BY PATRICK WEMAMBU
Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly comprising the Senate and House of Representatives has resolved to hold a joint session on June 12 – to commemorate Democracy Day 2025 at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, announced this at the end of plenary on Wednesday last week. This was after the senators came out of a closed-door session which lasted for over an hour.
Akpabio said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has “graciously agreed to attend the joint session in person.”
He also disclosed that the Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) and the Chairman of Senate Services, Senator Sunday Karimi, will meet with their counterparts in the House of Representatives to finalise arrangements for the special session.
Akpabio stated that the Senate has taken the decision to allow the committee to expedite plans and work out modalities towards the event’s agenda in the coming days. He said three members of the House of Representatives would be part of the committee.
Laudable as the initiative appears, the imperatives of leveraging the dossier of documents on the subject-matter in articulating an possible agenda for the favourable consideration and approval of the parliamentarians cannot be overstressed.
Writing on ‘Restoring the Spirit of June 12’ two years ago, Dakuku Peterside reminisced; “Truth is, the nation laid the foundation of our current democracy on June 12, 1993. On that day and season, we established the elements of legitimate democracy. The election, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s freest and fairest, became the symbol of democracy in Nigeria and offered hope that Nigeria could hold a free, fair and rancour-free election.
“The critical elements of that election made it unique in all ramifications: Free and fair electoral process ;and a two-party system. The choice was binary (for either SDP or NRC), which promoted real competition.
“Though achieved by an unelected military regime with an outspoken professor of Political Science, Humphrey Nwosu, as midwife heading the arguably independent electoral Commission, the security apparatus of State was manifestly impartial; citizen participation was intense, and their trust in the system was high enough.
“Besides, citizens guarded the process and owned it. Voting was unhindered while collation and tabulation of results were open and transparent. Money played a minimal role in electoral choices. The outcome of that election blurred north-south division and muslim-christain dichotomy.”
Sadly, those elements, commendable as they were, could not stop the doom that the election faced in the long run. This is the reason the dashing of that national hope and the momentum gained in our march to democracy with the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election in Nigeria remains a significant event in the country’s political history – the writer rued.
However, beyond Abiola, the annulment of June 12 had far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s democracy. Amongst others, it fractured the national fabric but we mended fences in 1999; it led to years of political instability and disillusionment.
Nigeria has struggled to hit that altitude of electoral performance ever since! Therefore, restoring the spirit of Nigeria’s democracy after the June 12 annulment requires a multifaceted approach that addresses both immediate and long-term challenges. That was the submission of Dakuku Peterside.
This should make the quest for fresh recommendations to address the challenges associated with the June 12 saga in Nigeria more compelling.
First, the NASS must ensure modalities for transparent electoral processes, uphold democratic values, and protect citizens’ rights.
Second, laws aimed at strengthening financial regulations, enhance anti-corruption agency capacities must be jealousy guarded. With financial platforms to curb illicit flows monitored.
Third, the citizenry require implementation of radical reforms. This should be accompanied by conscious efforts at addressing poverty and hunger through targeted interventions, ensuring transparency in humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation programs.
Fourth, do we really have economic blueprints to tackle socio-economic challenges?
Fifth, protecting citizens from state-actor interferences, ensure press freedom, and addressing unlawful detention and prison congestion is sine qua.
Sixth, delays in judicial proceedings must be interrogated while enhancing judicial manpower with critical infrastructure.
Seventh, we must not shy away from the timeliness of convening a conference to discuss Nigeria’s unity as well as addressing the nationality question.
Eighth, how well is the administration upholding democratic principles, ensuring accountability, and promote transparency in governance?
Perhaps on a personal note, the law-makers are implored to prevail on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy his good offices in activating the machinery for possibility of settling the said debt of ₦45 billion owed the late Chief MKO Abiola by the Nigerian government.
Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, drew attention to the matter during the public presentation of his book, “Being True To Myself,” in Abuja May 13.
Said Lamido; “I would like to appeal to President Tinubu to close the chapter of June 12. In his book, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida revealed that Abiola won the election, adding that ‘when I went to him (IBB), he said Abiola is being owed ₦45 billion. Abiola is double punished. One, he was not given the presidency, and two, he is being owed.”
Suffice it to say that if the National Assembly can prevail on Mr. President to favourably consider the settlement of the alleged debt – of course after due diligence – then it would have succeeded in registering its epithet on the sands of time. And if you asked me, that should qualify as a most auspicious avenue for restoring the spirit of June 12.
