The Republic

Nov 25 2023 1

The Republic Podcast artwork

The Republic is a narrative podcast series exploring pivotal Nigerian and broader African historical events and figures. In the first season, host Wale Lawal traces the significance of the June 12 1993 election, 30 years on. June 12, which marked the political rise of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale ‘M. K. O.’ Abiola and culminated in his arrest and death, no longer feels inanimate. Why was it such a pivotal moment? What did it feel like to experience it? And why has it remained engrained in Nigeria’s political consciousness?

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June 12: The Rest Is History

Nov 25 2023 51 mins

IBB had just stepped down from the presidential seat and handed the responsibility over to the technocrat, Ernest Shonekan. Despite being unpopular (at least compared to MKO Abiola), Shonekan promised to serve Nigeria with all his heart and to be faithful, loyal and honest. Unfortunately for him, he was handed a country in turmoil. The Shonekan administration might have been ineffe

June 12: Hope Deferred

Nov 18 2023 33 mins

It was June 15 1993, three days after the June 12 election and the National Electoral Commission had released results from 14 states, including the Federal Capital Territory. From the results, MKO Abiola was in the clear lead. It seemed like MKO had won the election. All around Nigeria, people were hopeful and eager for a democratic future with a leader they had chosen. But on Jun

June 12: Freest and Fairest of Them All

Nov 11 2023 30 mins

After eight years of anticipation, and eight years of promises from General Ibrahim Babangida’s junta, Nigerians were finally about to have their say at the ballot box. In this week’s episode, we head to the polls! What tilted the scales in favour of SDP’s MKO Abiola over NRC’s Bashir Tofa? How did local and international observers feel the June 12 election went? Was June

SDP and NRC: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Nov 11 2023 34 mins

Ahead of the June 12 1993 election, the Babangida regime created a two-party system, in which only the National Republican Convention party (NRC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) were allowed to run for office. NRC was meant to represent right-wing views while SDP was meant to represent left-wing views. However, critics have argued that both parties were actually similar, lacked

MKO: The Man Nigeria Waited to See

Oct 28 2023 45 mins

During the June 12 1993 election, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale ‘MKO’ Abiola was the widely preferred presidential candidate. Until then, he had been perhaps the most popular of IBB’s private-sector associates. MKO’s legacy in Nigeria is a complex one: it is a tapestry of luck, hope, discipline, betrayal and destiny but underneath that tapestry lies a number of questions. Star

IBB: The ‘Evil Genius’

Oct 22 2023 43 mins

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida or ‘IBB’ became the military president of Nigeria in 1985, after overthrowing General Muhammadu Buhari (yes, we know what you’re thinking and you’re right) in a military coup. On becoming president, IBB sold himself as the military leader who would usher in Nigeria’s democracy; but what continues to puzzle historians is why he repeatedly

Introducing ‘The Republic’

Jun 11 2023 5 mins

African history is not yet mainstream and we're on a mission to change this. The Republic is a miniseries covering key events and figures in African history. Our first season focuses on 'June 12', the most controversial election in Nigeria's history. In June 1993, after a keenly contested election, presidential candidate, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale ‘M. K. O.’ Ab