It was one of the greatest surprises that had occurred in this part of the world for a very long time. Many people never believed that June 12 could be revisited again in the history of our dear nation. The ripple effects of that sad experience can generally be delineated into three perspectives. First, it shows indeed that man can only propose, but it’s only the Almighty that disposes, meaning that no matter how much we try as mortals, whatever happens to us in the end tend to be beyond our imagination and comprehension.
Secondly, it reminds us that the truth would always prevail, no matter what happens and for how long truth is suppressed. Nothing can ever kill the truth.
The forces that foisted upon us the mess that ensued following the unfortunate development in the country – were not only powerful – they were highly calculative and desperate to manipulate events and happenings in such a way that they would want to be relevant at all cost to determine the future of many, whether they like it or not. Thirdly, the scenario has rekindled hope that, there is gain when we persevere, show consistency and optimism in our dispositions to life. All the three propositions above have just played out in the last few days in the annals of this nation.
Though the military junta wreaked havoc on our polity, it has refused to give any tangible or convincing justification for the dastardly misdemeanour till date. What we have as the remnant of the annulment is the ripple effect that the ignoble error had plunged the nation into by a selfish few and narrow-minded persons that were fortunate to be at the corridors of power. It is gratifying that the hero at the centre of these wicked scheming has not only be honoured with the highest award in the land alongside his then running mate – even though many people feel that the mate should not have gotten that accolade unlike his senior partner – because of his perceived betrayal of the joint mandate. Anyway, the man has been given the same stuff of equal status with our senior advocate of the masses for their contributions to the struggle. The truth is that nothing that is given to these compatriots can actually be too much. They deserve what they got because of the worthy cause that they stood for.
Human beings, as expected, would always ask for more. This is normal. It’s just that one would have thought that those barrages of requests should not have come in in droves. It looks as if the long-awaited opportunity has come and June 12 should be used as the bargaining point. Due recognition should be accorded those that had sincerely kept faith over the years as well as those that had suffered one loss or another, including paying the supreme price for the struggle. I’m, however, taken aback with the agitation for all sorts of demands – realistic and utopian – which they never did before this surprise gift to the nation. Some of these august agitators are now asking for formal announcement of the annulled results, declaration of the hero as the official winner and punish those that annulled the election, among others. Already, many of such overnight agitators have formed themselves into emergency coalition, groups and pro-democracy activists with funny demands by acting like Oliver Twist. While these crops of new activists are busy engaging the media, others are quick to condemn the whole idea of honouring the acclaimed winner, saying that everything that was playing out is pure politics and ploy towards getting popular support towards next year’s general elections. After all, there’s the need to pacify the hero’s tribe and ethnic group for the alleged lopsidedness in public affairs, they’ll reason. Rather, than seeing the nationalistic motive behind the tough decision taken, political undertone is seen as the primary underlining factor. I wondered why people cannot ask themselves this simple question and salute that rare show of statesmanship: why haven’t past leaders had the audacity, wisdom and the courage to right the wrongs.
On the other hand, the last few days have left many smiling to the banks. I’m sure of those conveying people from one part of the country to another for the various held rallies and protests. Sellers and hawkers of t-shirts, banners, caps and other insignia specially made for the historic day would not forget so easily, the good omen that came their way without even having a faint idea of the import of what June 12 was all about. They made their cool cash. Some of them were not even born when the crisis started then. They seem to be hyperactive, not necessarily because they share in the thoughts of what is happening, but because there’s something on ground to talk and shout about, to earn a living and feel happy for the short moment.
On the D-day were the injured parties, the peace-maker and the peace-broker. They exchanged touching pleasantries of reconciliation, watched by victims of the impasse and beneficiaries of the entire process. The beneficiaries are those that were actively or passively involved in the annulment. They reaped from the illegal governments that followed the annulments. Those that are also getting set to benefit from the new dawn are political jobbers. I won’t be surprised that, as from now on, they’ll start mobilising themselves powerfully for next year. Family members of the hero should be prepared to receive the influx of desperate politicians that would come to seek their endorsement or even drafting them into politics. Why not; or is the state not owing them so much? They’ll tell them to come out now and reclaim what had been denied them 25 years ago.
While the people are gradually forgetting the euphoria of the moments that took place last June 12, there’s need to now focus on pressing national matters that deserve prompt attention. To start with, as the ceremonies were taking place, many people were being attacked by herders in different parts of the country. Adequate attention should be paid to this increased state of insecurity in the land. Joblessness remains a serious problem facing us as a nation. The situation has become so alarming that the few people working have nothing to show for it. Why? The reason is simple – the number of unemployed is so much that the working class has been over-burdened with their problems. It is a case of one ‘rich’ man in the midst of plenty poor and that is why the middle class appears to have been wiped-off. Many places continue to experience total darkness because of perpetual absence of public power. As I was discussing with some people months ago, what takes a chunk of hard-earned resources of workers in this country, is fuel because we all buy fuel in our cars, ‘okadas’, generators, offices and shops. Workers live perpetually on loans. This should be given urgent attention because many people are suffering.
The weak purchasing power of our currency should be looked into. Terrible inflation and rising cost of goods and services have become a perpetual nightmare. We can go on and on by recounting our pains and worries. Perhaps, the greatest legacy that this nation would be leaving behind is to uphold the virtues of the man we are celebrating by addressing the many challenges facing us that he had wanted us to tackle, if he were there to lead the nation. This never happened. When this is done, we would have been seen to have learnt something from the past, forging ahead and hoping for a brighter future while celebrating June 12.
. Kupoluyi of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta writes from adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk, @AdewaleKupoluyi.