THE Anambra State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Jerry Nnubia and the State Chairman of the People Democratic Party PDP, Hon. Sir Ndubuisi Nwobu have reacted differently on the action of President Mohammadu Buhari for the posthumous award bestowed on Chief MKO Abiola and the change of the Democracy Day date from May 29 to June 12.
The NLC Chairman who spoke with our correspondent in telephone interview in Awka, the State Capital of Anambra State, said the declaration of June 12, as the new day for the country Democracy day celebration has no weight in person of the great democrat, who contributed to the return of democracy in Nigeria with all he has.
He said, to me, naming MKO Abiola after a celebration day sound funning and waving, because a new government can set in anytime in the future and it may decide to change for any reason best known to her, be it politically, ethnically, religiously or otherwise.
The best option to recognize the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993, presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola is to immortalise him permanently with any of the National properties; the Presidential villa to MKO Abiola house, National Assembly complex, Federal Secretariat complex among other powerful institution in the country,
he added.
He, however, advised the government to address other injustices like intimidation of political opponents, the incessant killings in Benue, Taraba, Zaffara States and in other parts of the country.
In his part, the PDP head in the state, Hon. Sir Ndubuisi Nwobu, who asked Buhari to also honour Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, then INEC chairman that oversaw the electoral process, said the official declaration of June 12 as a national public holiday in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day in recognition of the late Democrat, Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993, elections, deserves the applause of all Nigerians of goodwill in respective of tribe, ethnic, political and religious affiliation.
ALSO READ: June 12: Buhari is a new progressive —NANS
His words, I commend President Mohammadu Buhari-led Federal Government for officially recognising the June 12, 1993, Presidential election as a very important political watershed in Nigeria.
He said Buhari should assent the demand of the Senate calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, to announce the final results of the June 12, 1993, Presidential election so that it can be on history that MKO Abiola won the controversial election.
He added that the award of GCFR to Chief MKO Abiola, and GCON to his Vice Ambassador Babagana Kingigbe and Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN, a human right activist who fought tirelessly for the actualisation of June 12 elections and indeed for democracy, in general, is a strength to National unity.
It could be recalled that the electorate body which was chaired by Prof. Humphrey Nwosu in 1993 conducted the presidential election held on Saturday, June 12, 1993, between the Social Democratic Party candidate, MKO Abiola, and the National Republican Convention (NRC), Alhaji Ibrahim Tofa.
And the election was noted Worldwide as a free and fair election was believed to have been won by Chief MKO Abiola.
and then