JUNE 12: AN EPISODE OF THE FREEST AND FAIREST ELECTIONS EVER CONDUCTED IN NIGERIA BUT ANNULLED

June 12 every year brings to memory the of average Nigerians, the annulled elections of 12th June, 1992. Chief M.K.O Abiola the social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, perceived to have massively won the elections, got a shocker when the said ever "freest and fairest" elections in Nigeria was annulled.


The General Babaginda led military regime had been characterised by gross and high level indiscipline and corruption. Little attention was paid to the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) launched by the Buhari administration.
During the IBB regime, incidents of hard drug pushing by Nigerians became rampant and there arose drug barons who became emergency millionaires and flaunted ill-gotten wealth. Many of their agents were arrested in foreign countries who became suspicious of every Nigerian and subjected them to rigorous security scrutiny.
Most of the bodies established and generously funded by the IBB regime later became avenues for self-enrichment of a few. Such organs included DFRRI, MAMSER, People's Bank and the Better Life for Rural Women scheme.
There was no accountability in public office while bribery and corruption seem to have been institutionalized. The government gave cars, houses, landed property and large sum of money to critics and opinion leaders apparently to keep them silent. This started the "Settlement culture" where public officers would not want to offer their normal services to the citizens until they are bribed.
There was no respect for popular opinion. For instance, none of the many political associations freely formed by Nigerians was registered as a political party. Instead, the government formed two parties, the NRC and SDP, which all interested politicians were required to join.
Just as the collation of results of the 12 June 1993 presidential election was about to end, the regime cancelled the election, and cited as reasons issues that had been settled well before the election.

Pearlkel