June 12 as Democracy Day: Buhari honours Babagana Kingibe, Gani Fawehinmi with GCON

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he would honour the late pro-democracy activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, alongside Ambassador Babagana Kingibe with the Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON), Nigeria’s second-highest honour.

This was also part of the decision included in the president’s statement announcing June 12 as the new Democracy Day in Nigeria, with the conferment of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on the presumed winner of June 12, 1993, election, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.

According to the president, the conferment of the GCFR title, Nigeria’s highest honour on MKO Abiola, was borne out of his decision to honour “an illustrious son of Nigeria.”

Late Abiola won a presidential election but was prevented from taking office when the results were annulled and later died while struggling to actualize the mandate.

He said Abiola would be conferred with nation’s highest honour of the GCFR exclusively conferred on the holders of the highest office in the country, the President.

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The president’s statement reads:

“For the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29 as Democracy Day. That was the date when for the second time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government.

“The first time this happened was on October 1st, 1979. But in the view of Nigerians, as shared by this Administration, June 12th, 1993, was far more symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29th or even the October 1.

“June 12th, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputed freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our Independence.

“The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military Government does not distract from the democratic credentials of that process.

“Accordingly, after due consultations, the Federal Government has decided that henceforth, June 12th will be celebrated as Democracy Day.

“Therefore, government has decided to award posthumously the highest honour of the land, GCFR, to late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12th 1993 cancelled elections.

“His running mate as Vice President, Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be invested with a GCON.

“Furthermore, the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualization of the June 12 elections and indeed for Democracy in general, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) is to be awarded the GCON.

“The investiture will take place on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, a date which in future years will replace May 29 as a National Public Holiday in celebration of Nigeria Democracy Day,’’ Buhari said.