June 12: Honouring The Memory Of The Dead

By Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Esq,SAN

It is almost twenty years since the annulment of the June 12, Presidential Elections in 1993. A lot has happened since that historic event which ensured the exit of the military finally in 1999. It has become imperative that we all honour the memory of the dead. Treading this path confirms our common humanity; it encourages the living to espouse inspirational principles in the interest of the greatest number in a society.

Chief M.K.O Abiola paid the supreme price. Many Nigerians also suffered varying degrees of deprivation as a result of the precipitate action taken by the military. The directionless pattern of governance since the inception of the current civilian dispensation gives us reasons to be anxious. All of us have become victims in one way or another.

There can be no better way of bestowing honour on the departed than through his deeds while living. Immortality does exist in any object or person subject to time. It is the imperishable impact which the existence of a mortal has on others that serves as the best legacy. He must be adjudged bereft of intellect indeed he who seek immortality in monuments.

It is in this respect that we must understand the recent announcement of President Goodluck Jonathan on the change of name of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, to Moshood Abiola University, Lagos, an action which has generated intense controversies among Nigerians. This action is calculated to create disaffection between the family of the great philanthropist and those who have stood solidly behind the principle which made him a martyr while others faltered. From the informed to downright ignorant, every contributor to the raging debate seems to have an opinion on the best course of action considered appropriate in this circumstance. This act of indiscretion, ostensibly taken, disingenuously, for political reasons rather than the conviction to do what is right, epitomises lack of depth on the part of the federal government.

The fact that the government sent three bills, among others, to the National Assembly to put a legal seal on its unpopular deed underscores the insensitivity of the government. If the government could take a cue from those who pointed at the illegality inherent in the provocative pronouncement and amend its ways, it will be a mark of honour and not weakness if it reverses the obnoxious decision.   

Those who argue in favour of the change on the premise that some notable universities in the world bore different names at some points before name change choose to ignore the emotive aspect of the whole scenario. Apart from the historical significance which the whimsical action seeks to obliterate, the negative psychological impact which this opportunistic decision is already having on the students, staff and graduates of this institution is indescribable. Anyone who had the privilege of attending a good university will appreciate the clamour for reversal to status quo ante better.

There have been attempts to blackmail those who insist that M.K.O Abiola must not be tarred with the tribal brush as his mandate transcended the south west. The ruling party, through its spokespersons, has equally lampooned those who oppose the change, especially members of the most formidable opposition party in the country, ACN, referring to them as hypocrites who benefited from the struggle of June 12 while denying the man who paid the supreme sacrifice for the democracy which they now enjoy. Such are the inanities which the PDP and their sympathisers have been churning out to defend an insensitive and opportunistic posturing.

The obdurate position of the government casts a serious doubt on its democratic claims. Many eminent Nigerians, among whom are Professors Wole Soyinka, Ade Ajayi and Tam David West who are not members of any political parties or partisans of any hew, have spoken in favour of the reversal. If democracy is indeed about the wishes of the people, having this somewhat dubious recourse to barren legalese is patently unhelpful.

Honouring Chief M.K.O Abiola is a noble thing to do. It is somewhat belated but still necessary. In doing this, we not only acknowledge the sacrifice made by this exceptional man but also, and this is more important, absolve ourselves of the charge of being dubbed hypocrites. I hold a strong view against this tokenistic gesture of the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan. I believe that the man deserves more than a university, assuming the government is sincere in honouring him, for us to show appreciation for his uncommon sacrifice.

May we suggest that this government should be bold enough to acknowledge, not through its spokesperson, that M.K.O Abiola won the election and accord him the respect due to a former president, albeit posthumously, and declare June 12, the day Nigerians spoke with near unanimity on their choice of leadership and the future of the country as an indivisible entity despite our divergence, as the authentic democracy day. The current lie conceived in subterfuge is a mockery of the whole essence of the collective struggle of the people of this country.

In addition to this declaration, the government should, without further delay, name a national monument such as the Abuja National Stadium after the man who died for the current politicians to thrive.   The significance of the late Africa Pillar of sport and amiable philanthropist sacrifice should not be limited to a regional university funded by the government at the centre.

This granted, the greatest honour any government can bestow on M.K.O Abiola still remains the commitment of its functionaries to the rule of law and good governance. A government which perpetuates poverty through its policies cannot be taken as sincere in remembering a man who vowed to abolish poverty. A government which allocates 75% of its budget on recurrent expenditure is directly responsible for underdevelopment and its attendant consequences. A ruling party which has been unable to fix our roads for thirteen years is not fit to conceive honourable ideas let alone execute same. A country where life is “nasty, brutish and short” is for barbarians.

The current precarious situation in the country does not give any cause for cheer. The issue of insecurity is so pervasive and fundamental to the extent that news of fresh attacks no longer excite anyone. We have suddenly found ourselves in a situation which compels us to compare the ferocity of an immediate past attack with the latest. Nigerians have been reduced to mere statistics. The number of casualties in a barbaric onslaught is used to measure its seriousness and not the act itself. What we read about other climes has become the current reality in our country.

Majority of our youths are still without jobs or hope of getting in the nearest future. The justifiable anger of these serially abused members of our society can be gleaned from the deviant attitudes considered aberrant. The people are yet to derive any direct real benefit from the democratic experiment since 1999.
Corruption continues to ravage the land. Nobody or institution seems immune from this virulent virus which has ensured that nothing works in the country. Life has become so cheap as a result of this malaise.

Infrastructure, such as roads, hospitals and schools, has virtually collapsed. Nigerians die the most gruesome deaths on our roads while the government plays politics with human lives. Assassination of political opponents is now prevalent in this dispensation. Only sycophants will disagree that we have never had it this bad.

Successive civilian governments since the annulment of the election considered the freest and fairest in the annals of country have contributed immensely to this current sorry state. The best honour to the departed will come when the downtrodden begin to derive real benefits, not hand-outs, from those saddled with the responsibility to take care of their welfare.

OLUWAROTIMI O AKEREDOLU, ESQ, SAN