ABIOLA AND THE ANCIENT JOURNEY OF JUNE 12 – By Dare Babarinsa, CON
By Ademola Adekusibe
13 June, 2026
Veteran journalist and Chairman of Gaskia Media Ltd, Dare Babarinsa, has penned a sweeping reflection on the 33rd anniversary of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, describing it as ancient history to over half of Nigeria’s current population who were not yet born at the time.
Babarinsa recalled that on that pivotal day, Nigerians were given the option of picking between two candidates: Chief Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party and Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention. Despite both parties being sponsored by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, the majority of Nigerians chose Abiola.
The journalist detailed the relentless shifts of the transition programme, with Babangida moving the handover date from 1991 to 1992, and then to 1993. When Babangida’s Information Minister, Chief Alex Akinyele, was asked for an explanation, he replied that “the transition programme is elastic.”
Babarinsa warned that Dr Bala Usman, the radical Katsina prince and ABU teacher, had cautioned that Babangida had a hidden agenda. Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Alhaji Balarabe Musa also alerted Nigerians that democracy would require a fight.
After the election was annulled, Babangida sent his goons to hunt down opposition elements. Babarinsa recounted how TELL magazine’s premises were surrounded, and four of its top editors – Nosa Igiebor, Onome Osifo-Whiskey, Kolawole Ilori, and Ayodele Akinkuotu – were arrested and taken to Shangisha, the Lagos headquarters of the SSS, before being driven to Abuja and kept in police cells until Babangida was forced out on August 27, 1993.
Babarinsa detailed the misreading of General Sani Abacha, who succeeded Interim National Government head Chief Ernest Shonekan. He recounted the sacrifices of Gbenga Adebusuyi of the Alpha Group, whose father and wife were arrested; Kazeem, who helped set up Radio Freedom transmitter and was killed in a bomb blast; Omojola, who died shortly after release; and Bagauda Kaltho, the martyred reporter.
The journalist listed the numerous heroes of the June 12 struggle: Otunba Olabiyi Durojaiye, Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, Ayo Opadokun, Olusegun Osoba, Moshood Fayemiwo, Soji Omotunde, and the imprisoned editors Osifo-Whiskey and Igiebor.
He also recalled the arranged coup plots that victimised Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, Kunle Ajibade, Ben Charles Obi, Niran Malaolu, Chris Anyanwu, George Mba, General Olusegun Obasanjo, Major-General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Colonel Gabriel Ajayi, and Colonel Olusegun Oloruntoba (now the Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom in Kogi State).
Babarinsa listed professionals who joined the struggle: Olisa Agbakoba, Fola Adeola, Tola Mobolurin, Bayo Adenekan, Femi Yerokun, Pascal Idowu, Bayo Onanuga, Babafemi Ojudu, Dapo Olorunyomi, Seye Kehinde, Dayo Adeyeye, Anwo Kayode, Adedokun Abolarin (now Orangun of Oke-Ila), Demola Oyinlola, Professor Rotimi Akinola, Professor Akin Onigbinde, Professor Omikorede, Deji Sasegbon, Alao Adedayo, Dele Momodu, Ademola Adeniji-Adele, Tokunbo Ajasin, Rotimi Obadofin, Kunle Famoriyo, Ayo Afolabi, Abiodun Aremu, Joe Igbokwe, and others.
Moneybags like Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and Chief Deinde Fernandez were in a special class.
At the forefront were fathers of the struggle: Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Senator Abraham Adesanya, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Sir Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Otunba Solanke Onasanya, Chief Olu Falae, Chief Alfred Rewane, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Mr Udenta O. Udenta, Dr Wahab Dosumu, and Dr Femi Okunronmu.
Chief Gani Fawehinmi and his paladins – Femi Falana, Baba Omojola, Shehu Sani, Uba Sani, Festus Keyamo, and the irrepressible boys and girls in Gani’s law firm, including Justice Abiodun Akinyemi – were special heroes.
The exile team was led by Chief Anthony Enahoro and included Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and General Alani Akinrinade, alongside Ropo Sekoni, Bolaji Aluko, Kayode Fayemi, Sola Adeyeye, Kole Omololu, and Kayode Oladimeji.
Babarinsa concluded that the greatest tribute Nigerians can pay the heroes of June 12 is not to endanger democracy or take it for granted. That assignment, he said, belongs to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, one of the heroes of the struggle, and other current tenants of power. “The survival of the Republic as a democracy is the President’s ultimate constituency project,” he wrote.