Chukwuemeka Ezeife has said that the declaration of
June 12 as democracy day by President Muhammadu
Buhari is self-serving
- Ezeife said Ibrahim Babangida was under threat to
annul the election
- According to Ezeife, Nigerians and her leaders are
yet to learn from lessons of June 12
A former governor of Anambra state,
Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has given details into the
annulment of the June 12, 1993 which produced
late Moshood Abiola as president-elect.
Ezeife said Ibrahim Babangida who was the
military head of state at the time was under
threat to annul the election.
Vanguard reports that the former governor said
that many Nigerians were shocked over honour
awarded Abiola by President Muhammadu
Buhari over the price paid for the election
results. Ezeife alleged that many Nigerians have
known the government for negative things.
Calling for the honour of electoral umpire at that
time, Ezeife said Nigerians and her leaders are
yet to learn from lessons of June 12.
Ezeife: “ We have not learnt any lessons from June 12. But
what I am hearing now, it is as if nothing happened,
anything can repeat itself many times over before we learn
a lesson."
"It was a traumatic period especially for those of
us who were directly involved. As for the
importance of it, as you know a Muslim/Muslim
ticket cleared the whole thing including Kano
where the opponent came.
" So, nobody knows the whole truth but I was close to
Babangida and he was telling me that the military were
opposed to (the declaration of Moshood Abiola as winner of
the election). He said ‘will you like me to be killed?’ as if he
had recognised the victory of Abiola and that if he (Abiola)
is made president, people will kill him and kill the new
president.
"So I said this one it is your job to do it but protect yourself
as you do it. Of course he tried it didn’t work.
"So if we stand 20 years from now and look at this decision,
it will be commended, many people will commend it,
nobody will be opposing it. And now nobody is against the
President except that most people don’t believe that it was
done in the interest of the nation. Some people think it is
some plot to harvest Yoruba votes in 2019. It may not be
and it may also be.”
Describing the declaration of June 12 as Nigeria’s
democracy, the former Anambra state governor
said President Buhari’s actions are self-serving.
“This is too positive to be expected from there. What
normally you see is some negative actions that are not
popular but this one is a good one. That is where one
problem exists. Somebody conducted that election that was
so good and I think that it is the problem where we are
thinking narrowly or about our self-interest.
"If we are looking at June 12 and we recognize the
significance of June 12, the person who was the INEC man
who conducted that kind of election should have been
remembered along with Abiola and Kingibe and other
person. That is one indication that the look was not
comprehensive by its own merit.”
"I think a good decision should be applauded but should be
done well. I am sure any mistake can even be corrected
now. Of course I am not a lawyer, I have heard of
posthumous award and I don’t know what was wrong with
this one.
"But in a place where things are working, the government,
executive especially and the legislature will take glory in
doing the right thing and then do it together. But this one
was not done so. I have read comments but as I said I am
not a lawyer so I am not vast to comment in being able to
comment on that,” Ezeife concluded.
Meanwhile, previously reported that an
elder statesman and a leader of the Afenifere
group, Ayo Adebanjo, has said that Nigerians
from the southwest region will not be deceived
by the declaration.
Adebanjo said the declaration of June 12 as
democracy day is a political gimmick ahead of
the 2019 presidential election. He said even
though some people in the southwest have been
praising the move, it would not swing votes in
the president’s favour.
June 12 as democracy day by President Muhammadu
Buhari is self-serving
- Ezeife said Ibrahim Babangida was under threat to
annul the election
- According to Ezeife, Nigerians and her leaders are
yet to learn from lessons of June 12
A former governor of Anambra state,
Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has given details into the
annulment of the June 12, 1993 which produced
late Moshood Abiola as president-elect.
Ezeife said Ibrahim Babangida who was the
military head of state at the time was under
threat to annul the election.
Vanguard reports that the former governor said
that many Nigerians were shocked over honour
awarded Abiola by President Muhammadu
Buhari over the price paid for the election
results. Ezeife alleged that many Nigerians have
known the government for negative things.
Calling for the honour of electoral umpire at that
time, Ezeife said Nigerians and her leaders are
yet to learn from lessons of June 12.
Ezeife: “ We have not learnt any lessons from June 12. But
what I am hearing now, it is as if nothing happened,
anything can repeat itself many times over before we learn
a lesson."
"It was a traumatic period especially for those of
us who were directly involved. As for the
importance of it, as you know a Muslim/Muslim
ticket cleared the whole thing including Kano
where the opponent came.
" So, nobody knows the whole truth but I was close to
Babangida and he was telling me that the military were
opposed to (the declaration of Moshood Abiola as winner of
the election). He said ‘will you like me to be killed?’ as if he
had recognised the victory of Abiola and that if he (Abiola)
is made president, people will kill him and kill the new
president.
"So I said this one it is your job to do it but protect yourself
as you do it. Of course he tried it didn’t work.
"So if we stand 20 years from now and look at this decision,
it will be commended, many people will commend it,
nobody will be opposing it. And now nobody is against the
President except that most people don’t believe that it was
done in the interest of the nation. Some people think it is
some plot to harvest Yoruba votes in 2019. It may not be
and it may also be.”
Describing the declaration of June 12 as Nigeria’s
democracy, the former Anambra state governor
said President Buhari’s actions are self-serving.
“This is too positive to be expected from there. What
normally you see is some negative actions that are not
popular but this one is a good one. That is where one
problem exists. Somebody conducted that election that was
so good and I think that it is the problem where we are
thinking narrowly or about our self-interest.
"If we are looking at June 12 and we recognize the
significance of June 12, the person who was the INEC man
who conducted that kind of election should have been
remembered along with Abiola and Kingibe and other
person. That is one indication that the look was not
comprehensive by its own merit.”
"I think a good decision should be applauded but should be
done well. I am sure any mistake can even be corrected
now. Of course I am not a lawyer, I have heard of
posthumous award and I don’t know what was wrong with
this one.
"But in a place where things are working, the government,
executive especially and the legislature will take glory in
doing the right thing and then do it together. But this one
was not done so. I have read comments but as I said I am
not a lawyer so I am not vast to comment in being able to
comment on that,” Ezeife concluded.
Meanwhile, previously reported that an
elder statesman and a leader of the Afenifere
group, Ayo Adebanjo, has said that Nigerians
from the southwest region will not be deceived
by the declaration.
Adebanjo said the declaration of June 12 as
democracy day is a political gimmick ahead of
the 2019 presidential election. He said even
though some people in the southwest have been
praising the move, it would not swing votes in
the president’s favour.
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