Bola Tinubu, a national leader of
the All Progressives Congress (APC), says MKO Abiola and some activists gave up
their lives that Nigerians might have democracy.
In a statement on Thursday, the
APC leader described the conferment of national honours on Abiola and Gani
Fawehinmi and Baba Gana Kingibe as good news for democracy and a proud moment
for Nigeria.
Tinubu said the proclamation
would forever bury “ill-conceived” notion that by President Muhammadu Buhari is
against democracy.
He also noted that the award of
Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) to Abiola serves as an
acknowledgement that he won the 1993 election.
“Along with all democratic and
fair-minded Nigerians, I welcome the news that June 12 will replace May 29 as
Democracy Day. I too applaud President Buhari for making this courageous and
rightful decision,” read the statement which Tunde Rahman, Tinubu’s spokesman,
issued on his behalf.
“This is good news for democracy
and a proud moment for Nigeria. While impossible to go back in time and change
the past, we must do our utmost to correct the wrongs of the past. This is what
Buhari has done by this decision. He has shown all Nigerians and the world that
we have the moral fortitude to objectively face our history, learn from it and
improve our society by virtue of this learning.
“June 12, more than any other
day, symbolizes the struggles and sacrifices made by countless Nigerians to
establish democracy as our way of national governance. Chief MKO Abiola and
others gave their lives that we might have democracy, that the will of the
people would be sovereign and not suppressed by the will of the few. This
proclamation by the president will forever memorialize the sacrifices made by
these patriots who gave up themselves in service of such a noble and rightful
purpose.
“The award of GCFR to Chief
Abiola serves as an acknowledgement that he won the 1993 election and should
have been allowed to serve as our president after winning that free and fair
expression of the popular will. We also commend the award to MKO Abiola’s VP
candidate, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe and that given to Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
“Chief Fawehinmi was a fearless
advocate for democracy and the human rights of the common man. Whenever and
wherever he spoke, it was the language of truth to power.”
Tinubu further disclosed that the
designation of June 12 as Democracy Day is the fulfilment of the dream and
efforts of many Nigerians. With this fulfilment, he said, comes a civic
responsibility.
“We must consecrate this new
holiday and ourselves so that we make it a living holiday. More so than ever
before, the spirit of June 12 must live within us. It must guide our politics
and how we govern ourselves. We must continuously dedicate ourselves to the
freedoms and rights as well as the duties that democracy bestows on us all,
political friend and foe alike.
“Let it be said that this
presidential proclamation should forever bury ill-conceived notion that
President Buhari is ambivalent to democracy. He has shown that he not only
respects democracy but duly honours it.
“Democracy may be rough and
untidy at times but it remains the form of government best suited for a society
as diverse and multifaceted as ours.
“Today, the sun shines a bit more
brightly. The sound of democracy peals more resolutely across the land. The
sacrifices of Chief Abiola and others have been affirmed by the federal
government he once should have led. Democracy has been given its proper seat
and day. History has been corrected to the extent humanly possible. Nigeria
continues to define its better self.
“Of this new Democracy Day and
what it symbolizes, we all should be equally proud.”
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