*We made a costly mistake allowing charlatans to take over-Sowore
*It’s still possible to fight for social justice -Rafsanjani
*What we have in APC today is a bunch of bandits-Hon Onyeagocha
*Thank you for reawakening our spirits-Agbakoba
*People see democracy as a means to steal and kill people -Senator Osunbor
*Let us no not dismiss Nigeria as a country -Senator Oshiomhole
Major activists during the June 12 struggle have lamented their inability to participate in the 1999 general elections that ushered in the current set of leaders in the Nigerian political space.
TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the civil society gladiators made these remarks at the launch of Hon Abdul Oroh’s book entitled: ‘Demonstration of Craze:
Struggle and Transition, To Democracy in Nigeria ‘.
Executive Director of Transparency International, Awwal Rafsanjani in his contribution noted that: “We can still fight for social justice but we lost powerful activists like Chima Ubani and other Frontline Nigerians.
“But it’s painful that we could not key into the leadership process in 1999.
On his part, former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Uche Onyegeocha lambasted the ruling party as a bunch of bandits.
Pointing out that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP “killed democracy in Nigeria.
Presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Omoyale Sowore who was one of the panelists said that: “in 1999 we allowed charlatans to take over government, it was a mistake on our part.
He described Nigeria’s democracy as “morontoracy, a ruling system by the morons ” and quickly reminded Senator Adams Oshiomhole who was in attendance that his government is still holding his international passport.
In his goodwill message at the launch, former governor of Edo State, Senator Oserheimen Osunbor said though he has not read the book, Oroh talked about his autobiography and pro-democracy movement.
He said, people see democracy as a means to steal and kill and the judiciary that is expected to fight injustice is not just there.
Olisa Agbakoba, SAN who was arrowhead of CLO then declared that activists failed to adequately key into the leadership despite intervention from the the South African President Thambo Mbeki.
“I remember Mbeki inviting us to Abuja for a talk, we all refused and the man still visited us in Lagos.
“This is a reawakening call to do the right thing now.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole in his remarks advised that Nigerians should not dismiss Nigeria as there is still hope.
Earlier, Prof Abiodun Adeniji who reviewed the book said it was 614 page efforts. 300,000 words. 30 chapters which included voodoo, religion, politics.
He said Oroh chronicled his life and background. He was not also silent on the June 12 they fought, some died, some were jailed.