Buhari, immortalize Abiola now, says Gani Adams
http://www.gatewaymail.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Gani-Adams...OPC-leader.jpgBeing the Text of Speech Delivered by Otunba (Dr) Gani Adams, National Coordinator, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), at the commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of the Annulment of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election held on June 12, 2015 at Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Ikeja. Lagos.
We are gathered here yet again for the 22nd anniversary of the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election.
It was an election that has been globally acknowledged as the fairest and the best organised in the history of Nigeria.
While many may want to wish that the memory of that ugly pain inflicted on Nigerians by the military cabal is forgotten,
I am of the opinion that we continue to celebrate the hero of our democracy, Bashorun MKO Abiola, the man whose sacrifice gave us the democracy we are enjoying today.
As if it was yesterday, the events of that beautiful day have continued to linger in my memory.
The atmosphere leading to the election was right, and Nigerians were filled with expectations of a better future.
It was possible for the people to vote right because the elections were properly planned and well conducted.
There were pre-election debates and it was easy to know who was better prepared and ready to take Nigeria out of the abyss into which it had been plunged by the cabal.
However, today I want to dwell on the principles of the events of that beautiful day.
You all will agree with me that the June 12, 1993 election was about democratic principles and the rule of law.
It was about a people who saw a ray of hope in the ability of Bashorun Abiola to lead them out of Egypt and take them to the promised land.
In his campaign speech, Abiola promised Nigerians that he would organise a Sovereign National Conference.
As a man of the people, he knew full well what the people wanted and what could be done to move the nation forward.
It is also on record that even as the results were being announced, prices of goods and services were dropping and Nigerians were overjoyed that, at last, hope was on its way.
That was the spirit and mood in the country until Nigerians received a rude shock from the military junta, annulling the best election in the history of this country.
Abiola, the hero of our democracy
However, we must not forget that the fundamental thing about June 12 was that an election was held and Abiola won a convincing victory which transcended both tribal and religious lines.
Unfortunately, some cabal plotted against Abiola and the Nigerian masses that freely gave their votes to Abiola.
With their wicked plot, they denied Abiola the presidency, that precious mandate.
While it is shocking that Bashorun MKO Abiola died in detention in questionable circumstance on July 7, 1998 when many had thought he would be released by then Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, to claim his mandate after the death of General Sani Abacha on June 8, 1998, it is even more shocking to understand why our political leaders, since 1999, have failed to give this icon, who gave his life for us to have democracy, the honour and respect that he deserves.
Without any fear of contradiction, I stand here to say that if Abiola had not given his life, even President Muhammadu Buhari would not have been the president of Nigeria today.
Urgent need to honour Abiola
While credit must be given to former President Goodluck Jonathan for his decision to name the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after the hero of our democracy, I believe a lot still need to be done to honour Bashorun MKO Abiola and stamp his name as a true hero of our democracy.
Name the National Stadium after Abiola
We all know that Abiola was a good lover of sports. He was the proprietor of one of the best-run football clubs in this country, Abiola Babes Football Club.
For his efforts, he was honoured with the title of the Pillar of Sports in Africa, a no mean feat.
It is, therefore, on this note that I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, renovate and rename the National Stadium in Lagos after Bashorun Abiola.
Aside from giving justice to a man to whom much is owed by Nigerians, the decision will also go a long way to encourage the young ones that whatever sacrifice they make for their country is not in vain.
Take care of Abiola’s family
I also believe that members of Bashorun Abiola’s immediate family have not received justice over the loss of their breadwinner.
I have it on good authority that his wife, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, who was brutally murdered by the cabal on June 4, 1996 for standing up for justice, has a street named after her in New York, the United States (U.S.).
I urge President Muhammadu Buhari and governors of South-West states to do something for family members of this icon.
Honour all heroes of democracy
I also urge the Federal Government to act now and honour all Nigerians who lost their lives in the struggle to enthrone the democracy that we all enjoy today.
National Conference
At this juncture, I wish to call on President Buhari to act on the recommendations of the National Conference.
You will recall that among the recommendations of the National Conference are the issues of local government autonomy, federalism and resource control.
It should be noted that the report of the National Conference is a collective decision of all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion and profession.
Nigeria, a blessed nation
While the focus of our economy is on oil, it is on record that the progress made by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the Western Region was as a result of good management of the resources available in the region, now known as the South-West, Delta and Edo states.
Nigeria is truly a blessed nation. From West to South, North to East, our people are blessed with various kinds of natural resources that are hard to find in many parts of the world.
I am sure that if you take a trip round Nigeria, there is hardly any state that does not have its own identifiable resources.
It is on this note that I advise that the issue of resource control be addressed now in order to place Nigeria in its original position in the comity of nations.
Urgent need to address power problem
With all the natural and human resources that abound in our country, Nigeria can become a productive and industrialised nation.
But to achieve this, Mr. President needs to address the issue of power generation.
While I agree that the president cannot address all the problems confronting Nigeria at once, but a solution to the power problem would have taken us a step closer to ending all our problems.
Japan’s rapid industrial growth since the end of World War II doubled the nation’s energy consumption every five years into the 1990s.
During the 1960–72 period of accelerated growth, energy consumption grew much faster than GNP, doubling Japan’s consumption of world energy.
Japan’s growth is built on its electricity generation. For us in Nigeria to achieve growth, there is need for us to ensure a stable power supply.
At present, with a supply of 2,000 megawatts for a population of more than 160 million, this is unthinkable.
Elders and children
Government should take care of the elderly and children
As a people, it is high time that we took seriously the issue of our elders and children.
A study of most developed countries of the world has shown that all of them treat very well their elders and children.
I urge the president and all governors to come up with welfare programmes that will take care of elders and children in our society.
While I seize this opportunity to once again congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his March 28 victory, I wish to tell him that there is a lot of work to be done and that Nigerians will take him for the promises he made to them during his campaign.
As we remember Bashorun Abiola today, we must remember that the major lesson in the June 12, 1993 election is that Nigerians can overlook some factors bedeviling the nation’s politics today.
Like never before, June 12 proved that it is possible for Nigerians to see beyond religious or tribal affiliations for political and electoral decisions.
I want to state it, once again, that we must not forget or lose sight of the fact that whatever democratic norm that we enjoy today must be credited to the martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola.
Consequently, in my own opinion, the Nigerian government needs to recognise Abiola’s self-sacrifice for democracy in Nigeria.
Once again, I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immortalise this great icon.
God bless Nigeria.
Otunba (Dr) Gani Adams
National Coordinataor Oodua People’s Congress
