Lessons from IBB annulment of June 12 presidential election, by Isaiah Osifo

Former military president of Nigeria, Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda (IBB),in his book has admitted that the June 12,1993 Presidential election in Nigeria was credible and Chief MKO Abiola of blessed memory won the election.However,the election was annulled under his watch as the military president of Nigeria.Attempts to shift the blame of the annulment to other persons is irrelevant and should not be considered by any reasonable person.

IBB is a soldier and a political scholar.His book will definitely be found in different libraries for students and researchers in Political Behavior and in other areas of development.

His good sides towards the the unity and development of Nigeria are numerous.The greed to remain in power and small minds of political leaders in Nigeria that power is for ever led him to the blunder of the June 12 1993 presidential election annulment .If IBB thought of a greater tomorrow for Nigeria,he would have not contemplated or yielded to the pressure of the sycophants around him to cancel an election that was free and fair.This same mentality of a dominant desperation of sycophants to praise and justify evil against public good for immediate material gains are still active Nigeria.

As expected,the reference to June 12 annulment and explanation by IBB in his book has elicited controversies and bitter responses from different voices.The question arising from these responses is what is the difference between June 12 annulment and election rigging by civil administration in Nigeria?

I come from Orhionmwon/ Uhunmwode federal Constituency in Edo State.The person that is in the House Representatives for the Constituency,Billy Osawaru of APC did not win the election.Irresponsible INEC officials in collaboration with the candidate and others in the electoral management rigged the election against the winner ,Hon Murphy Imasuen of the Labour party.This electoral malpractice was validated by the Judiciary in Nigeria.The annulment of a credible election by a military government is the same thing with the rigging of an election by a civil administration.I thank my teacher, erudite Professor Humphrey Nwosu of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka for the courage against all forms of intimidation from the military government to conduct the freest and fairest presidential election in the history of Nigeria.MKO Abiola is the hero of June 12 and Professor Humphrey Nwosu is equally a hero of June 12 1993 Presidential election.Both of them have attained social immortality and will live forever.

IBB no doubt is a scholar.His book is a big text for a review of the political and electoral processes in Nigeria.The present leadership of INEC, including the disgraceful University professors that are in the center of rigging elections in Nigeria,the Judiciary that is validating the criminality of INEC ,Security agencies,etc, should understand the importance of credible elections and it’s implications for national development.The political leadership should know that it is evil to occupy political offices through rigged elections.Nigerians collectively should be committed to the conduct of credible elections and accountability to the citizens should supersede blind pursuit of personal interest.

Dr Isaiah Osifo,
a farmer and a University teacher.
Email – [email protected]