In a statement released in Kaduna, Alawuje declared that democracy must not become a battlefield for reckless provocation. He pointed specifically to recent opposition rhetoric dredging up the 1993 June 12 election crisis, when annulled results sparked nationwide unrest and deepened divisions.

“The role of the opposition in recent political engagements has become deeply alarming,” Alawuje said. Certain actors, he alleged, are stoking tension by revisiting sensitive matters long laid to rest.

Alawuje recalled the June 12 saga as a stark reminder of national peril. Security forces clashed with protesters after the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida voided the presidential vote won by Moshood Abiola. The crisis claimed lives and scarred the polity for years.

That chapter closed definitively under former President Muhammadu Buhari, according to Alawuje. Buhari’s government officially recognized June 12 as Democracy Day in 2018 and posthumously awarded Abiola the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic. Those steps, Alawuje argued, embodied reconciliation and healing.

“The matter has been formally resolved,” the statement said. “It should not be weaponized for present-day political contests.”

Alawuje praised Buhari and current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their roles in preserving unity. Tinubu, who once championed Abiola’s cause as a pro-democracy activist, now leads amid economic strains from inflation and subsidy cuts.

Citizens should prioritize economic recovery and inclusive growth, Alawuje urged, over reviving old grievances. Political competition thrives in democracy, he acknowledged. But deliberate efforts to inflame ethnic fault lines for ambition threaten hard-won stability.

“Nigeria must not be dragged backward,” he stressed. Tolerance, patience and responsible leadership will secure the future, he added. Nigerians must reject divisive narratives and rally around peace.

The warning comes as Tinubu’s administration faces scrutiny over reforms. Fuel prices have tripled since subsidies ended in May 2023, hitting consumers hard. Opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, have criticized the pace of relief measures.

Alawuje’s comments echo broader calls for restraint. Elders and religious leaders in Kaduna, a multi-ethnic northern hub, often mediate to prevent flare-ups. Recent elections in 2023 already tested unity, with disputes over Tinubu’s victory lingering in courts.

Officials in Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress welcomed the statement. They described opposition tactics as desperate bids to discredit reforms. PDP spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Alawuje, a stakeholder with ties to southwestern politics, positioned his appeal as non-partisan. He called on all citizens to safeguard progress. Nigeria’s diversity demands vigilance, he said. Unity remains the bedrock of advancement.