JUNE 12 may be a fading political memory, but the thousands who converted it to a political cheque, which they are still cashing, ironically oppose it most stridently. Most Nigerians younger than 30 years do not have firm memories of the election, 19 years ago, which Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola won but the military annulled.
The annulment of the election adjudged free and fair, set off a series of unsettling political actions that pushed the country to aimless directions for six years. Strikes, an interim government and General Sani Abacha's coup were among moves to resolve the impasse. None worked.
On the first anniversary of June 12, Abiola, in a bid to claim his electoral victory, declared himself president in Epe-tedo, on Lagos Island. Abacha arrested him. More strikes and disruptions followed until Abiola's death, in detention, on 8 July 1998, after meeting a US delegation.
Abacha had died a month earlier and General Abdulsalami Abubakar who succeeded him fast tracked the one-year transition programme to civilian governance. Controversies over June 12 have since become routine. President Olusegun Obasanjo, throughout his eight years in office, shunned attempts to make a landmark of the date or Abiola's struggles.
June marked another tragedy for Abiola. Gunmen allegedly acting for the government, on 4 June 1996 killed his wife Kudirat, an ardent supporter of his claim to the presidency and a rallying point for the mounting opposition against Abacha.
Public holidays in Edo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo States will today honour Abiola's contributions to the current phase of democracy. There is no national holiday, but just as President Goodluck Jonathan has been criticised for re-naming the University of Lagos after Abiola, opposition to remembering Abiola comes from various groups who feel that according June 12 its historical place would hurt their political fortune. It is the major challenge June 12 encounters even among its beneficiaries.
Elsewhere June 12 has its place in history:
Russian Day, to mark the 1990 declaration of sovereignty of Russia from the crumbling Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR but today, more than 79,000 security forces are on alert as Russians plan rallies to protest President Vladimir Putin's third term.
It is also the 114th Independence Day anniversary of the Philippines.
Famous June 12 birthdays include George Herbert Walker Bush, US Vice President (1981-89) and President (1989-93), 88.
The dilemma with June 12 is deciding what to do with the result of the presidential election held on that day. Will the result be recognised and Abiola post-humously named President of Nigeria?
Resolution of the June 12 imbroglio would be controversial. However, ignoring it would remain a more controversial option.
Vanguard Nigeria