June 12 has been widely described as Nigeria’s real Democracy Day and a watershed in the nation’s history. The importance of this day which commemorates the annulled June 12 , 1993 presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola is not lost to many Nigerians both within and in diaspora. In marking the 26th year of this unfortunate event in our national life, Emeritus Professor and Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, has expressed concerns about attempts to diminish the importance of June 12, stating that reducing the struggle to ethnic significance is travesty and denial of the nation’s collective sense of justice.
Prof. Whole Soyinka describes June 12 as Nigeria’s real Democracy Day stressing that any attempt to diminish it’s relevance will be vehemently resisted.
June 12, embodies unity, equity, and justice, reflecting the sovereignty of Nigeria and the will of her people .
Prof. Whole Soyinka, who is one of the founding members of NADECO, a group of eminent Nigerians who fought for the return to Democratic system of government used the occasion of 2025 democracy day to critic the Memoirs of former Nigeria leader, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, which was presented to the public in February , 2025. Prof. Wole Soyinka describes Babangida as a General without an army, stating categorically that he should rewrite the book in which he IBB Chronicles the events that led to the annulment of June 12 election in 1993 at the book launch to herald the building of a presidential library in the coming days. During the book launch, IBB explained partially the events, including a few of those who played key roles that led to the annulment of June 12 elections, adjudged as one of the freest and fairest in Nigeria political history, which saw Chief. MKO Abiola emerged the winner.
Some observers and analysts have critic the book launch, accusing IBB of being economical with the truth, expressing reservations on the purported mastermind of the election annulment, they chided IBB for refusing to name the culprits behind that national embarrassment, stating categorically that any attempt to diminish the facts regarding the June 12 cancelation, is like postponing the evil days. The events of June 12 led to so many chain reactions, including the imprisonment of Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the election and his eventual death with his wife, Alhajia Kudirat Abiola, under the regime of Gen. Sani Abacha, Kudirat Abiola was murdered in cold blood, as well as some prominent NADECO chieftains and other notable citizens at home and abroad, for speaking up against the annulment and the incarceration of Chief MKO Abiola, with many others fleeing from the land of their birth.
The book launch witnessed the attendance of creme-de-la-creme of the Nigerian society, including the current President of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu,who played actively as one of NADECO members, including former presidents Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, former heads of state Gen.Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, former president , Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and a host of others too numerous to mention, who gave their goodwill messages at the occasion.
Some diehard critics have challenged Babangida to be man enough to speak the truth, by giving account of his stewardship as the President of Nigeria before and after June 12 Era.
