PODCASTS
The Republic Podcast
The Republic is a narrative podcast series that tells the stories behind the defining moments in Nigerian and African history. Hosted by Wale Lawal, founder and editor-in-chief of The Republic.
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Episodes
June 12 Season 1
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THE REPUBLIC PODCAST • SEASON 1
June 12
Our first season tells the story of June 12, 1993 — the day Nigeria held what is widely considered its freest and fairest presidential election, only for the results to be annulled by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida. Host Wale Lawal traces the political machinations, the key players, and the lasting consequences of that fateful day.
WALE LAWAL • OCTOBER 22, 2023
SEASON 1 EP.1 - IBB, THE ‘EVIL GENIUS’
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida or ‘IBB’ became the military president of Nigeria in 1984, after overthrowing General Muhammadu Buhari (yes, we know what you’re thinking and you’re right) in a military coup.
WALE LAWAL • OCTOBER 29, 2023
SEASON 1 EP.2 - MKO: THE MAN NIGERIA WAITED TO SEE
During the June 12 1993 election, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale ‘MKO’ Abiola was the widely preferred presidential candidate.
WALE LAWAL • NOVEMBER 5, 2023
SEASON 1 EP.3 - SDP & NRC: TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN
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.
WALE LAWAL • NOVEMBER 19, 2023
SEASON 1 EP.4 - JUNE 12: HOPE DEFERRED
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.
WALE LAWAL • NOVEMBER 19, 2023
SEASON 1 EP.5 - JUNE 12: FREEST AND FAIREST OF THEM ALL
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.
WALE LAWAL • NOVEMBER 26, 2023
SEASON 1 EP.6 - JUNE 12: THE REST IS HISTORY
IBB had just stepped down from the presidential seat and handed the responsibility over to the technocrat, Ernest Shonekan.
Looking for Ken Saro-Wiwa Season 2
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THE REPUBLIC PODCAST • SEASON 2
Looking for Ken Saro-Wiwa
Our second season focuses on the life and legacy of Ken Saro-Wiwa, a writer and one of nine non-violent Ogoni activists the General Sani Abacha military government brutally executed in 1995.
WALE LAWAL • JANUARY 7, 2025
SEASON 2 EP.1 - ABACHA’S OFFER
You’re probably wondering why we chose to start this season talking about General Sani Abacha, the despot who ruled Nigeria from 1993 until his mysterious death in 1998.
WALE LAWAL • JANUARY 7, 2025
SEASON 2 EP.2, PART I - THE POLITICAL RISE OF KEN SARO-WIWA (PART I)
In photos of the January 4 1993 Ogoni rally, Ken Saro-Wiwa stands out.
WALE LAWAL • JANUARY 12, 2025
SEASON 2 EP.2, PART II - THE POLITICAL RISE OF KEN SARO-WIWA (PART II)
1973 began with Ken Saro-Wiwa being more publicly critical than ever of the Nigerian government he was a part of.
WALE LAWAL • JANUARY 19, 2025
SEASON 2 EP.3 - THE OGONI CRISIS
The Ogonis are a prominent ethnic group in the Niger Delta.
WALE LAWAL • JANUARY 26, 2025
SEASON 2 EP.4 - THE KANGAROO COURT
On 19 January 1994, General Abacha, who had been Nigeria’s head of state for just two months, sent a federal ministerial committee to Ogoniland to meet with Ken Saro-Wiwa in Saro-Wiwa's hometown of Bori.
WALE LAWAL • FEBRUARY 2, 2025
SEASON 2 EP.5 - THE OGONI 8
In our last episode, we discussed the murder of four Ogoni chiefs, Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage, at Giokoo on 21 May 1994.
WALE LAWAL • FEBRUARY 9, 2025
SEASON 2 EP.6 - THE EXECUTION
On 22 May 1995, the final phase of the Ogoni Nine trial began.
WALE LAWAL • FEBRUARY 16, 2025
SEASON 2 EP.7 - ‘WE ALL STAND BEFORE HISTORY’
In 2006, Nigerian-British sculptor, Sokari Douglas-Camp, was commissioned by human and environment rights organization, Platform, to create a work of art in honour of the memory of Ken Saro-Wiwa.
