Former Nigerian Ambassador to Thailand, Oma Djebah, has described the June 12 struggle as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey, saying it fostered national unity and gave rise to a broad-based movement that cut across ethnic, regional and political divides.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News on Friday to mark Democracy Day, Djebah reflected on the significance of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and its aftermath, drawing from his experience as a journalist who covered the period.
He said the era represented one of the most important chapters in the country’s history.
“The June 12 era was one of the most critical era in Nigeria’s history. It marked the resilience of the Nigerian people, the resilience of the Nigerian press because speaking more as a journalist and as a diplomat and as one of those who reported that era and witnessed it we pray that Nigeria never witnessed such an era anymore,” he said.
According to Djebah, the annulment of the election won by Chief MKO Abiola became a rallying point for Nigerians and helped forge a stronger sense of national purpose.
“The significance of that particular era, what I would rather say is that one, it brings our country together. It marked a period of national rebirth and national unity because NADECO was born out of that struggle and the media unlimited that platform and gave it birth and gave it strength and gave it invigoration,”he said.
He noted that the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which emerged during the struggle against military rule, drew support from across the country and was strengthened by extensive media coverage.
“And within that NADECO you had people from all over the country. You had Dan Suleiman who the president referred to earlier today. You have Anthony Enahoro who of course is a journalist who actually moved a motion for self-government in 1953. So at that time the media has always played that activist role,” he said.
Djebah said the June 12 election stood out because of the breadth of support received by Abiola across Nigeria.
“That period of national strength national unity, national rebirth, that to me was the original symbolism of June 12 because he won across the country. It was a very major milestone, and it remained a puzzle why social annihilation was actually ignored by the military,” he said.
He also highlighted the role of the media during the period, arguing that journalists went beyond reporting events and became active participants in the democratic struggle.
“The Nigerian media, in my view, covering that era back to back, they were not observers. They were active participants,” he said.
June 12 is commemorated annually as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in honour of the 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in the country’s history, and the democratic struggle that followed its annulment by the military government.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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