The much awaited book on the controversially annulled 12 June 1993 presidential election is to be presented to the public on Tuesday in Abuja.
Titled, Nigeria’s Aborted 3rd Republic and the June 12 Debacle: Reporters’ Account, the book of 242 pages with 32 chapters is put together by journalists who occupied the frontline of reporting the General Ibrahim Babangida transition to civil rule programme from inception to cessation.
The event holds at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja from 11 am.
Written by the journalists, who were members of the National Association of Political Correspondents (NAPOC), the work renders a first hand account of the issues in the implementation of the controversial programme, which culminated in the fiasco of June 12 annulment
It offers a deep historical insight into the character and content of the transition process and the web of conspiracies deployed by key political actors in the military and their civilian collaborators to scuttle the 12 June election.
The book reveals so many issues that have never been in the public domain, including the intrigues surrounding the emergence of Chief Moshood Abiola and Alhaji Bashir Tofa as the presidential candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC).
It further provides a gripping account of many of the behind-the-scenes manoeuvres by President Babangida and his henchmen that set the stage for the infamous annulment. The narratives are compelling and unputdownable, a statement on behalf of NAPOC 90s by Dr Emeka Nwosu stated.
The Chairmen of the defunct SDP and NRC, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe and Chief Tom Ikimi, would lead other dignitaries to the book presentation, which is to be chaired by the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe.
Also expected are other political actors of that era and serving Governors and members of the National Assembly, The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu is the Chief Guest of Honour.
