By Biodun Durojaiye
June 12, 1993, was more than an election. It was a defining moment in Nigeria’s history—a day when millions of citizens set aside ethnic, religious, and regional differences to vote for a common future. It was also the day a nation’s democratic dream was stolen.
In Witness to June 12, veteran journalist and media entrepreneur Biodun Durojaiye takes readers on a gripping journey through one of the most dramatic periods in Nigeria’s political evolution. From General Ibrahim Babangida’s transition programme and the emergence of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, to the historic election, its shocking annulment, the rise of NADECO, the years of resistance, exile, imprisonment, and ultimate sacrifice, this book vividly chronicles the struggle that shaped modern Nigerian democracy.
Drawing from historical records, interviews, contemporary reports, and extensive research, Durojaiye reconstructs the events, personalities, intrigues, and power struggles that defined the June 12 saga. He brings to life the courage of activists, journalists, politicians, and ordinary citizens who refused to surrender their democratic rights.
What makes this book especially compelling is its deeply personal conclusion. In the final chapter, the author recounts his own experiences as a journalist and participant-observer during the June 12 era, offering readers a rare eyewitness perspective on the hopes, fears, dangers, and determination that characterized the struggle.
Part history, part political thriller, and part personal memoir, Witness to June 12 is an important contribution to Nigeria’s democratic memory. It is a powerful reminder that freedom is never freely given—it is earned through courage, sacrifice, and the unwavering determination of a people to shape their own destiny.
For everyone who lived through June 12—and for a new generation seeking to understand how Nigeria’s democracy was forged—this is a story that must be told and never forgotten.
Read Chapters 1 to 6 and 18 in The Lagos Times online newspaper.
Witness to June 12: The Story of Nigeria’s Annulled Election (CH 1)