Former Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola has emphasized the fundamental importance of the rule of law in Nigeria’s democracy, stating that the late Moshood Abiola would have assumed the presidency had due process been followed after the historic June 12, 1993 elections.
Speaking at Covenant Nation’s June 12 edition of The Platform in Lagos, Fashola reflected: “If the rule of law had prevailed, there would have been no crisis on June 12. MKO would have been president, and perhaps all of his promises about a farewell to poverty would have happened.”
The former Lagos governor stressed that adherence to legal principles remains critical for societal progress. Abiola, the Social Democratic Party flagbearer, was universally acknowledged as the legitimate winner of Nigeria’s fairest presidential election before its controversial annulment by military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida.
Years after the political crisis, Babangida admitted during a book launch that Abiola had indeed won the poll. Fashola characterized the annulment as a democratic betrayal, noting: “I want us to see the rule of law in terms of law and order. That is the perspective that I want to share.”
The remarks came as Nigeria commemorates the 30th anniversary of the watershed election whose annulment triggered prolonged political turmoil, ultimately leading to the restoration of civilian rule in 1999.
