Plaudits have continued to trail President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration of June 12 as the new Democracy Day and conferment of the highest national honour on late MKO Abiola with many Nigerians describing the decision as renewing Nigerians’ hope in democracy.
Among the notable names applauding the President’s decision is Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who in hailing the announcement, said the development was a historic and symbolic moment in the nation’s political trajectory.
“This is a welcome development. It is a historic moment in our nation, and I join other Nigerians to commend President Buhari on this announcement.”
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, Governor Ambode said; “By this move, he has done what previous administrations failed to do.
“This not only shows that the President is a man of history and character but also eloquently confirms that the heroes of democracy did not die in vain after all.”
Also, in her comments, President of Women Arise for Change Initiative (WACI), Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, said: “We accept these honors no matter how belated because we and other Nigerians have campaigned around these issues over the years.”
According to her, June 12 could not be forgotten so fast by Nigerians because it was the day Nigerians freely elected a President in the freest and fairest election.
Dr Okei-Odumakin prayed that the spirit of June 12 would take firm root in Nigeria future elections, adding that; “It is our wish that the essential spirit of June 12 takes firm root in our land with free and fair election and become a norm in our land.
“From the Ekiti elections scheduled for July 14 and the general elections in 2019. That is the moment the spirits of Abiola and all martyrs of June 12 will forgive Nigeria.”
Another leading light and former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa said Buhari’s action had given Nigerians renewed hope.
Alhaji Balarabe, a strong critic of the President and the APC administration, said; “President Buhari’s action with regards to declaration of June 12 as democracy day and award of the highest honour to late Chief MKO Abiola are relevant, just, courageous and patriotic.”
Balarabe, who is the National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) further said; “The actions give hope that President Buhari can do the right thing and correct wrongs before it’s too late for him and for the nation.”
In her reaction, daughter of the late MKO, Hafsat Abiola-Costello composed a special poem to thank President Buhari for honouring her father, after 25 years of struggle by some June 12 rights activists
“Dear friends, words cannot truly express how happy I feel. Here is President Buhari’s executive order declaring that June 12, the day of the election that my father won, would henceforth be Nigeria’s Democracy Day and conferring on my dad the title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, a title reserved for presidents. Twenty five years after June 12…Please celebrate with me.”
Also, a socio-cultural group in South West, the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, considered the declaration as a reward for all progressives in the country.
The Forum’s Secretary-General, Mr Akin Malaolu lauded the decision, noting that the recognition has provoked emotions and tears of joy throughout the country, especially in the south- western region.
He described Abiola as a political figure that was respected by all tribes in the country and across the world in his life time, adding; “We had this opportunity in 1999 when Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo was president, but despite all appeals to him, he turned the teeming masses down.
“But GOD and Allah said that this day shall come and it came without rancour but happiness and warm smiles everywhere.
“Candidly, when the news broke, artisans, market women and workers were in jubilation, commercial drivers and passengers hugged one another with smiles.
“Every word that came out from the jubilant crowd can be interpreted as: do good and good will follow you,” Malaolu said.
He congratulated Nigerians and the victims of brutal killings during the struggle for the actualisation of June 12 in 1993.
The Forum also thanked President Buhari, the Vice President and others, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the decision.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, also commended President Buhari, noting that Abiola, remained the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election until his death on July 7, 1998.
Babatope, a former Minister of Transport and member PDP Board of Trustees, said in a telephone conversation that the president’s motivation was right.
“Even though one may question the timing, the motivation is right. We should commend Buhari for the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day and the conferment of GCFR on the late MKO Abiola,” he said.
Reacting also, Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Wasiu Eshinokun-Sanni, said the truth has eventually prevailed.
Eshinokun-Sanni, who said he received the news with mixed feelings, applauded the Lagos State Government for recognizing Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a late human rights lawyer before now.
“The good part is that effort of Nigerians in forgetting religious and tribal sentiments as exhibited by the June 12 election is not in vain. June 12 is Democracy Day is also symbolic.
“What Obasanjo (former President) failed to recognise all this while in spite being the greatest beneficiary of June 12, a Nigerian of northern extraction has brought it to the front burner,” he said.
The President had on Wednesday declared that June 12 will now served as Nigeria’s Democracy Day even as the Federal Government also bestowed a posthumous honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola, the acclaimed winner of of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election.
Equally, Abiola’s Vice Presidential candidate, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe as well as late human rights and fiery lawyer Gani Fawehinmi will also be bestowed with National honours of GCON on June 12.
Before now, all the states in the South-West geo-political zone have always observed June 12 as Democracy Day. – NAN
