As Nigerians celebrate, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Bashorun Moshood Kasimawo Abiola (MKO), former Vice President and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has called on the federal government to name a befitting national institution after the late philanthropist and businessman to immortalize him. .
The Waziri Adamawa in a goodwill message made available to newsmen on the occasion of 24th anniversary of the mandate believed to have been won by the presidential candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party, (SDP) but annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida; the former Vice-President described Chief Abiola as a national “Hero and Patriot” deserving of accolades and honour by Nigerians.
He further declared that “June 12 and the events that brought it are part of our country’s history and cannot be forgotten, especially because of the unity and comradeship displayed by Nigerians on that Election Day in 1993.”
Atiku noted that the events of June 12, 1993 were “a watershed in the history of the nation and therefore it behoves on all Nigerians to work hard to ensure that the nation never again repeats that painful experience.”
The former vice-president recalled that June 12 traumatized Nigerians and made some people to question the unity and oneness of the country and whether true democracy can take root in the country.
He commended Nigerians for moving beyond the challenges thrown up by June 12 and putting in place a democratic system of government that has lasted for 18 years, submitting that “it is a testimony to the innate democratic nature of Nigerians that today, democracy is flourishing in the country adding that restructuring of the country as being demanded by some well-meaning Nigerians would further consolidate democracy and give greater impetus to the unity and development of the country.
According to him, restructuring of the country would lay a solid foundation for prosperity and self-reliant development across the country by introducing healthy competition among the constituent parts of the Federation based on the principle of comparative advantage.
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