June 12: It’s Not Too Late To Apologize And Honour Abiola’s Legacy By Yusuf Mohammed

The name that may come to the mind of most Nigerians when they see this headline is a former Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida for annulling what was adjudged the freest and fairest election in Nigeria. While IBB and his cohorts have a share of the blame, in my view, we as Nigerians have a larger share of the blame. Let me explain before you all get angry.

Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawole Abiola had a brilliant worldview unlike some leaders today who only see Nigeria as North versus south or vice versa. MKO Abiola saw Nigeria as us versus the world because he was a pan-Nigerian. He was a world figure. We have never had the privilege of having a world figure as president. He used to use his personal money to fight for repatriations for Africa. Yes, Abiola was not a saint but with that view, he would have taken this country to greater heights if they had allowed him.

There is no one like Abiola right now. There may be people like him, but they are certainly not in the limelight. He was compassionate and lived with the masses in Ikeja, while those he was far richer than moved to Ikoyi to be far away from the common man. MKO embraced the common man. When you see him relating with an ordinary person, you would think he was ordinary. Later you would see him with the high and mighty and wonder if that was the man you just saw with a common person.

His philanthropic ways knew no bounds as he was generous to everyone irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliation. He helped people in Northern, Eastern and Western parts of Nigeria. Those who worked closely with him knew that he wasn’t an ethnic or religious bigot. People under him rose as a result of their competence and not their background. According to Mr. Yakubu Mohammed of the Newswatch fame, “Abiola said he heard that I was leaving New Nigerian Newspaper and if that was true that I should come and become the Editor of National Concord. He didn’t do that because I was Yoruba and he didn’t do that because he was Igala. He is from Ogun state and I am from Kogi state. He didn’t do that because of ethnic or any other affiliation. He did that because he believed that I was competent enough to run his newspaper irrespective of where I came from.”

However, when he needed us (Nigerians) the most, we turned our backs on him. He didn’t need our money. He didn’t need it because he was extremely rich. All we needed to do to reciprocate his kindness was to stand with him in his darkest hour. Instead, what did we do? We let that evil (lack of unity) that has been the bane of development in our society, get the better of us.

Some argue that it was cowardice on our part as Nigerians that let Abiola down. To an extent I agree. However, if there is no love, if there is lack of unity, there will be no patriotism and the people will automatically become cowards. United we stand, divided we fall. How do we fight injustice/evil when we don’t have a common voice?
Take Turkey for instance. There are many political parties in Turkey. The people may have their differences also but they are patriotic. The Turkish flag means a lot to them.

The President of Turkey Recep Erdogan had many enemies among the Turkish people but when he was about to be overthrown by some traitors within his government in collaboration with some foreign powers, the people of Turkey rose to defend him. They may not have liked his style of leadership but they were of the view that if he should leave office it has to be through them, not by some foreign powers. They resisted the coup attempt not because they loved Erdogan but because of the love for their country. That was patriotism on display.

That is exactly what is lacking here: patriotism. After June 12, 1993, Nigerians left the battle for the Yorubas, especially Yorubas in Lagos. The people in power understood Nigeria that’s why they were able to annul that election. They knew that we wouldn’t unite. If we had come out like the Turkish people did, we might be telling a different story today.

The Hausa/Fulani to be specific were cool with the dark goggled general at the helm of affairs because he was from their ethnic group. Although they benefited from MKO Abiola’s generosity, they were consoled by the fact that the man in power could speak their language. The Igbos too knew how good Abiola was but their entrepreneurship spirit made them lean towards General Sanni Abacha easily. To them, as long as business continued, there was no problem. After a few years of Abacha’s terror, some even went as far as urging Abacha to remain in power as long as he wished. They organized a one million march for him. The group responsible was called Youth Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA) which was led by one Daniel Kanu. According to Daniel Kanu, “the destiny of this nation and the transition to democracy under the present dispensation can only achieve its viable potentials if handled by prudent, purposeful, and transparent leadership of General Abacha.”That was sycophancy at its peak.

I am not saying there were no Hausas and Igbos who fought against the Abacha regime. They were. But In this case I have to generalize because majority of them didn’t say a word. Some may ask why I mentioned only Hausa/Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba. It is because they are the so-called majority. And most of them, except for the Yorubas, didn’t say a word. It should be recalled that the so-called minorities also had their positive and negative roles.
Unfortunately, we haven’t honoured him and his family enough 24 years after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election.

A former President, Goodluck Jonathan tried in good faith to honour MKO Abiola by renaming University of Lagos (UNILAG) to Moshood Abiola University (MAU). In a swift reaction, those who should have been the happiest kicked against it. Why they kicked against such move still beggars belief. Their voices have always been the loudest when it comes to June 12. Today they still talk when it is June 12. I call them hypocrites.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who comes from Ogun State, was made president in 1999 just to appease the Yorubas. That is not enough.

The best way to make amends is to honour Abiola’s legacy. What would Abiola want if he were alive today? He would want us to be united because he kicked against tribalism all his life. He wanted to see a Nigeria where you can become anything you want irrespective of your background.

He wanted a Nigeria where competence would see you attain a position instead of ethnic sentiments. He wanted a society of justice, fairness and equity where everyone would have a sense of belonging. Are these things too much to ask? Would it not be in our best interest if we come together and fight nepotism and corruption? 24 years later we are still talking about marginalization. We are still talking about Biafra.

Yusuf Mohammed is a journalist in Lagos
He writes for The Next Edition
Twitter: @OtunbaYM