Today marks 31 years since the annulment of the 1993 presidential election, a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s history. The Osun Civil Societies Coalition gathered at the National Assembly to commemorate the occasion and call for an end to the suffering of Nigerians.
The coalition, comprising various civil society organizations, urged the government to address the country’s lingering challenges, including poverty, hunger, and insecurity. They lamented that 31 years after the annulment, Nigeria still struggles with basic amenities and mass prosperity, as promised by the late MKO Abiola.
The coalition’s spokesperson, Comrade Adebayo, emphasized that the current administration’s economic policies have only exacerbated the suffering of Nigerians. “We demand an end to the suffering and a better future for Nigeria,” he said. “The government must prioritize the welfare of Nigerians and work towards creating an egalitarian society where equity, fairness, and prosperity are guaranteed.”
The event was attended by various stakeholders, including activists, academics, and religious leaders. They all echoed the coalition’s call for good governance and a better future for Nigeria.
As the country marks this significant anniversary, the Osun Civil Societies Coalition’s call to action serves as a reminder that the struggle for a better Nigeria continues.
The statement reads, “It is unfortunate that MKO’s manifestoes which are provision of basic amenities and mass prosperity are still elusive 31 years after. Besides, the lessons and gains of the June 12 appeared to be missing at the corridor of power at all levels, making the government to persistently take Nigerians for granted. Nigeria’s rulers across the divide appear to “have learned nothing and forgotten everything.” Unfortunately, continuous decades of bad governance by unpatriotic and self-centred elite, military and civilian leadership that cut across all tribes and religions, produced exploitation, oppression; poverty, misery, injustice, hopelessness, insecurity, banditry and violent death as majorly being experienced by the common masses all over the country!
“Currently, Nigerians are going through worsening economic hardship that is creating more poverty and penury. The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through its World Bank and IMF teleguided economic policies have continued to unleash hardship on Nigerians. The removal of subsidy, increment in electricity tariff and devaluation of Naira have cast a shadow over the economic stability of Nigeria; and this is hampering productivity and killing Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, taking away the purchasing power of the Nigerian people, creating hunger, starvation and skyrocketing foodstuffs and essential commodities prices, among other woes. The worse of the agonies is the ongoing food crisis where staple foods have been priced out of the reach of the common people.
“It is now clear that no political party or political actor of even the best substance can deliver any change, so long as the erroneous warped system remains in place. It has gone beyond the issue of personal integrity or sincerity of good intention or EMILOKAN mantra. Our present system is corrupt and our institutions are weak.
“We are using this June 12 occasion to called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to get descend from the ladder of the World Bank, IMF and other international institutions influencing his government. Mr President, please save the country and Nigerians from the unleashed hunger and poverty.
“We demand an egalitarian society, where equity, fairness and prosperity for all is guaranteed.
Ebi n pawa o!”