Hafsat Abiola-Costello, daughter
of MKO Abiola, says the declaration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day
proves that integrity, fairness and honour are still alive.
The federal government made the
declaration on Wednesday and also awarded Abiola with the Grand Commander of
the Federal Republic (GCFR) honour.
Reacting, Abiola-Costello said
there are “no words that can capture the depth of my gratitude nor the breadth
of my joy”.
Abiola-Costello said she had
waited in vain for many years and had stopped hoping that her father will be
honoured by the country.
The president of Kudirat
Initiative for Democracy (KIND) said: “I had expected that the handover from
military rule to democracy would be held on the 12th of June. That would have
signalled the completion of a circle that began with a dream deferred.
“That became one fulfilled. But I
waited in vain. The hand over was set for May 29, a date pulled out of thin
air, signifying nothing.
“Then I thought that the chief
beneficiary would ask the country to observe a minute of silence. In memory of
MKO, Kudirat, Alfred Rewane, Umaru Yar’Adua, Bal Kaltho, the thousands of
students, the tens of journalists, traders and politicians who lost their lives
fighting to actualise an unjustly annulled election.
“Again, I waited in vain for he
started his inauguration speech…and nothing was said. The first four years
passed and it became clear that the goal was to erase the name of the man whose
sacrifice paved the way for our democracy.
“Those four years set the tone.
And I got tired of waiting. As it slowly became clear that to wait was to wait
in vain.
“May we live to witness many more
days when justice triumphs over injustice, when sacrifice and service win over
arrogance and fraud, and when the blood of our heroes reach from across time to
boldly claim the reward that their actions wrought.
“I stopped expecting my country
to do the right thing by my father and instead began to understand why Nigeria
struggles to find patriots among its leaders. Until today.
“Today when President Muhammadu
Buhari gave an executive order to declare that June 12 was Nigeria’s Democracy
Day. To confer on MKO the title of GCFR, an honour reserved for presidents of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“To confer on Gani Fawehinmi, the
dogged fighter for justice, and my father’s running mate, Babagana Kingibe, the
title of GCON, the second highest honour in the land.
“And in one day, it got
demonstrated to my bruised heart that integrity, fairness, honour were alive
and well in a country for which both my parents had sacrificed their lives.
“There are no words that can
capture the depth of my gratitude nor the breadth of my joy. I thank God that I
am alive to witness this day.”
The commemoration and investiture
of the honour will take place on Tuesday, June 12.
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