Democracy Day: APC, Alake, Akintola laud FG

The ruling All Progressives Congress,(APC) has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari over Wednesday announcement of June 12 as the country’s  Democracy Day.

The federal government also granted post humous award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, (GCFR)  to the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Bashorun Moshood Kasimawo,(M.K.O) Abiola.  Abiola was the presidential candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party, (SDP) in the election annulled by the military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida. The election had been adjudged the freest and most peaceful in the nation’s history.

The late Abiola’s running mate in the aborted election, Babagana Kingibe was equally honoured alongside the late human rights activists, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN)  with the second highest national honour, Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON).

While commending the federal government for what it called “ courageous and patriotic decision, “  the party in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi  demanded that wife of the late business mogul, the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola who paid the supreme price in her struggle for the enthronement of democracy should also be accorded national honour.

“The APC believes that Alhaja Kudirat Abiola who paid the supreme price with her assassination in Lagos on June 4, 1996 at the heat of the mobilisation for the restoration of her husband’s mandate as the winner of the 1993 presidential election, deserves to be honoured in her own right as a heroin and martyr of democracy in Nigeria.  “APC recalls how she mobilised market women, students, activists and other human rights community against military rule and the struggle for a truly democratic nation.”

In his own contribution, legal practitioner and leading aspirant for the APC governorship ticket in Oyo state, Chief Michael Adeniyi Akintola, (SAN) commended the Buhari administration for its bold move towards healing the wounds of 25 years.

The APC chieftain further noted that that singular action of government, of according recognition for the late Abiola was capable of fostering unity and peace among Nigerians whose psyche were bruised by the annulment of the most peaceful election in the nation’s history.

His statement reads in part: “ It is with joy and appreciation to God Almighty  that I congratulate  the late Chief Abiola family, the entire pro – June 12 activists,  all the members of the National Democratic Coalition, (NADECO),   dead or alive,  the civil society groups, the human rights family,  especially Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana, Beko Ransome Kuti   and thousands of their footsoldiers,  across the length and breadth of Nigeria for bringing to fruition the age long wise saying of our forefathers that  says lies may travel on a crooked road for twenty  years,  truth will catch up  within a second on a straight road.

The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s posthumous recognition of MKO Abiola, as the winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, as a Past President as well as according him with all honors due to the late business mogul.

Speaking to pressmen at the Ake Palace, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo commended President Buhari for living up to the long awaited expectation of the larger majority of Nigerians.

For recognising Abiola and declaring June 12 as the Democracy Day in place of May 29, the Alake said that President Buhari had taken a momentous decision which will endear him to posterity.

He explained that it would not be fair to assume that President Buhari took the decision for political reasons.

Oba Adedotun Gbadebo pointed out that Buhari was known for his proverbial propriety and sense of justice adding that it was better late than ever.

He said that he was not blaming any earlier administrations that could have done justice to MKO Abiola, but Buhari had finally made both the Egba Nation and the Nigerians in general that Nigeria could still celebrate the freest and the most credible Presidetial election ever in Nigeria.