"PEOPLE OF NIGERIA, OUR TIME IS NOW. YOU ARE THE
REPOSITORY OF POWER IN THE LAND. NO ONE CAN GIVE YOU
POWER. IT IS YOURS. TAKE IT! FROM THIS DAY, SHOW TO THE
WORLD THAT ANYONE WHO TAKES THE PEOPLE OF NIGERIA FOR
FOOLS, IS DECEIVING HIMSELF AND WILL HAVE THE PEOPLE TO
ANSWER TO.”- MKO ABIOLA
Since the recognition of June 12 by Buhari as Democracy day and
the canonisation of Abiola I have been feeling empty. Empty in the
sense that, I could no longer feel pain or a sense of anguish that
had enveloped me for a very long time. All I felt was a level of
uneasiness, peace and tranquility difficult for me to explain.
Today, been June 12, I remember where I voted on that fateful
date. At the polling boot at Ayinla Bus Stop, along the Dopemu-
Agbotikuyo road , Agege Lagos. After voting I had hoped to see an
Abiola Presidency based on his election promises in the debate
against Bashir Tofa. When the result started coming in and it was
stopped and latter annulled I felt an emptiness.
The emptiness was accentuated by anger and then protests,
deaths and more deaths and finally the death of Abiola in July
1998.
Today, after many years of agitations and protests, many
Nigerians still hoped that June 12 a watershed would still be
revisited. Now and today it has been revisited and Abiola and his
mandate have been brought back to life. Not only, Abiola but
everyone that went with June 12, their memories are back with
June 12. For those of us still alive, it is a new day. Let us discuss
our ways and our country. Let us discuss the Nigerian question
which was one of the reasons that led to the annulment. Welcome
to a new age. Happy new day.
