An Open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu On The Need For Special Recognition For Right Activists and June 12, 1993 Crusaders, Alhaji Sufianu Kazeem (Sukazeem), Comrade Wale Fasakin, Oloye Lekan Alabi and Comrade Mashood Erubami As A June 12 Hero
My Dear President, permit me to write this short memo to you especially as of the elder statesman who witnessed the pre-June 12 events, who was with the late winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kasimawo Abiola and who also undergone persecution with Late Abiola.
National honour for some of us who were with MKO does not matter, not even measured up to our friendship and closeness with him. The best thing that had happened to us us was with our unforgettable relationships with him, which we will forever cherish.
Mr. President, While I’m not for now blaming you for this very expensive ommission, it is important for those who are working with the president to correct the anomalies.sir.
You had done so well in changing the narratives of our country positively compared to various damage done to it by many of your predecessors in all sphere of national life.
Also, you had tried to appreciate many of those who fought for the actualization of June 12. Those who sacrificed their life’s, families, resources, and good life who proceeded to a foreign land on asylum and fought from the despotic government and his agents.
Some of us never believed we can tell the story today after many years of Abiola’s death, because as at the time, it was as if there will never be tomorrow, going by the happenings and fear that enveloped the nation then, but thank be to God, we are hale and hearty to tell the story.
Sir, let me call your attention to some of us who many believed also deserved recognition like many others who you had been identified and recognised for national honour for their contributions to the fight of June 12, 1993.
Alhaji Sufianu Kazeem (Sukazeem), Comrade Wale Fasakin, Comrade Mashood Erubami, and Oloye Lekan Alabi These are members of the Ibadan gang who fought tooth and nail to make sure June 12, 1993 was actualised. For instance, myself, Alhaji Sufianu Kazeem, popularly called Sukazeem whom i know you know very well was a sole distributor of motorcycles in Africa, pre June 12, 1993 events but all these were lost to the struggle of June 12, 1993.
Wale Fasakin and the fiery, fearless right activist Mashood Erubami dared the unthinkable and stood tall during the dark days of our country alongside many others who are yet to be recognised
Mr. President, I listened to your address on June 12, 2026. The speech was well articulated, humane, exemplary and an assurance of hope for Nigerians inspite of all that is happening, and to crown it, you choose to appreciate those Nigerians who laid down everything to ensure the realisation of June 12, 1993.
But, sir, unexpectedly, you once again omitted names of prominent members of Ibadan group, which included but not limited to Mashood Erubami, Wale Fashakin, and Lekan Alabi
Sir, a man who resigned from his bank job to be involved in the Campaign for Democracy deserved to be honoured like others in the line.He leads movement aimed at educating Nigerians in citizenship and, in particular, non-violent solutions to social problems.
Erubami was a vocal critic of military rule and actively participated in protests and demonstrations against the successive military governments that governed Nigeria.
He worked to expose human rights violations committed by the military regimes and advocated for the protection of fundamental freedoms.
Erubami’s activism was rooted in the belief that democracy was the best form of government for Nigeria, and he worked tirelessly to promote democratic values and institutions.
Oloye Lekan Alabi, now a veteran journalist and Public Relations Guru played a role in the transition to the Fourth Republic, which began with the death of military dictator General Sani Abacha in 1998 and the subsequent handover to civilian rule in 1999 with many of his write-ups and thought provoking articles revealing the reason the nation must be return to democratic governance.
For some of us in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, we will never forget in hurry the Ibadan rally tagged “Eyin Alasalatu ki lee waa deebi” which was organised by Gen Abacha’s hachet men in Ibadan, Late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, Aare Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao. That day would have been Mashood Erubami’s last day on earth as many innocent lives were lost on the fateful day.
Wale Fasakin was also involved in many rallies in and around the South-West, with many members of his group at the expense of laying down their lives.
Many of their colleagues’ Comrade were honoured. The likes of Late Beeko Ransome Kuti, Uba Sani, among many others.
For record purposes, sir, like I mentioned in my opening comment and for reason of emphassis, I, Sufianu Kazeem, lost my motorcycle business to the events that surrounded June 12, 1993. I was detained at Alagbon with Kola Abiola over the killing of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, an offence I knew nothing about.
My dear, President, I know you have many things on your mind, and the omission may not be intentional. Please, kindly find any means to correct this ommission.
Thank you, Mr. President
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria..
Yours in Service
Alhaji Sufianu Kazeem
Elder Statesman, Federal Republic of Nigeria.