A veteran June 12 activist, Chief (Prince) Olayiwola Oyedele Shotomiwa, popularly known as Ola’Ola, has said that the list of democracy heroes recently recognised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations was incomplete, noting that several individuals who played significant roles in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate were left out.

Speaking while reflecting on his involvement in the pro-democracy movement, Shotomiwa said notable activists from Ikorodu, including himself, former Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade, Comrade Japheth, and several others, made immense sacrifices during the resistance against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

According to him, he was only about 23 to 24 years old at the time and joined other activists in organising and participating in protests that brought economic and social activities in Ikorodu to a standstill as part of efforts to compel the military government to restore Abiola’s mandate.

Shotomiwa recounted how he became actively involved in the anti-annulment protests as a young apprentice mechanic. He revealed that he spent about eight years learning truck diesel mechanics at KB Automobile Mechanic and was only two years into his training when the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida annulled what is widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election.

He recalled that while protests erupted across Lagos and other parts of the country, he was surprised by the relative calm in Ikorodu. Inspired by the nationwide resistance movement, he decided to mobilise local action rather than remain a spectator.

Shotomiwa said he personally initiated protests in Igbogbo by setting up burning tyres along Oba Omolaja Ogunlewe Road and parts of Obafemi Awolowo Way. On the third day of the demonstrations, he travelled to Ikorodu town to gather more information about activities around Ojubode but was arrested by soldiers deployed by the military regime.

He narrated that he and three other protesters were subjected to severe beatings before being forced to clear burnt tyres from the roads with their bare hands. However, he seized an opportunity to escape when the soldier supervising them became distracted.

According to him, the soldier pursued him and fired shots into the air in an attempt to stop him, but he continued running in a desperate bid to regain his freedom.

“If not for the grace of God and the help of an elderly woman who hid me under her bed while a soldier was chasing and shooting at me, I might have been among those who lost their lives during the struggle. It is not an experience one can easily forget,” he said.

Explaining his motivation, Shotomiwa said he felt compelled to act because he believed his community was not sufficiently involved in a historic movement that was shaping Nigeria’s democratic future.