Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, former Chairman of Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, has advised President Bola Tinubu to order the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to announce the results of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election.
Adesanya, the pioneer State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ondo State, gave the advice at a news conference on Friday in Akure.
The APC chieftain was reacting to the confession by the former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida that Chief MKO Abiola, the candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party(SDP) won the June 12 Presidential election.
Adesanya argued that announcing the results of the election was necessary for posterity.
“It may look belated, but justice can never be stale, therefore there’s need to announce the results of the most peaceful, freest and fairest presidential election ever held in the history of Nigeria electoral system.
“Unfortunately for Nigerians, the election was annulled without any reason, by the then Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida(IBB).
“It was at a time when the then Chairman of the National Electoral Commission(NEC), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu was about to announce the results between Moshood Abiola of SDP and Bashir Tofa of NRC.
“The annulment of the election snowballed into a major national crisis. Thousands of lives were lost in the struggle, and lots of prominent Nigerians went into exiles, including the present President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Prof. Wole Soyinka and many others, for their safety. Hence, the agitation for “military must go”.
“Since government is continuum and the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election results are still in the custody of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), therefore, as a matter of priority, I call on Present Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, to direct the Chairman of INEC to officially announce the results of the election from each State.
“The electoral body should declare the winner and return the winner elected as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with all the rights and privileges of President,” he stated.
Adesanya also called for the immediate prosecution of Babangida for subverting the people’s will by the annulment of the election.
“It is also pertinent that, General Ibrahim Babangida be prosecuted for illegally and criminally subverting the Nigerian Constitution and the people’s will by the annulment of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, which was globally adjudged to be the most peaceful, freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history till date.
“If we must grow as a Nation, we need to correct our past deeds, and there must be consequences for our actions and inactions to serve as deterrent to others.
“As a Youth Leader of SDP at that time; Nigerians and the world will know the total number of votes cast. Hence, the labour of our heroes past will not be in vain, and those who lost their lives in the struggle will rejoice in their grave that posterity is kind to them,” the APC chieftain said.
