Guardian

Octogenarian Baba Omojola, an alumnus of London School of Economics, is a frontline civil rights activist. He was one of those behind the struggle for the actualisation of the Presidential mandate Nigerians gave late M.K.O. Abiola on June 12, 1993. For his role he was clamped into detention by the then military government of late Sani Abacha. Today, he is the national chairman of June 12, Democratic Coalition, a conglomerate of 30 civil society groups, which championed the June 12 struggle and the protest that followed it. In this interview with ABIODUN FANORO, he explained why this year’s June 12 anniversary is being marked at Epetedo, where on June 11, 1994 Abiola announced the formation of Government of National Unity. Excerpts:

WHAT is June 12 Democratic Coalition about?

It is a coalition of democratic formations involving women groups, students’ associations, and professionals, including members of the Nigerian Bar Association and youth groups. In short, the coalition is made up of about 30 distinct groups, which participated in the struggle to actualise M.K.O Abiola’s June 12, 1993 presidential mandate. Don’t forget that after Abiola had emerged as the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), he held a series of meetings with members of the civil society groups, the professionals and so many other groups. At the meeting he had with civil society groups, Abiola pledged to put in place worker-friendly policies and policies that would solve the problem of ethnic marginalisation and domination. Based upon this assurance we decided to key into his campaign programme, we took these promises to our constituency, which our members bought into. That marked the beginning of civil society groups’ accord with Abiola before the election, during and after the election. That was the secret of the success of the pro-June 12 protest that took place in most cities across the country.

Having realised that June 12 is an un-finished matter, that is why after the struggle, we all coalesced to form the June 12 Democratic Coalition which today, 19 years after the Epetedo Declaration, is returning to the same historic venue to advance the course of the famous declaration by President M.K.O. Abiola.

June 12 has so many perspectives. Why is the Epetedo perspective so significant that this year’s anniversary of the mandate is holding there?

It was the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election that Abiola won. However, it was on June 11 the following year that he went to Epetedo to re-affirm his mandate and announced the formation of Government of National Unity.

Today’s event at Epetedo is being spear-headed by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), the umbrella body that co-ordinated and funded the tough struggle to actualise June 12, and the aftermath, especially the arrest and detention of Abiola and his death.

How would the Epetedo Declaration be marked?

We are going to Epetedo to re-affirm those issues of national concern Abiola raised 19 years ago. Regrettably, these issues are yet to be addressed, even in this current environment of civilian rule. For instance, the issue of mass poverty Abiola raised and pledged to urgently address in the government he announced, the pledge of life more abundant to the poor contained in Hope ’93, un-employment, hunger etc, are some of those issues that today stare us in the face. So also is the lesson of June 12, which is that the ballot must count and that one man, one vote is sacrosanct. The biggest unfinished job from the Epetedo Declaration is the one that borders on the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference expected to solve the recurring cry of ethnic marginalisation and domination. We have only won one out of the many challenges that arose from June 12, which is ending military rule.

At today’s rally, what are some of the demands to be made to the government?

Since Abiola won the election, we have been referring to him as president-elect. We are therefore demanding from the Federal Government a formal affirmation of Abiola as president-elect posthumously, a posthumous inauguration and in addition, he must be accorded all honours and treatments that are due to a president and former presidents. Government must keep the record straight in respect of Abiola for the sake of posterity.

We are also going to use the occasion to re-affirm our earlier demand that the Federal Government should introduce a two thousand naira note with the name and photograph of Abiola embossed on the note as done to some former Nigerian heroes. Everybody is aware that Abiola is the hero of the democratic rule in the country today; he laid down his life to pay the supreme sacrifice, which liberated us from military rule.

Already June 12 Democratic Coalition has designed the two thousand naira note and this has been presented to our members last year during the June 12 celebration organised by the Lagos State Government.

How would you assess the political class that emerged as a result of Abiola’s martyrdom?

The political class has not done well at all.

It is regrettable to observe that the political class has not helped to advance the course of democracy. Again, it is a matter of regret to note that the political class polluted the democracy stream, which is supposed to be water of life or if you like call it, holy water. Those that emerged from Abiola’s ashes are predators, who are probably worse than military dictators. They are selfish, heartless and criminal in everything. Be that as it many, the most annoying are Abiola’s political associates and some of his kinsmen. They have betrayed the man. Again, it is not surprising, many of them started to betray him even when he was still alive. From the moment of his brief self-exile, some of them defected to align with the military oppressor. We can still recall how his vice; Ambassador Kingibe abandoned him to align with the military.

What is your group’s position on plan by the Federal Government to name the University of Lagos after Abiola?

Our position is very clear. We remained opposed to it, because Abiola is greater than just naming an institution after him. Also, the manner of the re-naming appears un-democratic and stands against the democratic tenets Abiola died for. That is why the whole exercise has run unto murky waters.

On a more serious note, it remains our position that if the Federal Government is genuinely serious about immortalising Abiola, it should do first thing first, which is a formal affirmation of Abiola as elected President of Nigeria who should be accorded every national honour due to that office.