Guardian

THOUGH Kwara is considered part of North Central geo political zone, majority of the people in the state have never pretended about their South West roots. Culturally and linguistically, majority of them share same traits with the Yoruba of South West. However, despite the striking degree of affinity, Kwara politics, over the years, have remained different from those of their kith and kin. Especially, when it comes to progressive ideals.

Be that as it may, a sizeable population of the state share same view of South West states that Democracy Day, currently being celebrated on May 29 should have been June 12, commemorating the day Chief Moshood Abiola won overwhelming votes in the undeclared Presidential election.

Abeny Mohamed (SAN) and Alhaji Abdulkarim Olola Kasum, in separate interviews with The Guardian in Ilorin, said substitution of June 12 for May 29 is a rape of the wish of Nigerians and an imposition by autocrats disguised in democrats’ cloak.

Human rights’ lawyer, Mohamed, and Kasum, a social commentator, did not spare former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, saying he is a culprit in this regard.

According to Mohamed, while identifying three symbolic importance of the day, it was the day eligible Nigerians exercised their true franchise beyond religious boundaries voting massively for Abiola, a Muslim and Baba Gana Kingibe, his running mate, who is also a Muslim.

He noted, “June 12 characterised the date when Nigerians came out to vote for candidates of their choice in an election viewed as the fairest and freest in the nation’s history. They closed their eyes to the fact that both Abiola and Kingibe are Muslims. This was unprecedented in our political history. Nigerians believed in the abilities of these great men.

“Again, unlike previous elections held in the country, Nigerians believed that the election was devoid of massive rigging. This was applauded even outside the country and the hope of having a more united nation and people was very high.”

For the senior member of the bar, one major characteristic of the election remained its annulment, thus, preventing winners from emerging as the nation’s President and Vice President respectively.

He added, “what Abiola did was a major sacrifice. Remember that he had every opportunity to renounce his mandate, but he defended it to the point of his death. His actions made Nigerian democracy to thrive. He refused to waste his mandate.  Therefore, why should we prefer May 29, a date in which Obasanjo was merely sworn in as the nation’s President, to this unique June 12? It was an imposition on us by autocrats, who are pretending to be democrats.

“May 29 has no significance in Nigerian history than being the date Obasanjo was sworn in. It was not a deliberate choice, but an imposition. We need to do away with it if what we are practising is true democracy.”

Though he was not sure if the May 29 was an Act of the Parliament, the legal practitioner said even it was, it could still be reverted, noting that the will of the people, should be superior to any Act in the extant case.

He sharply criticised the impression given to the date as if it was a regional affair as only the people of the South West region have adopted June 12 as their own democracy day.

For Mohamed, since the whole nation voted for Abiola on the said date, then it should assume the status of a national event.

He described last year’s re-naming of University of Lagos after Abiola by President Goodluck Jonathan as an alleged shallow act. Instead, he canvassed the re naming of Eagles Square in Abuja after “the fallen hero of the Nigerian democracy. That is more nationalistic in attitude. That university is in South West, but I think Abiola embraced all ethnic groups.”

On whether an action could be instituted at any law court of a valid jurisdiction to compel the government to change the date to June 12, Mohamed said the situation was more of a political development rather than a legal issue.

For Kasum, Abiola died a hero and should be treated as such. “Who among those parading themselves as democrats today are true heroes of our democracy? How many of them fought the military at the risk of their lives? How many of them suffered one degree of incarceration or others?

“Those who made it possible laid down their lives. Abiola was the greatest among those who delivered the nation from the wicked hands of the military junta. We should not distort history. June 12, commemorating the date of his annulled election, should be celebrated as Democracy Day. I don’t reckon with May 29 at all.”