June 12, Cancel Dreams and The Infinite Agony, by Inhabitun Komolafe

On June 12, 1993 he marked a significant setback for Nigeria, returning to January 15, 1966, coup-d’etat. This unfortunate event rejected the country of at least a century, mainly due to the suspension of the Republican Constitution of 1963. Although the minds behind the coup d’état never explicitly say that they have abolished the Constitution, the consequences of its suspension continue to manifest themselves in the persistent underdevelopment of Nigeria.

Ayo Ademiluyi, lawyer and political activist for civil rights, recently stressed that the general government Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, similar to the previous and subsequent military administrations, was characterized by Diarchy. This governance system, which combines the best brass and parts of the political establishment, has been more pronounced under IBB, as is known to be Babangida, of any other military administration. This diarchy was on display during the publication and public presentation of a book, entitled ‘A trip on duty: an autobiography by Ibrahim Babangida’And the fundraising for the presidential library, where the surprising revelations on the military domain of Babangida came to light.

A gentleman on the podium declared that he and the others present had to have their success to not the entrepreneurial spirit, but rather for the state of capture and favors. On the contrary, entrepreneurs such as Adeola Odedola, Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu and Aminu dangled from the previous era have achieved success through authentic entrepreneurial zeal and innovation. Unfortunately, under the Babangida regime, the state favors have become the main means of economic advancement, leading to a company that is not competitive

The concept of capture of the state, which originated in South Africa, was exemplified in Nigeria during the IBB era. However, in order for Nigeria to make progress, it should focus on promoting entrepreneurship among its citizens. Remarkable examples include Bayo Ogunlesi of global infrastructure, Olugbenga Agboola, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and Adeleke Adekoya of Flutterwave, as well as Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi of Paystack. It is also worth mentioning the new generation banks, led by individuals such as Atedo Peterside and Fola Adeola. Instead of promoting entrepreneurship, the presentation of the IBB book unfortunately celebrated an era marked by ‘Man-Know-Man’ AND ‘Padi Padi’ agreements, commonly indicated as the capture of the state. This approach will not make Nigeria competitive, will create so much necessary jobs, catalyzes growth or reach sustainability.

One of the most worrying aspects of the electoral saga of 12 June 1993 is the way in which Babangida inadvertently renounced his authority as a commander in the head of the armed forces. Refusing to support the mandate of the free and Eque elections, Babangida showed a cowardly headdress, as noted by Reuben Abati in his address book. The criticism of Abati, however, has stopped drawing a deeper conclusion. A more incisive analysis would have contrasted the actions or inhalations of Babangida with those of the democratically elected president of Chile Salvador Allende Gossens, who made the maximum sacrifice for his principles on a fateful night of 1973.

In a story of two leaders, Salvador Allende, a doctor who became president, was in an unequivocal contrast with General Ibrahim Babangida, who rose through the military ranks. Faced with a coup, Allende’s commitment to his people and his mandate was unshakable. Despite an American plane, waiting to get rid of him, he opted to fight alongside his Chief of Staff and eleven ministers, refusing to give up their mandate. It is one of the most remarkable arts in recent political history. So who is a “general”? Allende, a trained doctor or Babangida, who entered the army directly from the secondary school?

The last sacrifice of Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi for the greatest general JTU Aguiyi-Irononsi during the 1966 military blow in Nigeria also exemplified the lasting power of loyalty and duty in the face of an overwhelming adversity. Therefore, it makes no sense to blame General Sani Abacha, Augustus Aikhomu and others, who are no longer here to defend themselves; And the dead men don’t tell stories! What’s more? Ibb simply shot himself in the foot, since, of course, he did not show up as a commander on his head!

The entire presentation of the book was clearly a striped celebration, completely disconnected from the sewing reflections that events such as the Holocaust or the question of soweto massacre. As appropriately noted of Peterside, these tragedies cannot be commemorated in the midst of joviality. This is a serious taste, which should not have happened. In healthy climates, the opportunity would have been an appropriate time to establish a trustee fund for the countless people who have undergone irreparable losses – lives, limbs and means of subsistence – due to the cancellation. Many of these courageous souls are still alive, struggling to reconstruct their shattered lives.

In this context, the president Bola Tinubu, himself the victim of the cancellation, has a unique opportunity to make fine. By setting the fiduciary fund, it can provide rehabilitation and support for some time to those who have risked everything for democracy. This gesture would honor their sacrifices while it allows them to forge their path, distinct from the shadows of the past, and create a more just and compassionate society. The last word is that, on June 12, 1993, he allowed the genius to escape from the bottle. All manners of long dormant and suppressed agitations came out from June 12 in the six geopolitical areas and the political will to solve these problems has not yet been found.

In his book of 1852, “The eighteenth brumaire of Louis Napoleon”, Karl Marx observed notoriously: “History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce.” As Marx pointed out, and as Babangida showed, on June 12, 1993, it was a tragic event and the scars are still showing broken limbs, interrupted lives and people suddenly become orphaned. On the other side of the coin, the presentation of the book and the launch of a Babangida presidential library proposal were a pure farce.

Now that the presentation of the book has again highlighted the shame of a country, IBB can still keep your head high, not because of any personal merit, but because the imperfect system of Nigeria often allows leaders to deviate responsibility. This phenomenon is deeply rooted in our national psyche, where leaders’ failures are often minimized or even celebrated. Here, our judicial system remains defective, but the company inexplicably applauds it. The complexities of Nigeria are well known to those who are familiar with our only brand of “Nigerian”, a reality marked with pervasive shock, anxiety, uncertainty and chaos. Our nation has become a contested territory, in which the lives of countless people are wasted in this turmoil.

Ibb’s “invented” apologies were a means for an end, but the question remains: what an end now that it has exhausted its justifications for past inadequacies, what are they? This raises questions about the responsibility and lack of authentic introspection. But, wait a minute, the participation of remarkable characters such as Yemi Osinbajo, former vice -president of Nigeria, and Bola Tinubu, the current president, of the Ibb event, is also disconcerting. While the presence of Tinubu could be attributed to diplomatic obligations, Osinbajo’s frequency is more difficult to justify, given his reputation as a democrat. Furthermore, Tinubu participation in the competition of laughter with the evil genius, a man often considered one of the most famous leaders of Nigeria, is particularly stoning.

Agreed, the dead are dead and nothing can be done again! Twenty-six years after the return of Nigeria to democracy, it is essential to reflect on the sacrifices made by individuals such as Abubakar Umar, who have given up on their military commissions, and others such as the Ambassador Musbau to Mushin-Lagos, who have become totally blind during the agitations, all in support of the movement of 12 June. How does the democratic system honor their memory and their sacrifices? According to reports, a former giordino della war advised Abacha of “hang” Mko Abiola, the winner of the presidential elections of 12 June 1993, for treason. Ironically, his wife is now minister in the tinubu cabinet!

AS, ‘Eni tó kú ni tiè gbé! In fact, whoever died lost everything!

May the lamb of God, who removes the sin of the world, grants peace in Nigeria!

*Komolafe wrote from Ijebu-Jesa, state of Osun, Nigeria ([email protected])