A former chairman of the Colleges of Education Academic staff Union, Ekiti State, Former College Librarian, and Public Affairs Analyst Elder Ayo Arogundade has called for a need to amend Nigeria the Electoral law to enhance credible election.
Arogundade who made the call during an interview with the Heritagenewsng said the National Assembly should act on this fast in order for the country’s future election to be credible like that of june 12 1993.
The former labour leader regrettably noted that June 12 1993 Election was a watershed and most credible in the Electoral history of Nigeria which was unfortunately annulled.
“It was an election between two major political parties at that time. Social
Democratic party SDP and National Republican convention NRC.
“Chief MKO Abiola was the Presidential candidate of SDP while Alhaji Tofa was that of NRC.MKO Abiola was winning d Election.
“Abiola He defeated his opponent in his home state of Kano. Unfortunately the Election was annulled by d Military Ruler General Ibrahim Babangida.
“The Results were not officially announced.
After the annulment there was crisis in the country, demonstration, protests in all parts of the country especially South West.
“This led to the emergence of National Democratic coalition NADECO and other groups and individuals fighting for the declaration of Abiola as d Winner.Many lives were lists.
“Babangida himself stepped aside and Sonekan came in as the head of the interim Government before he was forced out and Gen Abacha took over as the Head of state.
“The struggles for the Validation of d June 12 Election still continue Many Pro Democracy activists were killed, Many went on self exile. The wife of Chief Abiola, Kudirat was killed in the struggle.
“June 12 Election was very important because it was an election without ethnic or Religious bias, An Election where Abiola a Yoruba man defeated his opponent in his home state of Kano.
“An Election that SDP fielded A Muslim Muslim ticket and Nigerians did not care about it.Babagana kingibe the runner mate to Abiola is a Muslim.D election was Free and fair
“The regret about 12 June election was that it was annulled. It was a credible election without any violence that Nigeria would have been built on. It is sad.
“Democratic development in Nigeria had been reversed with the annulment. Unfortunately all other subsequent election had not been credible. It is even getting worse with violence, intimidation, financial inducement, ballots snatching and other forms of manipulations. There is the need to amend the Electoral law to enhance credible election. The National Assembly should act fast.” Arogundade added.
Speaking further, Arogundade pointed out that, “part of the Lessons of June I2 Election was that it brought unity among the people, unfortunately d Unity had been reversed by subsequent actions and inactions of stakeholders in the project Call Nigeria”
He however regretted that “Nothing had been achieved, adding that “All the lessons and gains had been reversed by the present set of political class.”
“Do you call the June 12 holiday as a gain? haaaa Noooo. Do you call the emergence of chief Olusegun Obasanjo as then President from Southwest as a gain? Haaaaaa Noooo!.
“Unfortunately Abiola died in the struggle while in detention.Gen Abacha a ruthless dictator seriously dealt with pro democracy activist. Many were detained, Many went to self exile.
“Many died, Life was brutish and nasty. Abacha himself died and Gen Abubakar Abdul Salam took over as Head of state. it was him that handed over to the civilian Administration under Olusegun Obasanjo, so till today, we have not seen any gain of June 12”. He added.