By John Ogunsemore
June 12, 1993, has become one of the most epochal dates in Nigeria’s checkered history.
On that day, millions of Nigerians defied creed and clan and gleefully trooped out to vote for a democratically elected president.
However, their joy was short-lived as the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the process before the electoral commission could announce the winner of the election.
The subsequent efforts to actualise the mandate freely given by the Nigerian people were spearheaded by heroes, some of whom paid the supreme sacrifice.
Many of these heroes are not given due recognition for their contributions towards returning Nigeria to the path of democratic governance.
Daily Sun briefly examines five of these notable personalities:
Bagauda Kaltho
Bagauda Kaltho was a journalist who used his pen to challenge the military regime. He was kidnapped and killed by a bomb during the turbulent years following the annulment.
His fearless reporting, part of the guerrilla journalism that kept the struggle alive, cost him his life, yet his sacrifice is rarely highlighted.
The press centre at Alausa, Lagos, was named in his honour, but his story remains largely untold.
Chima Ubani
As a key figure in the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Chima Ubani galvanised human rights groups under the Campaign for Democracy (CD) after the annulment.
He faced raids, arrests, and imprisonment, notably in 1995, for his activism.
His work supporting figures like Ken Saro-Wiwa and advocating for democratic restoration made him a target, yet he persisted until his death in a 2005 car accident.
Alhaja Suliat Adedeji
Alhaja Suliat Adedeji was a businesswoman and political activist from Ibadan.
She was assassinated on November 14, 1996, at her residence for her outspoken support of the June 12 mandate.
Her death by gunfire from operatives of the Abacha junta underscored the personal risks taken by lesser-known figures in the struggle.
Dr. Shola Omoshola
Dr. Shola Omoshola was the Chief Security Officer at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, who refused to target NADECO activists.
His stance led to his death by a bomb believed to have been planted by agents of the Abacha junta.
His quiet defiance protected pro-democracy fighters but cost him his life, making him a forgotten martyr.
Chief Alao Aka-Basorun
Chief Alao Aka-Basorun was a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Known as the “Lion of the Bar,” Aka-Basorun was a pioneer of legal activism and an early advocate for restructuring Nigeria’s federation.
His relentless legal battles against the military regime’s injustices made him a crucial, yet often overlooked, figure in the June 12 movement.