The Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) has called on the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), prof. Attahiru Jega to adopt some of the strategies that made the June 12, 1993 Presidential election a success and incorporate them into his plans for the 2015 general elections.
Speaking at the 21st anniversary of the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential elections by the Military junta of the former Head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babngida (rtd.) held at the Excellence Hotels, Ikeja on Thursday, the National Coordinator of OPC, Otunba Gani Adams stated that the advice was timely especially as the June 12, 1993 elections remained the best election so far conducted in the history of this country.
Otunba Adams recalled that it was possible for the people of Nigeria to vote right in the said election because the elections were properly planned and well conducted adding that the feat could still be possible if only the INEC would toe the path of honour and do things right.
According to him,” I remember, just like yesterday, the events of that beautiful day, when millions of Nigerians voted in the best election ever conduted in the history of this great country. 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 intelligent and ready to take Nigeria out of the abyss. It must be noted that part of what made the 1993 elections unique was its openness. The voters queued behind the candidate of their choice, leaving no room for anybody to rig the election. That system was dubbed as Option A4 and for the first time, Nigerians freely gave their votes without any sense of insecurity”.
He regretted that all the promises made to Nigerians by Prof. Jega to deliver a free and fair elections to them has remained a mirage especially with the last governorship election in Anambra state and the bye- election in the Ilaje/ Ese-odo Federal Constituency which left much to be desired.
He urged Prof. Jega and the INEC to use the upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states to correct all the imperfections recorded by the Commission in the past as they prepare for the 2015 general elections even as he called on all Nigerians to come together and join forces with INEC and other concerned agencies to ensure that the nation sustained this democracy.
On the late acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Chief MKO Abioal, Otunba Adams advised the Nigerian government to recognize Abiola’s self sacrifice by declaring June 12 as a public holiday to enable Nigerians display their love once again for the man they voted massively for in the annulled election.
“As we gather here today to celebrate Abiola and that historic election, we must not forget or loose sight of the fact that whatever democratic norm that we enjoy today, must be credited to the martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the man who laid down his life in order for us to enjoy true democracy”.
“I call on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare June 12 a public holiday and write his name into the history book as the man who had the courage to do the right thing by correcting an injustice done to another Nigerian”, he said.
On his part, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and one time Presidential Candidate, Chief Olu Falae noted that the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election was the beginning of political impunity in Nigeria which has also permeated in every facet of the national life.
Chief Falae opined that since the annulment of the June 12 elections, peace, stability and the integrity of the nation was annulled in the country adding that until justice is done to Abiola as well as Nigerians who voted massively in that election, there would be no peace in the country.
He called on Nigerians to pray for the delegates of the National Conference who were on the path of redefining the political landscape of this country to be guided by the spirit of patriotism and right judgement to restore Nigeria in the path of rectitude and begin to do things right.
The event feature various paper presentations and goodwill messages from eminent Nigerians cutting across different tribes and religion.
