Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu are among dignitaries expected in Abeokuta, today, for the 18th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Bashorun MKO Abiola.
Others are former governors Olusegun Osoba, and Alhaji Balarabe Musa of Ogun and Kaduna states respectively.
Chief Frank Kokori, Prof. Pat Utomi, Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Dr. Dipo Fasina and the late politician’s daughter, Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Constello are also to attend the ceremony.
The Ogun State government has also declared June 13 as public holiday to mark the day, as June 12 falls on a Sunday.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abeokuta by Mrs Funmi Wakama, the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Communications) to Gov. Ibikunle Amosun.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the June 12 presidential election, presumably won by the late business mogul was annulled by the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime.
According to Wakama, the ceremony will also feature Democracy Walk, which will commence from the Ake Palace Ground and terminate at the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.
Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, has called on the Federal Government to immortalise the late politician.
The lawmaker, who represents Ekiti Central Federal Constituency in a statement on Saturday, also criticised successive governments since 1999 for refusing to immortalise Abiola.
He said Abiola fought for the enthronement of democracy and paid for it with his life.
He said, “Nigerians will continue to remember you all even if government at all levels fail to do what is expected of them in the memory of the fallen heroes.”
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June 12: Soyinka, Tinubu, Osoba, others to attend anniversary celebration
June 12: Soyinka, Tinubu, Osoba, others to attend anniversary celebration
NigerianEye
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Sunday, June 12, 2011
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I would have attended the party if they had extended the invitation to me. I would have eaten at least 2o plates of rice to the extent that the hosts would have asked:"Kilon sele?" However, I hereby use this opportunity to tell Nigerians not to forget that June 12 is dead, buried and should be forgotten. I rest my case....
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