat of conceding defeat in a democratic election. The majesty of George Bush standing on the podium telling Americans shortly after his defeat by Bill Clinton: “The people have spoken and we respect the majesty of the democratic system.”
In America, the land where democracy is king, it can be treated with all royal majesty. But here in Nigeria, democracy is a slave girl waiting to be raped. Here, democracy is nothing but a poor prisoner momentarily set free, only to be returned to the cage and be raped. They are raping her right now. Don’t ask me: who? I can hear the poor girl screaming for help. I can see the man with twenty-five million “signatures” raping her. There is another strong man behind the cloak also taking part in the rape but I can’t see his face. Nobody else can see his face. But you can see his hand in it. You can even see his famous legs kicking the poor girl and asking her to stop screaming. They are raping democracy!
An American tried to raise an alarm, warning that his country would not take kindly to the gangsterism of violating the innocence of the poor girl. But what did they do to the poor American? They bundled him out of this country within 72 hours. All because he was poking his nose into the internal matters of the poor girl, to verify whether she is being raped or not. They waited for the American to leave the country. Then they started raping the girl again and withholding our election results. It’s so sad. It’s so shameful. Last week—June 12, 1993—was Nigeria’s defining moment. A moment of hope. The hope of democracy that we were promised. A promise that not everybody trusted because of fear. The fear of a hidden agenda.
“I swear by Allah, I have no hidden agenda,” the man at the top would have to cry himself hoarse from the top of his rock. But still his followers wouldn’t believe him. It is a terrible thing if people lose their faith in a man they are supposed to believe in. What is leadership if it is not anchored on truth, on credibility, on hope? The hope of a leader who you can trust. The hope of a leader who would make tomorrow better.
Last week was the defining moment for Nigeria. A week to choose and to reject. A week to start a new beginning. A week to choose the man who would start mending our cracked walls. A week to bring in the plumber who would fix our leaking pipe. A week to call in the electrician who would restore our light and ensure that we don’t continue to live in darkness. A week to vote for the man who rose from poverty to riches and is promising to lead us to the Promised Land where poverty is abolished.
After eight years of solitude, the iron cage was opened and the bird of democracy flew out, into freedom, into the light of the morning sun. Into the frontiers of a fresh start. Into the Cape of Good Hope. Into the arms of a man called Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola.
It was the proudest week to be a Nigerian. Nigerians voted as if they were voting with vengeance. They voted against the system that has impoverished and frustrated them all these years. They voted to free themselves from the peaceful graveyard of a bad economy. They voted against a system which concentrates wealth in the hands of kings and their horsemen. They voted with their heads and from the emptiness of their stomachs. It didn’t matter whether the man they are voting for is from the north or south or east or west or centre. They voted for a man of integrity. A man whose yes is yes and no is no.
It was the proudest week to be a Nigerian as the figures filtered in showing the man was in the lead. It was a great moment to be a Nigerian as we all voted with one accord. Even the international observers praised us for succeeding in conducting a free and fair election. And just as you are waiting and waiting for the good news to be announced, they announce the bad news instead, showing the rape of democracy. This is Nigeria’s saddest week.
ELECTORAL QUOTES OF THE JUNE 12 ERA
Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, National Electoral Commission (NEC) Chairman appointed by President Babangida: “In the light of current developments, the Commission has, in deference to court injunction and other actions pending in courts, to stay action on all matters pertaining to the Presidential Election until further notice.”
Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, former governor of Kano State: “No attempt should be made by anyone covertly or overtly, directly or indirectly, to tamper with the verdict of the people. Nobody should be allowed to put Nigeria on fire, and those trying to do so should be warned to desist from so doing.”
Alhaji Bashir Tofa, Presidential candidate of the NRC: “If we lose it, I will thank God, I have done my best. If SDP wins, we will thank God. I think Chief Abiola has actually done his best. I am just taking it easy. I want to retire to my private life. I don’t want any problem.”
Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, former External Affairs Minister: “Nixon said that America was too important to have a disputed presidency. And that he cared more for America than he cared about occupying the White House. He didn’t file any petition. I therefore recommend this attitude to NRC.”
Mike O’Brien, Director of United States Information Service deported for commenting on the election: “Any postponement will not be acceptable to the government of the United States of America.”
Adamu Ciroma, former NRC Presidential aspirant: “I don’t think such frivolous excuses should be used in holding the election result.”
Chief Bola Ige, former Governor of Oyo State: “Let it be clearly written by your newspaper that I have no comments.”
Dr. Olusola Saraki, the late Senator and Nigerian political stalwart: “We are making a mockery of the whole judicial system.”
Justice Moshood Olugbani, the late Jurist: “No provision in Decree 13 authorizes the suspension of election results. Even if heaven falls, NEC should declare the result and name the winner, irrespective of any court order or injunction that may have been issued against the election.”