The Convener of the Alternative Movement, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s unity and democratic development. He recently had his say via a press statement titled “My Scar from MKO Abiola, My Sacrifice for Democracy, and My Unwavering Pan-Nigerian Conviction,” and Nigerians have been reacting.
Stressing that the struggle to actualise the June 12, 1993 presidential election mandate remains a defining moment in his political journey, he stated that the circumstances surrounding Abiola’s death and the annulment of the historic election left an indelible mark on his life and political convictions.
Showunmi concluded by cautioning political actors against actions capable of undermining national stability.
His words, “The scar in my heart from the loss of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola has not fully healed.
I invoked the events of 1992 to illustrate how political situations can spiral out of control when caution, restraint and respect for the law are abandoned.
My intervention was a warning about consequences, not an invitation to recklessness, and I will not permit reactionary forces to turn my counsel into something it was never intended to be.
I must also state, unequivocally, that I am a Pan-Nigerian through and through. I have no interest in promoting the idea that one ethnic group is superior to another.
My words and actions must be understood within the framework of my commitment to the Nigerian nation.
I will not subordinate that commitment to ethnic sentiment, sectional advantage or the politics of exclusion.
I have long expressed the view that Nigeria should manage political power through a pendulum arrangement between the Northern and Southern parts of the country.
In my considered opinion, a predictable and mutually respected understanding of power rotation offers a framework for reducing suspicion, strengthening national cohesion and sustaining our democratic journey.
May your supreme sacrifice continue to guide Nigeria towards a more stable, just and enduring democracy. May the promise for which you paid such a terrible price never be betrayed.
One day, God willing, I will speak more fully about my own contributions to the struggle for democracy.
I must also acknowledge Dele Momodu. May God spare his life. He played a key and pivotal role in that chapter of our history, and his contribution deserves to be remembered.
Finally, let nobody mistake my restraint for ignorance of history or my commitment to national unity for an absence of personal conviction.
My commitment is to Nigeria. My loyalty is to the democratic ideal. My respect for MKO Abiola’s sacrifice is enduring.
And my conviction that Nigeria must survive, mature and prosper remains unshaken.
May God bless Nigeria and all who genuinely labour for her progress.”
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