ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri, has asserted that the landmark June 12, 1993, presidential election did not genuinely reflect the will of the Nigerian people.
According to him, the military regime under General Ibrahim Babangida orchestrated a political scenario that forced Nigerians to choose between two of the military leader’s allies—Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Alhaji Bashir Tofa.
Waziri made this claim on Thursday in Abuja during the Second Posthumous Legacy Colloquium in honour of the late High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, founder of DAAR Communications.
Vanguard reports that the event was organised by the platform D-37, made up of Dokpesi’s friends, political associates, and allies.
Speaking at the event, Waziri said, “Nigerians, out of disappointment, were forced to vote in 1993 for candidates not of their choice.
“With due respect, Abiola was not the choice of Nigerians, neither was Bashir Tofa. The choices of Nigerians were Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Bamanga Tukur, and the rest of them.”
He argued that although the June 12 election is widely hailed as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s democratic history, it was essentially a desperate move by citizens to bring an end to prolonged military rule, rather than a true endorsement of the candidates that were eventually fielded.
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Turning his attention to the late Raymond Dokpesi, Waziri hailed him as a visionary who made lasting contributions in broadcasting, politics, and business.
He commended Dokpesi’s prominent role in promoting political engagement, especially within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The former minister did not hide his dissatisfaction with the current state of the nation’s democratic system.
He expressed surprise and disappointment over the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, saying, “Someone I never expected became President on May 29, 2023—Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Waziri also recalled his final interaction with Dokpesi, stating, “At least we exchanged chat messages. I was asleep at about 11 when I was woken up with the sad news. It was good he died at home. Otherwise, the controversy of his death on that day would have had dire consequences on this country.”
He called on the organisers of the event to ensure that Dokpesi’s political legacy is well documented, particularly his contributions from 1999 to 2023, so that future generations can learn from them.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Alex Ter Adum, General Secretary of D-37 and former Attorney General of Benue State, described the late Dokpesi as an exceptional figure who left his mark on Nigeria’s political landscape, spanning the Second, Third, and Fourth Republics.
He noted the symbolic significance of Dokpesi’s passing on May 29, which is also marked as Nigeria’s “Transition Day.”
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Yusuf Usman offered a scathing critique of Nigeria’s current political leadership. He cited escalating insecurity, worsening injustice, and rampant corruption as major national issues.
“We have leadership that is focused on itself and distant from the people.
“There’s no country that can be safe with injustice. Life has become worthless, and our military is overstretched across all states. The people are suffering, and the government is not listening”, Usman said.
He further staed that the challenges plaguing Nigeria are the direct result of a broken political system, with ordinary citizens bearing the consequences.