Joseph Bakare
Henceforth, Nigeria will observe her Democracy day every June 12.
President Muhammadu Buhari has therefore directed that effective from next year, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, marked every May 29 for the past 18 years, be now shifted to the 12th of June, to honour Nigeria’s Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola, who won the June 12, 1993 presidential election but was denied the opportunity of the taking office when the results were annulled by former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) on June 23, 1993.
The late Abiola died while struggling to actualise the mandate on July 7, 1998 during the General Abdulsalami Abubakar regime.
Consequently, the late MKO Abiola will be conferred with nation’s highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR exclusively conferred on the holders of the highest office in the country, the President.
In the same vein, Chief Abiola’s running mate in that election, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, is to be conferred with the second highest honour of the Grand Commander of the Niger, GCON.
Also to receive a GCON is the late Nigeria’s foremost pro-democracy activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN).
In a statement signed by him on Wednesday evening, President Buhari said that: “For the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29th, as Democracy Day. That was the date when for the second time in our history, an elected civilian
administration took over from a military government. The first time this happened was on October 1st, 1979. But in the view of Nigerians, as shared by this Administration, June 12th, 1993, was far more symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29th or even the October 1st.
“June 12th, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our Independence. The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld by the
then military Government does not distract from the democratic credentials of that process.
“Accordingly, after due consultations, the Federal Government has decided that henceforth, June 12th will be celebrated as Democracy Day. Therefore, Government has decided to award posthumously the highest honour of the land, GCFR, to the late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12th 1993 cancelled elections. His running mate as Vice President, Ambassador Babagana
Kingibe, is also to be invested with a GCON. Furthermore, the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualisation of the June 12th elections and indeed for democracy in general, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) is to be awarded the GCON.
“The investiture will take place on Tuesday June 12, 2018, a date which in future years will replace May 29 as a National Public Holiday in celebration of Nigeria Democracy Day.”