Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd) has revealed a list of 38 unsung military personnel who supported Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
In a statement, Umar, an ex-military officer and one of the persons who fought for the restoration of the June 12, accepted the national honour recently bestowed on him by President Bola Tinubu.
However, he stated that other military officers contributed to the June 12 struggle and they deserved to be acknowledged.
According to him, most of the 38 officers risked their lives and their careers in pursuit of the truth which the Abiola election represented.
He said: “When the President called to inform me of his decision to magnanimously confer on me the the National Award of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on account of my much advertised role in the struggle for the validation of the June 12th election and affirmation of Chief MKO Abiola’s mandate, my first reaction was why only me and not all those unsung heroes.
“Those officers and men who actively participated in that struggle, risking their careers and even lives. Although I was one of the leaders of that movement within the military, my contribution was by no means bigger than theirs. While I have been recognised and celebrated, including this National Honour by the President, they have remained anonymous.
“It is therefore incumbent upon me to reveal the identity of these patriots if only to acknowledge and commend their contributions to the emergence of the current democratic dispensation.”
According to Umar, top on the list was his deputy at the Armoured Corps Centre and School, Col MA Garba, whose commitment was so strong that he continued with the execution of his plans after some of them were arrested, detained and retired in October, 1993.
He stated that Garba went on to attain the enviable rank of a Major General in the army.
Others were: Lt Col Lawal Jaafaru Isa; Lt Col UF Ahmed; Lt Col MS Dasuki; Lt Col ML Gwadabe; Lt Col J. Temlong; Lt Col Musa Shehu; Lt Col Chris Eze; Lt Col HM Dzarma and Lt Col Isa Jibrin.
Also listed were: Lt col JOS Oshanupin; Lt Col A Oloruntoba(kabiesi Olugbede of Gbede kingdom); Lt Col Moke; Lt col Happy Bulus; Lt col Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Col J Okai; Col E. Ndubueze; Lt Col Yakubu Muazu; Lt Col Yahaya Abubakar ( current Etsu Nupe) and Maj. Saad Abubakar (current Sultan of Sokoto).
Others were: Maj Abba Maimalari; Maj Jamil Tahir; Maj Buzugbe; Maj LP Aprezi; Maj MK Yake; Maj J Dawah; Maj Suleiman Wali; Maj Dauda Komo; Maj Lucky Torrie; Maj JS Zaruwa; Maj M Sumaye; Maj Sani Bawa; Maj Ndaliman; Maj Ahmed; Maj M Bawa; Lt Col JB Ahmadu; Capt Junaid Bindawa and Capt Lar.
He stated that the fact that Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12 election won over 80 per cent of the Armed Forces votes, clearly demonstrated the contribution of the other members of the military.
“I should add that this list is by no means exhaustive,” he stressed.
Umar stated that there were a lot more participants who remained unknown to him since they served under others and apologised to all those whose names he must have missed.
“May God recognise and reward your sacrifice. I therefore accept this award with all sense of humility on behalf of all these officers and men. Obviously, it goes without saying that this award will be doubly more meaningful if the democracy we all fought for delivers the real dividends.
“This can happen only if leaders at all levels govern with the fear of God and in accordance with the tenets of democracy. It remains the hope and prayers of all patriots that nothing is done to derail this infant democracy. To achieve the stability and progress of our democracy, leaders must prioritise good governance over politicking for self aggrandizement,” he added.
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