As a democrat, June 12 had always had a special place in my heart. Back in 1993, I was not involved in partisan politics. I was just a patriot, an observer and a political activist, keenly following the political trajectory of Nigeria and swept along by the tidal wave that was Moshood Kasimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.
Nigerians voted him massively, with the jingle, "MKO, is our man o!" ringing in their hearts. Abiola was the choice of the people from the shores of the Atlantic to the fringes of the desert. Tofar was not tougher! Poor Bashir was beaten black and blue. He was floored, even in his home state of Kano. Abiola was the clear winner of the election, but the will of the people was thwarted, the choice of the people was subjugated. The annulment of the June 12 election was and should have been documented as another coup amongst the catalogue of coup d'etat in the country.
Not everybody fully realized what Nigeria lost with the annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections. The Nigerian democratic growth was truncated. The unity and cohesion held by the promise of the June 12 mandate was torn asunder. A detribalized and religion-blind democracy was arboted. Abiola, a southern moslem, ran on a joint ticket with Kingibe, a northern moslem and Nigerians did not even see this as an election issue! June 12 was a democratic 'Paradise Lost' - apologies to John Milton. June 12, 1993 was indeed a watershed in our democratic journey. It was a popular, people's mandate snatched and trampled upon.
To make things worse, just six years down the line, the junta, luxuriating on the ruins of the people's aspiration, usurped the right of the people and tricked in the 1999 constitution, effectively shutting the door on true democracy. 'They the army', speaking on behalf of themselves and the northern oligarchic interest produced a document which read, 'We the people!". Which people? Not the people that voted Abiola! Not the people that fought Abacha to a standstill! And definitely not the people that insisted that the military had to go!
But we were all fooled! Or maybe, it was a big oversight. The 1999 constitution ought to have been jettisoned along with the military! The sovereign will of the people ought to have been expressed in a new document, but it was not! That was the greatest coup the military executed! Not the unseating of Shagari's government! Not even the annulment of the June 12 election! The greatest coup of the military on Nigeria's nascent democracy was the trickery of the 1999 constitution. It is the reason the Evil Genius and Nigeria's political Maradona boasted and guaranteed that there would never be another coup in Nigeria, because as long as the 1999 constitution hold sway, there would not be any need for another coup!
If this blessed country will ever realize the promise of true democracy, which is purported to be the government of the people, by the people, for the people, the 1999 constitution must go in its totality. What we need is not a review but a total jettisoning of it. Like I once heard someone said, "You can't review an illegal document." Let that be the challenge of this year's June 12 anniversary. Let that determine what happens in 2023. Let it be a pre-condition for the 2023 general elections. Join me as I declare the task: #END1999CONSTITUTION. If you agree with me, adopt the hatch tag and let's get this movement started.
Olubunmi Sodipo is a public relations cum social media practitioner and a politician. Although he is media aide to a Member, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, this piece is strictly his opinion and his opinion alone. To reach him call, 08098030422, bunmidipo@gmail.com, twitter @bunmidipo, instagram: sodipo.olubunmi
Comments
Post a Comment