Nigerians whose birthdays coincide with June 12, 1993 and related dates share their experiences of and feelings about the historically significant day
His legacy lives on
I was born a few months after June 12, 1993. I got to know the significance of the date as I grew older; that late MKO Abiola ran for the presidential election and won the election. History also has it that his wife died in the fight to gain our independence from military rule, so that date was made a public holiday by the government to celebrate his struggle for Nigerians. His legacy lives on and I’m glad to have been born in the same year.
Ayishat Ajidagba, marketer (born October 6, 1993)We need more Nigerians who will continue to advocate for our rights just like the late MKO Abiola did. A lot of Nigerians didn’t go through the pain of seeing a better Nigeria. Some wait for other people to take chances towards the development of the country, while others just watch as the country develops without contributing. I urge everyone to be part of the change, rather than just leaving it all for the government to do.
A hero is celebrated on my birthday
I know June 12 to be called late MKO Abiola Day to celebrate the death of the man and his late wife, Kudirat. The day is also my birth month and I am very excited that a hero is celebrated annually on that day. I believe in my government, despite the hardships, so I am hoping for the best for Nigeria. We just need to give our leaders a little time for things to progress. Let’s give the current government another year to do great things.
Tunde Ogala, graduate, University of Wales (born 1993)
No significance in June 12
The day is celebrated in remembrance of an annulled presidential election on June 12, 1993. Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, often referred to as MKO Abiola, ran for the presidency and is widely regarded as the presumed winner of the inconclusive election, since no official final results were announced to date.
MKO Abiola was a popular Nigerian Yoruba businessman, publisher, politician and aristocrat of the Yoruba Egba clan. To me, democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people, but there is no democracy in Nigeria. I really can’t remember where I was on June 12, 1993. There is nothing significant about it, to me, other than the fact that it’s my birth month.
Bolatito Fadairo, undergraduate (born June 20, 1993)
I was born on election day
June 12, 1993 was the day I was born. According to history, it is the day the freest and fairest election in Nigeria was held. But despite the credibility of the poll, it was annulled.
MKO Abiola, whose full name was Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, was a native of Egbaland born on August 24, 1937, Abeokuta. June 12, 1993 is significant to me in the sense that there was chaos in Lagos State and because of the difficulty experienced by my mother in getting to the nearest hospital that would help her to safely be delivered of me. Democracy, as we all know, is a government of the people, for the people and by the people.
Going by this definition, democracy in Nigeria has not been in favour of the masses, instead it has been a situation of every man for himself.
Afolake Baiyewu, graduate (born June 12, 1993)
I’m happy to share the day with a hero
What I know about June 12, 1993 is that the date was made a public holiday to honor late M.K.O Abiola who died in the course for making Nigeria a democratic state, which happens to be the day I was born. I feel happy to be born the day a hero is celebrated for the sacrifices he made for the people as I was told.
Nigeria is a great Nation and we can be better if we love one another genuinely without discriminating one another.
–Suliat Alagbada, graduate University of Lagos (February 10, 1993)
There was a buzz of hope
Quite interestingly, the memories of June 12, 1993 are still fresh in my mind. I can’t remember every birthday, but I remember this one. I was in Junior Secondary School II at Government College, Ketu-Epe at the time. I remember there was a buzz of hope everywhere. People were tired of the military and the elections were charged with the prospect of the end of an era of tyranny. As a kid, I remember catching the buzz too, not understanding the dire implications, but under the infectious atmosphere, I felt the euphoria of the change anticipated.
The essence of that euphoria is the substance of our democracy today, made available by the sacrifice of the late Chief MKO Abiola. I remember that birthday; I remember him.
Seun Aina-Scott, entrepreneur (born June 12, 1982)
I’m always excited to celebrate June 12
I was born in 1993 and that year is significant because it was the year the late MKO Abiola was elected as the President of Nigeria. I believe Nigeria is a democratic state. My curiosity about the reason behind the celebration on June 12 when I was in primary school inspired me to learn about the significance of the date.
In secondary school, we were taught that democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people and that is really what it is. We vote whoever we want to govern us without being forced to do so like when we were controlled and ruled by the military government.
As a student, I’m always excited to celebrate the date because it’s a public holiday and also because it is my birthday. I believe Nigeria will be better.
Tinuola Oyetayo, undergraduate (born June 12, 1993)
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