EDITORIAL: JUNE 12-WILL POLITICIANS FINALLY LEARN BEFORE 2027?

As Nigeria marks another June 12 Democracy Day, the nation must look beyond the ceremonies, speeches, and political fanfare to confront the deeper lessons of one of the most defining moments in our history.
Thirty-three years ago, Nigerians united across ethnic, religious, and regional lines to participate in what remains the freest, fairest, and most credible election ever conducted in the country. On June 12, 1993, the people spoke clearly and overwhelmingly chose Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola as their president.
But that historic mandate was stolen.
The annulment of the election triggered a political crisis that shook the foundations of the nation. It unleashed years of instability, repression, and uncertainty. Abiola himself paid the ultimate price in his struggle to reclaim the mandate freely given to him by Nigerians. Yet, despite the injustice, the spirit of June 12 refused to die. It became the symbol of the democratic freedoms Nigerians enjoy today, imperfect as they may be.
A critical question remains: if those who annulled the election had foreseen the consequences their actions would bring, would they still have taken that path?
History cannot answer that question. But it offers lessons that today’s politicians ignore at their own peril.
Sadly, many public office holders now treat June 12 as nothing more than a yearly ritual. Stadium events are organised, glowing tributes are delivered, and photographs are taken for the media. Yet the real message of June 12 is often lost in the ceremony.
The significance of June 12 goes far beyond remembrance. It is a warning. It is a reminder that the voice of the people remains the foundation of democracy and that any attempt to suppress, manipulate, or steal that voice carries grave consequences.
As the countdown to the 2027 general elections begins, Nigerian politicians would do well to study the lessons of 1993 carefully.
The annulment of June 12 demonstrated a simple truth: whenever leaders disregard the will of the people, distrust grows, tensions rise, and democracy suffers. While elections are now regularly conducted, many of the practices that threaten democracy remain alive. Vote buying, manipulation of electoral processes, abuse of state resources, intimidation of opponents, and interference with election outcomes continue to undermine public confidence in the system.
These actions may wear different faces today, but they are driven by the same dangerous mentality that produced the June 12 crisis—the belief that political power belongs to a privileged few rather than the Nigerian people.
Equally troubling is the growing tendency among some politicians to view public office as a pathway to personal wealth. This is a direct betrayal of the ideals that June 12 represented.
Abiola’s famous campaign promise, “Farewell to Poverty,” captured the hopes of millions who longed for a better life. Nigerians expected leadership that would create opportunities, improve infrastructure, strengthen education, and provide quality healthcare.
Instead, many communities remain trapped in hardship. Roads are left in deplorable condition. Public hospitals struggle with inadequate facilities. Schools lack teachers and essential learning materials. Meanwhile, some public officials continue to amass enormous personal fortunes.
Such priorities are not only a mockery of June 12; they risk teaching future generations that politics is merely a tool for self-enrichment rather than public service.
The central lesson of June 12 remains as relevant today as it was in 1993: political power is a public trust. It exists to serve the people, not to enrich those who hold it.
As 2027 approaches, politicians must also reject the politics of division. The exploitation of ethnic, religious, and regional differences for electoral advantage has done enormous damage to national unity. Nigerians must resist attempts to pit one group against another for political gain.
True leadership unites. It builds bridges. It inspires collective progress. Cheap politics does the opposite—it divides communities, weakens institutions, and leaves lasting scars.
History has also shown that stolen mandates never disappear from public memory. Court judgments, political propaganda, and media campaigns cannot erase the verdict of history. Those who undermine the democratic will of the people may achieve temporary victories, but history rarely treats them kindly.
The enduring heroes of June 12 are not those who wielded power but those who sacrificed for justice. M.K.O. Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, and countless other democracy activists paid dearly in the struggle for truth, fairness, and democratic freedom.
Their sacrifices should not be remembered only in speeches. They should be reflected in the conduct of today’s leaders.
Ahead of 2027, Nigerian politicians face a clear choice. They can continue with the old politics of godfatherism, vote buying, manipulation, and desperation for power at all costs. Or they can embrace genuine reforms by conducting credible party primaries, respecting independent institutions, strengthening the electoral process, and allowing the people’s voice to prevail.
Nigeria’s democracy remains a work in progress. June 12 is both a source of hope and a measure of our commitment to democratic values. It is not merely a date on the calendar; it is a warning from history.
The people spoke loudly in 1993.
They will speak again in 2027.
The question is whether those seeking power are finally prepared to listen.