The National Chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa said the annulment of June 12, 1993 election was a lost opportunity for Nigerians.
He made the remark in an interview in Abuja yesterday.
Musa said that June 12, 1993, was adjudged to be the freest election in Nigeria; the presumed winner of the presidential election was Chief MKO Abiola.
“We remember on June 12, the lost opportunity we had, if the election of June 12 had been honoured, things would have been better for Nigerians by now,” he said.
Musa said that Nigerians resolved on June 12, 1993, to unite themselves in spite of their differences to achieve progress for the nation.
According to him, the opportunity is lost through the annulment of that election.
“We cannot forget that lost opportunity not because we just don’t want to forget, but that opportunity is a very important step for Nigeria.
“We have not yet had a better opportunity for progress. Therefore, we will continue to remember June 12 until we have something better, “he said.
According to Musa, the only thing Nigerians have which is equally good or better is Oct. 1, 1960.
That was the first opportunity we had to celebrate as a nation.
“The second of course would have been the achievement of June 12, even though, the election was not concretised.
“It was annulled, but definitely it was a step forward for Nigerians, because Nigerians on that day united to elect MKO Abiola.”
Musa said if Abiola had become the president of Nigeria; the present negative state of the nation wouldn’t have come into being.
“The only thing to do to restore the confidence of Nigerians is to bring about free, fair, and transparent election which can bring about a legitimate government.
“June 12 has not been forgotten. It has only been forgotten in the mind of those who brought about the annulment.
“Since the annulment of that election, nothing has changed positively; things have degenerated to high level of insecurity, poverty, hunger and unemployment,” he said.
He urged the progressives to come together in 2015 to defeat the ruling party and stop it from consolidating its power.
He said that violent revolution was very costly and should be avoided through free and fair election in 2015. NAN