Oby EzekwesiliGeverifieerd account

A Thread. The investiture of the GCFR honor on #MKOAbiola is a joyful thing for us on 2 counts: 1. One of the major breaches on our Democratic History has finally as much as feasible been corrected. 2. The #AbiolaFamily is finally rejoicing & we also should rejoice with them.

That military assault on our #DemocraticHistory on #June121993 was a downstream coup. Down stream, because the coup happened even before that cycle of Democracy could commence. The previous military assaults that terminated 2 cycles of Democracy in 1966 & 1983 happened upstream.

By annulling #June121993Elections, then Head of State, Ibrahim Babaginda carried out a down stream coup similar to the upstream ones that truncated Democracy in 1966 and 1983. For us who had looked forward to a Democratic Nigeria & voted for the 1st time, it was UNACCEPTABLE.

For many people in my Generation who are between their early and mid-50s (like me), #June12 had a special meaning cos it was the election that conferred us “Eligible Voters”. All we had known was Military Rule &so, were excited to cast our Votes to return Nigeria to a Democracy.

The annulment of June12, 1993 Election was therefore a major BREACH of Democracy as it was especially for the young of our Generation who considered it an “Open Sore”. The ANGER galvanized even the usually indifferent young professionals of our Generation to Collective Action.

It is worthy of commendation that twenty fives years after, that Breach was corrected with yesterday’s acceptance and APOLOGY by the Nigerian-State. Never again, should our Democracy be assaulted by the Military or anyone or institution. We as a people have VOTED FOR DEMOCRACY.

As already stated, the second count on which yesterday gave me Joy, is that, finally, the #MKOAbiolaFamily which suffered excruciatingly from the tragedy of #June121993 is REJOICING. Their Crying endured for many long nights, but finally, Joy came to them yesterday.

The Bible instructs us to Weep with those that weep and Rejoice with those that rejoice. Learning to express our Shared Humanity on basis of this counsel is at the core of how badly we have handled the various tragedies that have fallen on us as a people.