In the heat of the suspense that followed the 1993
presidential election which was declared as the freest
and fairest in Nigeria's history, then head of state,
General Ibrahim Babangida, annulled the election, in
a broadcast to the entire world.
This singular action gave birth to the various
groups that began the demand for democracy
that finally came in 1999 after the death of
military head of state, General Sani Abacha.
NAIJ.com notes that Abacha died in office as the
head of state on June 8, 1998.
Ibrahim Babangida, Moshood Abiola and Sani Abacha
Nigeria welcomed democracy in the post-Shagari
era with the swearing-in of Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo to the office on May 29, 1999.
Here is the speech by Babangida that almost
swallowed Nigeria:
"Fellow Nigerians, I address you today with a deep sense of
world history and particularly of the history of our great
country. In the aftermath of the recently annulled
Presidential Election, I feel, as I believe you yourself feel, a
profound sense of disappointment at the outcome of our
last efforts at laying the foundation of a viable democratic
system of government in Nigeria.
"I therefore wish, on behalf of myself and members of the
National Defence and Security Council and indeed of my
entire administration, to feel with my fellow countrymen
and women for the cancellation of the election. It was a
rather disappointing experience in the course of carrying
through the last election of the transition to civil rule
programme.
"Nigeria has come a long way since this administration
assumed power and leadership about eight years ago. In the
attempt to grapple with the critical and monumental
problems and challenges of National existence and social
progress, this administration inaugurated and pursued
sound and justifiable policies and programmes of reform.
"These policies and programmes have touched virtually all
aspects of our national life – the economy, political process,
social structures, external relations, bureaucracy and even
the family system. I believe strongly that in understanding,
conception, formulation and articulation, these policies and
programmes are not only sound but also comparatively
unassailable. I believe too that history, with the passage of
time, would certainly score the administration high in its
governance of our country.
"Let me also express my deep conviction that the core
strategy and structures of our reform policies and
programmes, as enunciated in 1986/87 would, for a very
long time, remain relevant and durable in the course of
changing our country positively.
"I believe that at the exit of the administration from power,
we would leave behind for prosperity, a country with an
economy, the structures of which have been turned around
for good.
"The average Nigerian person has come to reconcile himself
with the fact that his or her social progress remain
essentially in his or her hands in collaboration with other
fellow Nigerians; and not merely relying on what
government alone could provide for him or her. The days
are gone for good, when men and women trooped to
government establishments for employment and for
benevolence.
"This administration has built the foundation that would
take Nigerians away from their previous colonially-induced
motivations and the encumbrances of colonialism. We have
laid the foundation for self-reliant economic development
and social justice.
"We have established a new basis in our country in which
economic liberalization would continue to flourish alongside
democratic forces, and deregulated power structure. In all
these, the average Nigerian person has more than ever
before this administration imbibed and assimilated the
values of hard work, resilience and self-confidence.
"It is true that in the course of implementing our reform
policies and programmes and especially because of the
visionary zeal with which we approached the assignment
and responded to incidental pressures of governance, we
engendered a number of social forces in the country.
"This is so because we sought to challenge and transform
extant social forces, which had in the past impeded growth
and development of our country. We also sought to deal
with the new forces to which our programmes of action
gave rise. Thus, in dealing with the dynamics of both the old
and new social forces, we ran into certain difficulties.
"In particular, during the course of handling the
interlocking relationships between the old and new political
forces and institutions, some problems had arisen, leading
us into a number of difficulties and thereby necessitating
our having to tamper with the rules and regulations laid
down in the political programme.
"As a result, the administration unwittingly attracted
enormous public suspicions of its intentions and objectives.
Accordingly, we have experienced certain shortfalls and
conflicting responses to the pulls and pushes of governance
in the course of policy implementation.
"I believe that areas of difficulties with the transition
programme, especially from the last quarter of 1992 to the
recent cancelled presidential election, derived primarily
from the shortfalls in implementing the programmes of
actions, which, though objectively taken, may have caused a
deviation from the original framework, and structure of the
programme.
"Fellow Nigerians, it is true that by the cancelled
presidential election, we all found the nation at a peculiar
bar of history which was neither bargained for, nor was it
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. Our actions are in full
conformity with the original objectives of the transition to
civil programme.
"It was 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.
"History will bear witness that as an administration we
have always striven, in all our policy decisions, to build the
foundation of lasting democracy. Lasting democracy is not
a temporary show of excitement and manipulation by an
over-articulate 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.
"Therefore, it is logical, as we have always insisted upon,
that lasting democracy must be equated with political
stability.
"Informed by our sad experience of history, we require
nothing short of a foundation for lasting democracy. As an
administration, we cannot afford to leave Nigerian into a
Third Republic with epileptic convulsions in its democratic
health. Nigeria must therefore confront her own reality; she
must solve her problems notwithstanding other existing
models of democracy in other parts of the world.
"In my address to the nation in October 1992, when the first
presidential primaries were cancelled, I had cause to
remind our country men and women that there is nowhere
in the world in which the practice of democracy is the
same, even if the principles are similar and even for
countries sharing the same intellectual tradition and
cultural foundation.
"The history of our country is not the history of any other
country in the world, which is either practicing advanced
democracy or struggling to lay the foundation for
democracy. Yet, in spite of the uniqueness and peculiarities
of Nigeria, there are certain prerequisites, which constitute
an irreducible minimum for democracy. Such essential
factors include:
"Fellow Nigerians, you would recall that it was precisely
because the presidential primaries of last year did not meet
the basic requirements of free and fair elections that the
Armed Forces Ruling Council had good reason to cancel
those primaries. The recently annulled presidential election
was similarly afflicted by these problems.
"Even before the presidential elections, and indeed at the
party conventions, we had full knowledge of the bad signals
pertaining to the enormous breach of the rules and
regulations of democratic 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.
"There were allegations of irregularities and other acts of
bad conduct leveled against the presidential candidates, but
NEC went ahead and cleared them. There were proofs as
well as documented evidence 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.
"Evidence available to government put the total amount of
money spent by the presidential candidates as over two
billion, one hundred million naira (N2.1 billion). The use of
money was again the major source of undermining the
electoral process.
"Both these allegations and evidence were known to the
National Defence and Security Council before the holding of
the June 12, 1993 election. The National Defence and
Security Council overlooked these areas of problems in its
determination to fulfill the promise to hand over to an
elected president on due date.
"Apart from the tremendous negative use of money during
the party primaries and presidential elections, there were
moral issues, which were also overlooked by the Defence
and National Security Council.
"There were cases of documented and confirmed conflict of
interest between the government and both presidential
aspirants, which would compromise their positions, and
responsibilities were they to become president.
"We believe that politics and government are not ends in
themselves. Rather, service and effective amelioration of
the condition of our people must remain the true purpose of
politics.
"It is true that the presidential election 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 authenticated reports of the election
malpractices against party agents, officials of the National
Electoral Commission and also some members of the
electorate.
"If all of these were clear violations of the electoral law,
there were proofs of manipulations through offer and
acceptance of money and other forms of inducement
against officials of the National Electoral Commission and
members of the electorate.
"There were also evidence of conflict in the process of
authentication and clearance of credentials of the
presidential candidates. Indeed, up to the last few hours to
the election, we continued in our earnest steadfastness with
our transition deadline, to overlook vital facts.
"For example, following the council’s deliberation, which
followed the court injunction suspending the election,
majority of members of the National Defence and Security
Council supported postponement of the election by one
week.
"This was to allow NEC enough time to reach all the voters,
especially in the rural areas, about the postponement. But
persuaded by NEC that it was capable of relaying the
information to the entire electorate within the few hours
left before the election, the council, unfortunately, dropped
the idea of shifting the voting day. Now, we know better.
"The conduct of the election, the behaviour of the
candidates and post-election responses continued to elicit
signals, which the nation can only ignore at its peril.
"It is against the foregoing background that the
administration became highly concerned when these
political conflicts and breaches were carried to the court.
"It must be acknowledged that the performance of the
judiciary on this occasion was less than satisfactory. The
judiciary has been the bastion of the hopes and liberties of
our citizens.
"Therefore, when it became clear that the courts had
become intimidated and subjected to the manipulation of
the political process, and vested interests then the entire
political system was in clear dangers.
"This administration could not continue to watch the
various high courts carry on their long drawn-out processes
and contradictory decisions while the nation slides into
chaos.
"It was under this circumstance that the National Defence
and Security Council decided that it is in the supreme
interest of law and order, political stability and peace that
the presidential election be annulled. As an administration,
we have had special interest and concern not only for the
immediate needs of our society, but also in laying the
foundation for generations to come.
"To continue action on the basis of the June 12, 1993
election, and to 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. Our need is for peace, stability and
continuity of politics in the interest of all our people.
"Fellow countrymen and women, although the National
Electoral Commission and the Centre for Democratic
Studies officially invited foreign observers for the
presidential elections, the administration also considered it
as important as a democratic society, that our activities
and electoral conduct must be open not only to the citizenry
of our country but also to the rest of the world.
"In spite of this commitment, the administration did not
and cannot accept that foreign countries should interfere in
our internal affairs and undermine our sovereignty.
"The presidential election was no an exercise imposed on
Nigerians by the United Nations or by the wishes of some
global policemen of democracy. It was a decision embarked
upon independently by the government of our country and
for the interest of our country.
"This is because, we believe, just like other countries, that
democracy and democratization are primary values which
Nigerians should cultivate, sustain and consolidate so as to
enhance freedom, liberties and social development of the
citizenry.
"The actions of these foreign countries are most
unfortunate and highly regrettable. There is nowhere in the
history of our country or indeed of the third world where
these countries can be said to love Nigeria or Nigerians any
more that the love we have for ourselves and for our
country. Neither can they claim to love Nigeria any more
than this administration loves our country.
"Accordingly, I wish to state that this administration will
take necessary action against any interest groups that seek
to interfere in our internal affairs. In this vein, I wish to
place on record the appreciation of this administration for
the patience and understanding of Nigerians, the French, the
Germans, the Russians and Irish governments in the current
situation.
"I appeal to our fellow countrymen and women and indeed
our foreign detractors that they should cultivate proper
understanding and appreciation of the peculiar historic
circumstances in the development of our country and the
determination not only of this administration but indeed of
all Nigerians to resolve the current crises.
"Fellow Nigerians, the National Security and Defence
Council has met several times since the June 12, 1993
election. The council has fully deliberated not only on our
avowed commitment but also to bequeathing to posterity, a
sound economic and political base in our country and we
shall do so with honour.
"In our deliberations, we have also taken note of several
extensive consultations with other members of this
administration, with officers and men of the Armed Forces
and will well-meaning Nigerian leaders of thought. We are
committed to handing over power on 27th August 1993.
"Accordingly, the National Defence and Security Council has
decided that by the end of July 1993 the two political
parties, under the supervision of a recomposed National
Electoral Commission, will put in place the necessary
process for the emergence of two presidential candidates.
"This shall be conducted according to the rules and
regulations governing the election of the president of the
country. In this connection, government will in consultation
with the two political parties and National Electoral
Commission, agree as to the best and quickest process of
conducting the election.
"In the light of our recent experience and, given the mood of
the nation, the National Defence and Security Council has
imposed additional conditions as a way of widening and
deepening the base of electing the president and sanitizing
the electoral process. Accordingly, the candidates for the
coming election must:
(1) Not be less than 50 years old;
(2) Have not been convicted of any crime;
(3) Believe, by act of faith and practice, in the corporate
existence of Nigerians;
(4) Posses records of personal, corporate and business
interests which do not conflict with the national interests;
(5) Have been registered members of either of the two
political parties for at least one year to this election.
"All those previously banned from participating in the
transition process other than those with criminal records,
are hereby unbanned. They can all henceforth participate in
the electoral process.
"This is with a view to enriching the quality of candidature
for the election and at the same time taps the leadership
resources of our country to the fullest. The decree to this
effect will be promulgated.
"Fellow Nigerians, I wish to finally acknowledge the
tremendous value of your patience and understanding,
especially in the face of national provocation.
"I urge you to keep faith with the commitment of this
administration.
"I enjoin you to keep faith with the unity, peace and stability
of our country for this is the only country that you and I
can call our own. Nowhere in the world, no matter the
prompting and inducements of foreign countries, can
Nigerians ever be regarded as first-class citizens.
"Nigeria is the only country that we have. We must
therefore renew our hope in Nigeria, and faith and
confidence in ourselves for continued growth, development
and progress.
"Thank you all, and God bless you."
Meanwhile, adegokblog .com previously reported that
President Muhammadu Buhari announced that
June 12 will be celebrated as the new Democracy
Day.
The president announced this via his Facebook
page on Wednesday, June 6.
He also announced that the late Chief Moshood
Abiola who was adjudged the winner of the
cancelled June 12, 1993 election will be
posthumously awarded the highest honour in the
land, GCFR.
