AS Lagosians joined their counterparts across the country to mark the 25th Anniversary of annulment of June 12, 1993 election, the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday unveiled the new 37-feet Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale, MKO Abiola statue at Alapere area of the state in honour of the acclaimed winner of the poll.
The governor, while unveiling the statue, also canvassed for the restructuring of the country that would lead to fiscal federalism and devolution of power.
Governor Ambode performed to separate events in honour of Abiola, with the first being the June 12 Anniversary celebration which took place at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television, Ikeja, followed by the unveiling of the Abiola Statue held at Alapere area of Ketu.
Speaking at the June 12 anniversary, Ambode, who described the theme of the event, ‘Restructuring: Antidote for Ineffective and Ineffective Politics,’ as apt, stressed that as a state and people, the stand taken on a restructuring process that would lead to fiscal federalism, devolution of power was very clear.
“Our stand on a restructuring process that will lead to fiscal federalism, devolution of power is very clear. Our present democratic experience may still be far from ideal but we must all make concerted efforts to entrench fiscal federalism which is the only way to achieve true nationhood.
“We are absolutely convinced that it is the right way to go for us to realise the optimum potential and prosperity of the federating states and the nation,” the governor said.
Speaking on the declaration of June 12, which struggle for its actualization he said had continued until President Muhammadu Buhari pronounced the day as Democracy Day and conferring posthumous award on Abiola, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) and ambassador Babagana Kingibe, the governor commended the president, saying he had written his name in Gold in the political history of Nigeria, with that singular act.
According to him, the formal recognition is a crown of victory in the struggle that had taken the lives of so many nationalists and patriots.
The governor saluted leaders of the struggle, including General Alani Akinrinade, the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka; Ambassador Walter Carrington, Justice Dolapo Akinsanya, Chief Frank Kokori, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Mr. Wale Oshun, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and other Nigerians as well as Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), trade and labour unions, among others.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Benjamin Olabinjo, in his remark, said June 12 stood as a universal pact for all Nigerians, noting that Lagos State had never lost sight of the importance of identifying with the struggle and the defence of democracy as well as the universal right of all individuals to actualize their maximum potentials.
The guest lecturer, Dr Dele Ashiru of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, called for special status for Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of the country.
He also called for the restructuring of the country, saying that a situation where a behemoth sat at the centre and distributed resources to others was an anathema to federalism.
Governor Ambode, while speaking at the unveiling of the Abiola statue, said he was particularly happy that Lagos State had a good reason to honour Abiola as a symbol of democracy.
This was just as he said that the country finally and deservedly recognised him with the highest honour in the land – the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) exactly 25 years since he won a presidential election but was refused to serve the people who gave him their mandate.
“We are very happy to gather here today at the MKO Abiola garden to unveil this statue, a monument that will forever crystallize his legacy serves as a reminder to the greatness that Chief Abiola represents in our socio-political landscape As an individual, he transcended race, tribe and religion. He appealed to all Nigerians and we voted for him. Sadly, he lost his life trying to secure his mandate.
“Even though he was from another state, Lagos was his home. And we recognize his contribution to our state and our democracy. It is now my honour to unveil this statue as a monument to symbolize democracy and the supremacy of the voice of the people,” he said.
Abiola’s son, Abdulmumin Abiola, lamented that for 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed to honour his father, while commending the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the honour accorded his father, while also thanking Governor Ambode for building a bigger statue in honour of his father.
and then