By OLAYIWOLA Muyideen Olalere

On June 12, 1993, millions of Nigerians trooped to the polls to vote in what remains the freest and fairest election in the country’s history. The man they overwhelmingly chose was Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, a southern Muslim businessman and philanthropist whose campaign bridged the deep ethnic and religious divides in Nigeria. The annulment of that election by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida marked a turning point in Nigeria’s political evolution, a betrayal that sparked a democratic awakening. From the ashes of that momentous injustice rose a movement, a generation of pro-democracy activists, and a new political order.

Among the vanguard of that struggle was a very vibrant and agile senator at the time, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, representing Lagos West. His trajectory, from the barricades of resistance to the seat of power at Aso Rock, underscores the enduring relevance of June 12 not only as a symbol of democratic aspiration but also as a historical thread binding Nigeria’s past to its present.

To appreciate Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu’s rise and the mandate of history, we must revisit June 12. MKO Abiola ran under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). Despite the military regime’s control of the electoral commission and the political process, the 1993 presidential election was lauded by both local and international observers for its transparency. Abiola won across ethnic and regional lines, defeating Tofa even in his home state of Kano.

But on June 23, 1993, barely eleven days after the vote, Babangida annulled the results. The nation erupted in protests. Cities like Lagos, Ibadan, and Benin became epicenters of civil disobedience. The streets echoed with chants of “No to annulment!” and “Give us our mandate!”

At the time of the annulment, Bola Tinubu was a senator under the SDP. But his response to the injustice quickly transitioned him from legislator to full-blown pro-democracy activist. As a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Tinubu joined forces with leaders like Pa Abraham Adesanya, Anthony Enahoro, and Wole Soyinka to campaign tirelessly for the actualization of the June 12 mandate and the return of civilian rule.

His involvement came at a heavy cost. The Sani Abacha regime unleashed a wave of arrests, assassinations, and intimidation against dissenters. Tinubu was marked as an enemy of the state and forced into exile in 1994. He lived in the United States and the United Kingdom, continuing his advocacy, mobilizing the international community, and struggling to restore democracy back into Nigeria.

His return made an indelible mark in 1998, following the death of General Abacha and the ascension of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Nigeria transitioned once more toward civilian rule. In 1999, Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu returned to contest and win the governorship of Lagos State under the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

As Governor from 1999 to 2007, Tinubu focused on overhauling infrastructure, reforming the civil service, and introducing innovative tax regimes that turned Lagos into Nigeria’s economic nerve center. He waged political battles with the federal government over control and revenue allocation under the powerful President Olusegun Obasanjo. Tinubu’s ability to politically outmaneuver his opponents while building a formidable political structure cemented his status as a kingmaker and strategist. Indeed, Asiwaju remain a maestro.

Asiwaju has always been with his drawing board sketching his own dynasty structure ever before his governorship streak. After Jagaban’s glorious tenure in office, Asiwaju BAT did not retreat into obscurity. Instead, he became the architect of a new political realignment. Dissatisfied with the fragmented opposition, Asiwaju spearheaded the merger of several parties including the ACN which was his stronghold, CPC, ANPP, and a faction of APGA to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013. That coalition, once ridiculed as a “marriage of convenience,” would go on to unseat the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, ending 16 years of PDP dominance.
His ability to rally the opposition, foster consensus, and strike strategic alliances was instrumental in the rise of Muhammadu Buhari to the presidency.

To complete the circle of destiny, Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu declared his intention to run for president in 2022, it was more than an ambition; it was the culmination of a three-decade journey. His campaign slogan, “Emi Lokan” (It’s My Turn), that he echoed at MKO Abiola stadium, Abeokuta though controversial, carried a symbolic weight. It was not merely about personal entitlement. Alas, it was a declaration rooted in historical investment.

On February 25, 2023, Tinubu was declared winner of the presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), defeating Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. On May 29, 2023, he was sworn in as the 16th President of Nigeria. Barely a fortnight later, June 12, 2023, marked the 30th anniversary of the original mandate, a deeply symbolic convergence of history and destiny.

After the long struggle came relief in 2018, under President Muhammadu Buhari, June 12 was officially recognized as Democracy Day, replacing May 29. MKO Abiola was posthumously awarded the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), a title traditionally reserved for presidents. This official recognition, largely influenced by persistent advocacy from the southwest and
Tinubu’s political movement, affirmed June 12’s place in Nigeria’s national memory.
As President, PBAT now upholds the mandate of history as the maestro now faces the dual burden of expectation and legacy. For many Nigerians, especially in the southwest, his rise to the Villa is not just a personal victory, it is seen as the spiritual fulfillment of the June 12 dream. However, that historical legitimacy also comes with a moral obligation: to deliver on the promises of justice, equity, and unity that MKO Abiola symbolized.
With economic turbulence, security challenges, and rising political tension, Tinubu must not only govern effectively, he must also ensure that June 12 remains more than a memory. It must be a living mandate for a government that truly belongs to the people.


Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu move from the dusty ballots of 1993 to the velvet chair in Aso Rock, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s journey is inseparable from the story of Nigeria’s democratic struggle. June 12 is not merely a date. It is a covenant, a contract written in the blood, sweat, and resilience of Nigerians who chose freedom over fear.

As history continues to turn its pages President Bola Ahmad Tinubu honors that mandate, not just in word, but in transformative governance. That, perhaps, is the truest test of June 12’s legacy.

May Nigeria succeed.
May PBAT succeed.