Nigeria: Why Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for MKO in 1993
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
The former Minister of Police Affairs, Adams Maina Waziri, has shed light on why Nigerians voted for the late Moshood Abiola in the 1993 presidential election. According to Waziri, Nigerians voted for Abiola out of disappointment and a strong desire to remove the military from power. He stated this at the Second Posthumous Legacy Colloquium held in Abuja in honour of the late Raymond Dokpesi.
Waziri revealed that Abiola and Bashir Tofa were not the initial choices of Nigerians in the presidential election that was annulled by former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida. Instead, Nigerians’ main goal during that election was to end military rule. Waziri noted that Nigerians were forced to vote for candidates not of their choice, with Abiola and Tofa being the options.
Waziri stated that when Nigerians celebrate June 12, they are celebrating the desire to end military rule. He emphasized that Nigerians were tired of military rule and voted to see if they could ease the military out of power.
Waziri expressed concern over the state of the nation, recounting Dokpesi’s efforts in helping to strengthen and stabilize the Peoples’ Democratic Party. He urged the organizers to properly document Dokpesi’s contributions to Nigeria’s political landscape to ensure his legacy is preserved.
The colloquium was held to honour Dokpesi’s memory and legacy. Speakers at the event hailed Dokpesi as a pioneer in the media industry and a skilled political strategist who played key roles during the Second, Third, and Fourth Republics. They described him as a man whose memory is hard to overlook due to his significant impact on many lives and the nation.
The guest lecturer at the colloquium, Yusuf Usman, expressed deep concern over the state of the nation and criticized the corruption within President Tinubu’s administration. He noted that the current leadership is focused on itself and distant from the people, leading to widespread insecurity and suffering.
