To students of history, June 12 represents many things in the annals of Nigeria’s history. Call it the good, the bad and the ugly, but reminiscing this journey, one can now say, and safely too, that with June 12, 1993, Nigeria failed forward.
Oftentimes, it sounds right to forget the past and move forward, particularly when it is bad or ugly, but that relates more to the ideal. In reality, it is difficult to move forward without a good sense of history.
I wrote an article on June 12 and the National Question in 2018, shortly before the 2019 general elections. That article was published by Punch Online on 21 June 2018. The issues I raised in the article are worth your time. It is here attached:
https://punchng.com/june-12-and-the-national-question/
In that article, I predicted that President Buhari would win a second term, not because he deserved it on account of his first outing, but partly because of some strategic moves relating to the recognition of June 12 as the true democracy day in Nigeria.
Those who can read politics and read it right could easily decipher the role of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, albeit behind the scene, in the proclamation of June 12 as the true democracy day in Nigeria as against May 29.
Today, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in the saddle as the Commander In Chief. He is the new symbol of our democracy. To say he was a major player in the events of June 12, 1993 and the aftermath speaks to the significance of his ascension to the coveted seat.
The task for President Tinubu is onerous. The intrigues behind his journey to the exalted position is laden with lessons in politics and power. Uniting Nigerians to believe in Nigeria is the first step in our journey to prosperity.
Now that Nigeria has adopted June 12 as the symbol of our collective desire to build a strong nation, it is a good time for this writer to say that the Nigeria’s National Question is still begging for answers.
Nigerians yearn for a better Nigeria. President Tinubu has said it time and over that he asked for the job and he cannot complain. All eyes are on the president in our collective quest for a greater Nigeria.
Happy Democracy Day Nigeria.
©️Akin Oluwadare Jnr
12 June 2023
