Buhari, Tinubu Eulogise MKO At June 12 Anniversary

Only free and fair elections in 2011 will stabilise Nigeria’s democracy, former Military Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, said on Thursday in Lagos.

Buhari said this at the 17th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

The event was organised in Ikeja with the theme, “Towards Credible 2011 Elections and the Lessons of June 12’’.

Buhari said that the political class and all Nigerians must be committed to free, fair and credible general elections in 2010 to guarantee the country’s democratic growth.

He said unless Nigeria’s democracy was stabilised, the country would be wasting its resources without desired development.

He advised Nigerians to learn from elections in Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa and Ghana and improve on Nigeria’s elections.

The immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Chief Bola Tinubu, noted that the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election almost crippled Nigeria.

“The history of the struggle for democracy, freedom, justice and equity in Nigeria can never be written without that date,’’ he said.

According to him, apart from October 1, 1960 when Nigeria secured its independence, June 12, 1993, is the most important date on Nigeria’s calendar of freedom and democracy.

He said that the most critical task for Nigerians should be to ensure that future elections were credible since some Nigerians had died in the struggle for democracy in the nation.

Tinubu said:“Without electoral reform which will lead to free and fair election, what we will continue to have is mere civil rule and not democracy.

“Going for elections in 2011 without the necessary reform will be similar to a free handing over of our country to eternal colonialist.

“Against the backdrop of our national experience, electoral reform is not an option; it is a task that must be done,’’ he said.