The reverberations from the colourful democracy day ceremony in Kwara state is synonymous with the 2019 Kwara liberation as UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB writes.
It began with ‘showers of blessings’
Like it happened on the morning of the inauguration of Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq as governor of Kwara state, downpour heralded the celebration of the June 12 democracy day in Ilorin, Kwara state capital where thousands of persons had gathered.
For more than 30 minutes, guests who were colourfully dressed and seated at the VIP stand with others at various arena were soaked from head to toe following the heavy downpour which many described as ‘showers of blessings’.
The roll call
The event was attended by thousands of supporters from the state and other prominent Nigerians including the deputy governor, Kayode Alabi; speaker of the House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu Danladi; secretary to the state government, Dr Mamman Jibril; chief of staff, Aminu Adisa Logun and members of the state assmebly.
Others included the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bashiru Bolarinwa; permanent secretaries; the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari; businessman and son of the acclaimed winner of the June 12 presidential polls, Kola Abiola; former deputy president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Isa Aremu; former governorship aspirants and several other dignitaries.
Kwara had shifted its commemoration of the event to Friday 14 to enable AbdulRazaq join other state governors and President Muhammadu Buhari for the national celebration of June 12 in Abuja.Contrary to the expectation of many with the enthusiasm that greeted the coming of the otoge movement, many have looked forward to the May 29 inauguration day to celebrate the sweet victory but to their disappointments, the governor opted for a low key inauguration which was done in the council chamber of the Government House with only 80 persons allowed in.
The governor also stunned many when he drove himself in a Toyota Hlux into the Government House.
He had also disbanded the inauguration ceremony committee members earlier set up for his May 29 inauguration.
In his opening remarks at the event, state chairman of APC, Hon Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa who thanked Buhari for his show of magnanimity for making June 12 a reality, was quick to declare to correct the impression that the governor had changed his position.
Bolarinwa declared that the Abdulrazaq APC-led government was not re-writing history with the celebration of democracy day in the state.
He said, ‘‘Let me first say clearly that we are not re-writing history in kwara.’’ According to him, the event of the day was organised to commemorate the declaration of the June 12 as Democracy Day in line with the declaration of President Buhari.
Mild drama
While the programme unfolded, a mild drama played out amongst members of two factional associations of market women operating in Mandate Market, Adewole, Ilorin as members of the two factions (Nike and Sidi) and their leaders claiming leadership of the market tried to outsmart one another. The rivalry between the two factional associations was the fallout of the 2019 general elections in the state which divided market women in the market.
While some supported the otun ya movement of the ousted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government, another group went with the otoge movement.
Since then, the rivalry over who is the authentic leadership in charge of the market had raged on with accusation and counter-accusations being traded against one another and was openly demonstrated at the venue of Democracy Day celebration.
Dressed in their different Ankara uniforms, members of the two factional market associations did not leave anything to chance as they struggled to gain entrance into the main arena carrying banners, chanting different songs to catch the attention of the audience and participated in the match past.
New partnership
In a paper entitled: ‘Lessons of June 12 and Popular Democracy’ Comrade Aremu suggested for a renewed partnership for national development among all relevant stakeholders for a sustainable democracy in the country.
He urged the states and private sectors to heed the call of President Buhari’s June 12 inaugural speech where he called for a national sense of purpose to lift as many as 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
He said the call should serve as a template for genuine cooperation between the federal and states governments in critical areas of revival of industries and creation of mass decent jobs.
The labour leader hailed President Buhari for declaring June 12 as real democracy day.
He recalled that the 2014 national conference set up by President Goodluck had built the national consensus on June 12 as democracy day as opposed to May 29 fixed arbitrarily by former President Obasanjo.
According to him, the posthumous recognitions for the winner of the 1993 free and fair election as well as naming of Abuja Stadium after him was more than partial atonement, adding that in essence Buhari’s administration, saying, “Time is truly longer than the rope of military dictatorship.”
Governor of destiny
Drawing a similarity between the June 12 and the struggle of Kwarans, Aremu described AbdulRazaq as a governor of destiny.
He said that both the June 12 movement which terminated military rule in the 90s and the otoge movement which put an end to Saraki political dynasty in the state are two sides of the same national ‘democratic coin’.
He regretted that more than other states, Kwara was ruled by more military administrators than civilians in its 52 years of formation.
“In its 52 years of existence, Kwara has produced 20 governors, out which only seven were democratically-elected. Kwara had an unfair share of military administrators. With 16 years of PDP-one party rule, Kwara’s democracy assumed special importance which must be nurtured through civic education for active citizenship right from schools in order to obliterate the ingrained slave mentality,” he said.
Lessons from otoge
Pointing out the lessons from the otoge democracy, Aremu advised that henceforth all elected officials should not take people for granted as the voters are ultimately the real leaders in a democracy.
“The case of Kwara shows that regardless of parties and affiliations, when people say otoge, nobody can stop their will,” he said.
While commending the INEC under Professor Mahmood Yakubu for weathering the electoral storms, he called on stakeholders to partner with the electoral umpire on the proposed post-election in order to examine the management of the country’s electoral system.
Buhari ‘s role in Kwara’s liberation
Cheered by thousands of enthusiastic supporters as he walked up to the stage, AbdulRazaq said he is committed to making the state a better place for every Kwara indigene and residents.
“I promise to run an inclusive government in order to carry everyone along. No matter your age, sex or tribe, as long as you reside in Kwara state, we will make Kwara a conducive working environment for you,” he said.
AbdulRazaq praised President Buhari for his courage to accord June 12 the national recognition it deserves, and his support for the Kwara liberation struggle.
“Nigerians of good conscience have lauded President Buhari for finally recognising the June 12 as Democracy Day,” he said.
“We in Kwara state also owe Mr president a debt of gratitude for standing firm on his resolve that people’s votes must count in the last election. In the past, Kwarans had often voted to reject tyranny and a suffocating hold on their destiny but they always had their mandates brazenly stolen with nobody to resist such oppression. We thank Mr president for standing for truth and justice,” the governor added.
June 12 not about MKO – Kola Abiola
For the son of winner of the June 12, 1993 election, Kola Abiola, “The significance of June 12 is not just about MKO. It also symbolises what we can do together if we set aside our differences and relate as one tribe. If we do that, the sky is the limit. If we don’t allow ourselves to be divided along ethno religious lines, we will succeed as a people. if we hold our unity, then June 12 will remain alive forever.”
He added, however, that the greatest legacy to the struggle is for Nigerians to treat one another as brothers as they did on the day of June 12, 1993 elections.
