The June 12 Coalition of Democratic Formations (J12CODEF) has called on Nigerian youths to remain vigilant and actively defend peace and democratic values in the country, urging them to reject misinformation, incitement, and any actions capable of destabilising national unity.
The coalition commended the resilience of Nigerians in sustaining democratic governance over the years and stressed that the future of the country rests heavily on the conduct and responsibility of young people, who must play a critical role in preserving national stability
The coalition made this call while also congratulating Nigerians on the 33rd anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s political history and won by late business mogul and philanthropist, Chief MKO Abiola.
In recalling the significance of the 1993 election, the coalition noted that over 14 million Nigerians participated peacefully, setting aside ethnic, religious and other primordial sentiments to deliver a pan-Nigerian mandate to Chief MKO Abiola and his running mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who defeated Alhaji Bashir Tofa and Dr. Sylvester Ugoh of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
The group in a statement issued by its General Chairman, Nelson Ekujumi, yesterday, stated that the victory of the people was however annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida on June 23, 1993, describing the action as treasonable and noting that it triggered years of protests, agitations and resistance against military dictatorship, which eventually culminated in the return to civil rule in 1999.
It further recalled that the struggle for the restoration of the mandate was marked by immense sacrifices, including torture, killings, assassinations, detentions, forced exile and disappearances, mentioning Chief MKO Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Alfred Rewane, Suliat Adedeji and Bagauda Kaltho among the martyrs of democracy, whose sacrifices remain a lasting reminder of the cost of democratic freedom.
The coalition stressed that the memory of these sacrifices underscores the importance of protecting democracy, especially as Nigeria continues to consolidate its democratic experience.
Turning to the current economic situation, the coalition commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as bold, audacious, painful but necessary reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange reforms, which it said helped to prevent the collapse of the Nigerian economy.
While acknowledging the economic hardship and dislocation that followed these reforms, it expressed optimism that relief and recovery were gradually emerging, even as it noted that recent global disruptions, including tensions in the Middle East, had added new pressures to the situation.
Similarly, on infrastructure development, the coalition applauded ongoing efforts under the present administration, stating that the removal of subsidy had freed up resources for public investment, while also urging state and local governments to effectively utilise increased allocations to deliver people-oriented projects.
In the same vein, on security, the coalition expressed concern over Nigeria’s persistent security challenges, which it said had lasted for nearly two decades, but nonetheless urged collective support for security agencies. It called on security operatives to remain professional and not be demoralised by the politicisation of security issues, insisting that Nigerians remain confident in their ability to overcome insecurity.
Extending its message further, the coalition congratulated Nigerians for sustaining 27 years of uninterrupted civil rule, while urging citizens to remain vigilant and reject any attempts by anti-democratic forces to incite unrest or political instability under the guise of public interest.
It warned Nigerian youths to be cautious of misinformation and manipulation by individuals or groups seeking to exploit public dissatisfaction for political relevance, reiterating the need for responsible civic engagement.
The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to democracy and national stability, urging Nigerians to continue to uphold peace, resilience, patience and unity, while noting that the lessons of June 12 remain highly relevant to Nigeria’s democratic journey.