Ahmed Aminu-Ramatu Yusuf, a former deputy director at the Cabinet Affairs Office of The Presidency, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct all security agencies at federal, state, and local government levels to electronically release all files related to the June 12, 1993 presidential election. According to Yusuf, this is the only way to ensure justice for June 12 and to reveal the true heroes, heroines, and villains of that historic struggle.
The Legacy of MKO Abiola
Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12 election, was neither a saint nor a radical, but he was a stubborn fighter who insisted on the recognition of his mandate. Yusuf argues that Abiola's demand for the validation of his victory formed the basis of the popular struggle for June 12. This struggle exposed hypocritical elements who called themselves progressives, patriots, democrats, and socialists, revealing a Nigeria captured by ethnically bigoted, religiously chauvinistic, highly kleptocratic, and fascistic elements.
Yusuf contends that June 12 signified that the First Independence Movement had outlived its usefulness and needed to be constructively negated, while the Second Independence Movement, which prioritises the masses, needed to commence.
Criticism of APC and Tinubu
Yusuf expresses sadness that it is the All Progressives Congress (APC) that officially declared June 12 as Democracy Day and a public holiday. He accuses the APC of shamelessly glorifying lies, kleptocracy, injustice, insecurity, and violence, describing it as a party of incurable lumpen politicians.
He finds it ironic that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he labels as incurably anti-democracy, fanatically obedient to the IMF and World Bank, hostile to national interests, and anti-masses, is now declaring patriots and fighters as heroes of democracy. Yusuf argues that the APC and Tinubu have ridiculed, bastardised, and polluted the essence of June 12, noting that moles, villains, and anti-June 12 elements have been declared heroes in recent years.
The Ordeal of MKO Abiola
Abiola was subjected to Nazi-type surveillance and illegally arrested on June 23, 1994. He was held in solitary confinement and incommunicado for four years, subjected to psychological trauma, physical torture, and deliberately restricted medical access. Yusuf notes that morally bankrupt propagandists tried to tarnish Abiola's image but failed. Religious hypocrites, ethnic bigots, and political turncoats vilified him, while his family was harassed and his business enterprises liquidated by the Abacha junta.
Abiola died on July 7, 1998, in highly suspicious circumstances after sipping tea served by officials of the Abdulsalami Abubakar military junta, just before a visiting United States delegation.
Other Martyrs and Heroes
Yusuf lists numerous individuals who were martyred or suffered for the June 12 struggle. These include Bagauda Kaltho, a journalist who vanished in Kaduna and was reportedly murdered by Abacha's assassins; Chief Alfred Rewane, shot dead in his bedroom on October 6, 1995; and Kudirat Abiola, MKO's wife, ambushed and shot dead on June 4, 1996. Others include Chief Bisoye Tejuoso, Alhaja Suliat Adedeji, retired Rear Admiral Babatunde Elegbede, Admiral Olu Omotehinwa, and Dr Sola Omosola.
Yusuf also mentions 118 pro-democracy protesters shot dead in Lagos on July 6, 1993, and numerous activists, journalists, and leaders across the country who narrowly escaped Abacha's assassins. Among them are Chiefs Gani Fawehinmi, Abraham Adesanya, and Abiola Opadokun; journalists Dapo Olorunyomi, Chris Anyanwu, Ben Obi, George Mba, Nosa Igiebor, Osa Director, Kunle Ajibade, Femi Ojudu, George Onah, Soji Omotunde, Moshood Fayemiwo, and Niran Malaolu; and activists like Beko Ransome-Kuti, Owei Lakemfa, Abiodun Aremu, Osage Obayuwana, Chima Obani, Femi Falana, Olisa Agbakoba, and Emma Ezeazu.
Yusuf also names leaders from various states, including Jonathan Ihonde in Edo and Delta, Laoye Sanda in Ibadan, Arthur Nwankwo in the South-East, and Chris Abashi in Plateau and the Middle Belt, among many others. He argues that all these individuals are heroes and heroines of June 12, regardless of government recognition.
Call for Action
Yusuf concludes that if President Tinubu is serious about doing justice to June 12, he must order the electronic release of all June 12 files to the public. This, he says, will reveal the real heroes, heroines, and villains of the struggle.
