By Wuraola OyedokunÂ
In commemoration of June 12, The Wings Schools, Iwo, Osun State, gathered scholars, opinion moulders, thought leaders and secondary school students to share their perspectives and insights on the June 12,1993 election.
It would be recalled that a presidential election was held in 1993 between the Social Democratic Party [SDP] and the National Republican Convention [NRC]. The poll was nullified by the federal military government led by Ibrahim Babangida.
The scholars and thought leaders , who shared their thoughts included a former National Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC], Prof. Lai Olurode; the Federal Commissioner representing Osun State in the National Population Commission , Dr. Amidu Tadese; a don at the Federal College of Education, Iwo, Osun State, Latifat Eniola; the Bobajiro of Iwo land, High Chief Franklin Niyi Akinola; High Chief Kunle Alabi from Iwo City Polytechnic; Dr. Olabamiji Oyebode of the National Open University, and others.
Students from  Bowen University International School, Precious Baptist High School, Baptist High School, The Wings Schools, Local Authority Commercial Grammar School, Agbaje International College, St. Mary Secondary School and others, spoke eloquently on their understanding of the June 12 presidential poll.
They spoke on with the theme: “Anniversary of June 12,1993 Election: Managing Nigeria’s pluralism”.
 In a remark, Prof. Olurode, a former Dean at the University of Lagos, said there were immense lessons in the watershed election.
The professor said Nigerians despite their different ethno-religious backgrounds, when they are faced with hardship, they can sink their ethnic differences and decide to build a Nigerian national society which was what June 12 represents.
 Dr. Tadese said the fact that the election was peaceful was a pointer that Nigeria’s polls could be rancour-free.
In her lecture, Mrs. Eniola said June 12 remained a significant day in Nigeria’s democratic journey, pointing out that despite the pluralistic nature of the country, the people united and voted for their preferred candidate..
High Chief Akinola, who was the special guest of honour , said: “We should manage our pluralism in such a way as to unite us not divide us.We should see ourselves as one”.
Oyebode was the chairman on the occasion. High Chief Alabi commended the students, especially those from public schools for their profound and brilliant insights.
Aggregating the students’ submissions, they were of the view that the annulment of the election was a setback in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
 End