Kashimawo--Let us wait and see...In honouring Late M.K.O Abiola

I find it hard to celebrate. Sadly, sometimes I even find it impossible to honour. But then, I cannot dishonour?—may the gods of democracy forbid!

An ideal scenario…

Once upon a time, a powerful king coveted the wife of his most loyal servant and boasted, “I am the king—I take what I want.”

Days later, the servant rebelled against the king and threatened that unless his wife was returned to him; he would go maniac. The king rebuked this servant and forthwith, sentenced him to death. Shockingly, the other servants in the royal household stood out in solidarity and condemned the king’s decision. Obviously, he had done wrong. He admitted and ordered the release of his most loyal servant. But then, he refused to fulfill a second promise—to return the woman he had coveted. Fearing that his servants would protest again, the king forestalled and murdered all of them. The pursuit for justice was thus, defeated. Forever?—let us wait and see!

As activists, civil societies, the Nigerian government and south-west states remember M.K.O Abiola; I join them as an advocate for democracy but exempt myself from any sort of relish. (I will not taste wine today.) Let us wait and see!

I wouldn’t go through the rigmarole of saying all that pertains to June 12. No doubt, it is the day to honour because Nigeria recorded in its book of chequered history, the freest and fairest election so far. Some of us witnessed the unprecedented response to ballot and love for democracy on that day. When again will people gather en masse, put aside their ethnic inhibitions and religious bigotries to decide the fate of this nation? Will there ever be another election modeled on June 12’s. Let us wait and see!

The annulment of that historic election remains an embarrassing slap on the face of democracy. It has staggered our hope. June 12 ought to be a symbolism of hope—but one man’s tragic hand changed everything. Had Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida fulfilled the promise, Nigeria could possibly be in the manifold of brighter lights now.    

But then, we will wait and see. Who knows tomorrow? However, nothing rules out that Abiola was like a scarecrow in the field of our greenery. Through the grapevine, I can see that June 12 is the day corrupt leaders and enemies of democracy dread. Let us wait and see! A greater honour could be done to M.K.O Abiola’s heroism and the labours of our heroes past.

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