Exactly today, 20 years ago, precisely on June 12 1993, the Nigerian
military President, General Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida (IBB)
conducted an election which was widely regarded as the most free, fair
and peaceful election in the history of Nigeria and at the same time,
the election was annulled or cancelled by him, sealing him the title
of an evil genius a.k.a Maradona as he is called.
The June 12 election which was annulled or cancelled would have earned
IBB a permanent historical compliment based on its wide acceptance,
but the annulment or cancellation of that election turned around to
earn him what now seems alike a permanent historical tag of an evil
genius.
In that event, two significant things occurred.
1. Conducting what the entire country and world accepted to be the
best election in the history of Nigeria.
2. Annulling or cancelling what the entire country believes to be valid.
It is worth to note that, All over the world, it is believed that
every human want to strive to be the best in life, especially people
with political and leadership zeal and orientation, they want to be
remembered for good in history for their leadership contribution. It
is my profound opinion that, General Ibrahim Babangida in pursuance of
historical remembrance in positive light, conducted what the entire
world adjudged to be the most free, fair and peaceful election in the
history of Nigeria.
IBB as he his fondly called captured this in these words, ‘’ History
will bear witness that as an administration, we have always striven,
in all our policy decision, to build the foundation of lasting
democracy. Lasting democracy is not temporary show of excitement and
manipulation by an over-articulated section of the elite and its
captive audience, lasting democracy is a permanent diet to nurture the
soul of the whole nation and the political process’’.
This confirms my believe that, every visionary leader is constantly
in search of good name in history, by doing what he or she deem fit to
advance his historical pursuit. However, in the course of pursuing
this dream, it is always better to set aside our personal pursuit for
a collective good even if it means losing our personal pursuit, but
only selfless leaders can do that.
If general Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), having conducted an election that
would likely earned him his desired positive light in Nigerian
history, decided to annul or cancel the election for reasons which
said,’’ he was compelled to nullify the election because of security
threats to the enthronement of a democratic government at that time’’,
I believe Nigerians over the years are supposed to use the
opportunity of this June 12 remembrance to review our ever critical
observation and look deep into the worries of IBB that made him
jeopardise a juicy historical relevance to assume the status of a
villain.
In his annulment speech, IBB stated that, I feel, as I believe
yourself feel, a profound disappointment at the outcome of our last
efforts at laying the foundation of a viable democratic system of
government in Nigeria. Knowing that his action would place him in dark
light of history which he found less important as his reason for the
annulment and its consequence, he added that, ’It is true that by
cancelling the presidential election, we all found the nation at a
peculiar bar of history which was neither bargained for, nor envisaged
in the reform programmes of transition as enunciated in 1986/87.’’‘In
the circumstance, the administration had no option than to respond
appropriately to the unfortunate experience of terminating the
presidential election.’’
IBB who stated clearly that his interest first lies in the unity of
the country, along with the enthronement of lasting democracy noted
that, ‘’To continue action on the basis of the June 12 election, and
proclaim and swear in a president who encouraged a campaign of divide
and rule among our ethnic groups would have been detrimental to the
survival of the third republic.
Having carefully analysed the event of the June 12 election and the
later events, It is my believe that, the annulment of the June 12
election was beyond the self-interest of IBB alone, it is above
personal commitment to advance selfish desire, but it rather look like
a patriotic action which may have been better handled to correct the
mistakes or some hidden truth is still yet to be revealed.
Explaining the reason for the annulment citing instances, IBB in the
annulment speech said, ‘’you would recall that it was precisely
because the initial presidential primaries of last year (1992) did not
meet the basic requirements of free and fair election that the Armed
Forces Ruling Council had good reason to cancel those primaries. The
recently annulled presidential election was similarly affected by
these problems.
He noted that, Even before the presidential election and indeed at the
party conventions, the Armed forces Ruling Council had full knowledge
of the bad signals pertaining to the enormous breach of rules and
regulations of democracy elections, but because we were determined to
keep faith with the deadline of 27th august, 1993 for the return of
civil rule, we overlooked the reported breaches. Unfortunately, these
breaches continued into the presidential election of June 12, 1993 on
an even greater proportion.
He further added that, there were allegation of irregularities and
other acts of bad conduct levelled against the presidential
candidates, but the National Election Commission (NEC) went ahead and
cleared the candidates. Adding that, there were proofs as well as
documented evidences of widespread use of money during the party
primaries as well as the presidential election. These were the same
bad conduct for which the party presidential primaries of 1992 were
cancelled, adding that, Evidence available to government put the total
amount of money spent by the presidential candidates as over two
billion, one hundred million naira (N2.1billion). The use of money was
again the major source of undermining the electoral processes. He
said.
Some citizens who would have reasoned with IBB on the reason for
annulling the election begin to wonder, if the government had these
information prior to the election, why didn’t it correct it? But IBB
explained that, these allegations and evidences were known to the
national defence and security council before the holding of the June
12,1993 election, but these area were overlooked in nits determination
to fulfil the promise to hand over to an elected president on due
date.
It is worth to note that, the IBB regime had long over stayed its
welcome, it had on several occasions promised to hand over to civilian
administrators without doing so. For this reason, it is expected that
the people would not reason with the government on whatever reason
they gave if the date of the election were to be changed or cancelled,
hence the continuation of the process as scheduled.
I believe the government is also scared of creating the wrong
impression which would give the impression that it is not interested
in handing over on the earlier scheduled date which may have created
greater problem in the country.
After the election has been annulled, IBB restated the commitment of
his administration to hand over government on the scheduled date, but
maintained that the errors which lead to the annulment of the election
be corrected. In his words,’’ our actions are in full conformity with
the original objective of the transition to civil programme. It is
also in conformity with the avowed commitment of the administration to
advance the cause of national unity, stability and democracy. In
annulling the presidential election, this administration was keenly
aware of its promise in November,1992 that it would disengage and
institute a return to democracy on august 27,1993. We are determined
to keep the promise. Since this ‘transition and indeed any transition
must have an end, I believe that our transition programme should and
must come to an end, honestly and honourably.
To clear the impression that it is not handing over, IBB maintained
that the handing over would take place as scheduled, which would give
the interim government an opportunity to conduct another election that
would correct the negative indices observed in the annulled election.
Another major reason for the annulment according to IBB is money
inducement and moral issues. He said, ‘’Apart from the tremendous
negative use of money during party primaries and presidential
election, there were moral issues which were also overlooked by the
defence council. There were cases of documented and confirmed conflict
of interest between the government and both presidential aspirants
which would compromise their position and responsibilities were they
become president.’’
President Babangida also maintained that, it is true that the election
is was generally seen to be free, fair and peaceful. However, there
was in fact a huge array of election malpractices virtually in all the
states of the federation before the actual voting began. There were
authentic reports of the election malpractices against party agents,
officials of the national electoral commission and also some members
of the electorates.
‘’If all these were clear violation of these electoral, there were
proofs of manipulation through offer and acceptance of money and other
forms of inducements against officials of the national electoral
commission and members of the electorates. There `was also evidence of
conflict in the process of authentication and clearance of credentials
of presidential candidates. Indeed, up to the last few hours to the
election, we continued in our earnest steadfast with our transition
deadline to overlook vital facts. ’He said
But one fact I have deduced from the annulment of the June 12 election
is that, even though it is seen by many as free, fair and peaceful,
the man who conducted what is seen as free, fair and peaceful feels
otherwise, and based on his conviction, he believed the election
failed to meets its stated objectives. While noting the failure of the
election to meet the objectives which can be seen in the lay down
rules and regulation, the IBB government said it didn’t annul the
election based on these failure alone, it instead try to overlook the
failures several times hoping that it can be corrected over time.
But what the government could not overlook in the election
malpractices according to IBB was the threat to national unity and
security. This is the major reason for the annulment based on the
government position and it is seen in these words ‘’to continue action
on the basis of the June 12 election, and proclaim and swear in a
president who encouraged a campaign of divide and rule among our
ethnic groups would have been detrimental to the survival of the third
republic.
Furthermore, Many who were present during the election also confirmed
that the reasons given for the annulment of the election actually
occurred, they agreed that there was offer and acceptance of money at
the election poll, they agreed that there were reports of intimidation
of agents, they agreed also that, there was sectional campaign in the
course of the electioneering, they also agreed that, they were other
election malpractices in form of rigging in some quarters, though,
they disagree with the annulment for what they say, the reasons does
not worth the annulment.
To me, this reason, if it is actually the main reason for the
annulment is worthy of note.
However, today, citizens across the country continue to talk about the
state of the nation, which span from the evil election malpractices of
the People Democratic Party (PDP) since the beginning of the fourth
republic in 1999, followed by that of the Action Congress of Nigeria
(ACN) in some states along with others.
The Nigerian opposition parties of today both in states and nations
elections; if it had the power will annul or support the annulment of
the elections that brought President Goodluck Jonathan and Former
president Umaru Musa Yar’adua into power respectively, as well as
other state elections. It is such a regret that what was said to be
the reason for annulling an election 20 years ago is still predominant
in our political process today 20 years after, yet, we continue to
condemn the government which tries to point out these facts to us for
our national good. The reason for opposition today’s wish for
annulment is simple, electoral fraud and malpractices ranging from
rigging, agent intimidation, and money politics etc. If IBB who is in
the position to either uphold the June 12 election and gain historical
fame as the man who conducted the most free, fair and peaceful
election or annul it, based on similar reasons why we seek for today’s
election be cancelled, I think the castigation of IBB for annulling
the June 12 election 20 years ago for the same reason for what we wish
to be done today should take a setback and we should promote critical
analysis of lessons to be learnt instead of playing the blame game 20
years after.
The 4 major reasons for annulling the June 12 election as stated by
IBB include: Election Malpractices, Rigging, Offer and acceptance of
money and Sectional Campaign which threatens the unity of the country.
You will agree with me that today, all these four reasons threaten the
unity and existence of our dear nation. It threatens the pursuit of
good governance and development and of course, the unity and
advancement of democratic principles.
In conclusion, If the reasons for annulling the June 12 election was
addressed after IBB, If Mashood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) hadn’t went to
South Africa to declare himself president of the federal republic of
Nigeria against the Abacha Military Government that took over, If we
had concentrated on solving the mistake of June 12 and corrected the
reason for its annulment, if we had carefully let patriotism prevail
over sectionalism, if we had insisted on following the lay down rules
and regulations, if we had discouraged money politics and the
intimidation of oppositions, if we had allowed reason to prevail over
sentiments, if we had followed the rule of law and due process, may
be, just maybe, the June 12 annulment would have served as a positive
antidote, may be, just maybe, it would have helped Nigeria attain the
status of a sane nation, where democratic principle would be practiced
like the rest of the developed world.
Although, the June 12 annulment is regrettable, but I have just learnt
that, it is in the past and would always remain so. What lesson have
we learnt from it? Blame? Have we corrected the reasons for annulment
as stated by IBB? What are we doing about it 20 years after? How do we
remove them from our polity and how do we prevent it reoccurrence?
These and many more question should be our priority now, we should
continue to search for the answers and apply them accordingly. If we
do that, that will be the best way to remember June 12 correctly.
Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
08076976917
Discus4now@gmail.com
