President Muhammadu Buhari has announced June 12 as the new
date which Democracy Day will be celebrated in Nigeria.
The government also awarded
Abiola with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) title.
A statement signed by President
Muhammadu Buhari noted that Baba Gana Kingibe, Abiola’s running mate during the
election, and Gani Fawehinmi, one of Nigeria’s foremost rights activist, now
late, are also to be confered with Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger
(GCON).
The statement read: “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 21st, 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 late
Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12 1993 cancelled elections.
His running mate as vice president, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be
invested with a GCON.
“Furthermore, the tireless
fighter for human rights and the actualization of the June 12th elections and
indeed for Democracy in general, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN is to be
awarded posthumously a GCON.”
The statement added that the
commemoration and investiture of the honours will take place on Tuesday June
12th, 2018 — “a date which in future years will replace May 29th as a national
public holiday in celebration of Nigeria Democracy Day.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Wow, may the Almighty God bless Omoyele Sowore. In fact he is a leader and an inspirator. The federal government has started implementing some of the things he mentioned that he would do. Mr. Buhari wants to win this election by all means. You can all see now that we need someone like Sowore to lead the nation. A very truthful and bold personality. Anyway thank you M. president. You need to rest and I salute your courage but the truth is that you are tired and nit the same Mr. Buhari we knew between 1983 and 1985.
ReplyDeleteU know what between 1983 & 1985, pls go by the history don't full ur self. We know who is Baba Buhari, a man of integrity, a man of his words and a man for the masses. I am ready so sorry whether u like it or not 2019 is for the love of the masses go and wait till 2023.
ReplyDelete