By DELE ALABI, Lagos
Reminiscing on the role played by some individuals before, during and after the June 12, 1993 presidential election, a veteran crime reporting Journalist, FOLORUNSHO ATTA has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, BAT, to consider honouring posthumously, some activists who were very prominent in June 12 activism.
Such Nigerians, now deceased, include the one time Governors of old Imo state, Sam Mbakwe and Alhaji Balarabe Musa of Kaduna state. Also, S. M. O. Aka, a prolific author in his life time.
Stressing their relentless and unwavering commitments to June 12, Atta disclosed that it would be a disservice to Equity and Fairness if the President who was also a prominent June 12 activist decline to bestow honour on the three deceased who were die-hard June 12 Disciples.
"I was not only close to Chief M.K.O Abiola several years before 1993 presidential election, I did covered both pre- and post- elections activities of that year for the great Daily Times of Nigeria. During the campaign period, the day of the election and after the elections, we (Journalists) were always at the Hope '93 Secretariat in Opeibi Ikeja. A year after the election we were also there.
"Obviously, we were never unaware of the true June 12 activists", he told theCaveat.ng.com.
He disclosed that some people who were not sincere to MKO seized the opportunity, grabbed the situation and complexity of the June 12 election period to smile to their various banks.
"This set of people, he added, were not honest or sincere to MKO and his cause".
He, however, said the trio of Mbakwe, Musa and Aka manifested loyalty and unwavering devotion in everything that has to do with June 12, either before the election and after the annulment.
"After the annulment a great number of persons, including some members of MKO party, SDP, virtually abandoned the struggle for June 12 actualisation. But Aka, Musa and Mbakwe remained committed, as they were at Hope '93 secretariat 24/7.
"Everyday, Aka would carry placards with various inscriptions that urged President Ibrahim Babangida to declare MKO winner of that election.
"Since a labourer deserves his wages, these men must be honoured for tireless struggle, even when the June 12 Personification, MKO, was no more. This is just as Mr President made two Nigerians Buhari and Jonathan presidents, Osibanjo and hundreds of others occupy exalted public offices; God who is a rewarder of those who diligently worked rewarded him by making him number One citizen of our country, he (Tinubu) must remember and honour these Three patrotic and sefless Nigerians (Musa, Mbakwe and Aka)".
The veteran crime journalist disclosed that the trio of Musa, Mbakwe and Aka had taken over the office of late Senator Jonathan Zigwina who was the Dierctor-General of Hope '93.
This, Atta said was to ensure that MKO wins. After the annulment, the three men, he said, never left Lagos to their respective states of Abia, Delta and Kaduna until few weeks after MKO's arrest.
"Even if the three men were not among those who contributed financially to MKO's Campaign Fund, the moral role they played, unalloyed support and various strategies mooted by them for MKO and the Campagin headquarters was enormous. They were never mechandise in their thoughts and purpose with regards to anything June 12.
"Theirs was that MKO, due to his pedigree would save Nigeria from economic quagmire and hopelessness" he disclosed", Atta added.
Speaking further, he said some Nigerians honoured in 2023 by President Tinubu over their sruggle for June 12 were never as committed, dedicated as these three men now resting in their graves.
"Before the election, I was shuttling the office of President Tinubu at Ahmed Onibudo in Victoria Island with my late colleague at Daily Times, Frank Alabi. And, because of my personal relationship with late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, and late Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti (Fela's younger brother).
"We also stormed their various offices at Anthony village for interviews. Those who played significant roles in June 12 election and after annulment were known to us like our palms", he revealed.
Concluding, he described the three Nigerians Musa, Mbakwe and Aka as men of proven integrity in thier days. He disclosed that While Mbakwe was the weeping Governor that ruled old Imo state from 1979 to1983, Musa was the PRP Governor of Kaduna state that was impeached in 1980 by NPN dominated House of Assembly members because of his uncompromising stance. Aka was a secondary school teacher cum author of several text books in English Language.
Atta revealed that to all Secondary schools students in defunct Bendel state in the 1970s and 1980s, Aka was a genius.
Mbakwe passed on on the 6th of January 2004. Musa died on 11th of November 2020, while Aka departed this terrestrial lane far back in 1999.
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