What is your take on President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to shift Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12?

President Muhammadu Buhari recently gave recognition to the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, just as he expressed desire to shift the Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12. KINGSLEY ALUMOMA sampled the views of Nigerians on these developments. Their responses:

It is applaudable that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government changed the Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 to commensurate with the day M.K.O. Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election. I am happy that Buhari recognised Abiola and his then running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe as the winners of that election and honoured them with national honours. As far as I am concerned, I want Buhari to declare Abiola as the president of June 12 election, which everybody claimed was free and fair. However, according to Soyinka, Buhari should stop praising Abacha.

—John Olanrewaju

From the way APC was formed and the people behind that formation, I knew that one day, they will honour M.K.O. Abiola as the winner of the June 12 presidential election. So when it happened, I was not surprised. Abiola was the winner of that election, and everybody knows it. The Senate and the House of Reps are not against it. The world is not against it. Even the opposition parties, like PDP, are not against it, they only said it is political. The people who were involved in the June 12 struggle, now know that their fight was not in vain. President Muhammadu Buhari did this, and he did it well. If Buhari shifted the Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12, it is good. If people say it is political, then, it is good politics.

—Philip Ayodele

Buhari’s government thinks Nigerians have cheap brains. He thinks honouring Abiola as the winner of the June 12, 1993 election and shifting the Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 is what democracy is all about. People and human capital development matter first. Democracy is all about the people, not all these awards. Let us call a spade a spade. Buhari has failed. If we give him another four years, Nigeria will collapse. We need a good leader that knows the problems of Nigerians. If I were Buhari, I would not contest in 2019.

—Wale Muri

I think it is a good thing that Abiola is being recognised. But the intention of Buhari is not very clear. May 29, the Democracy Day, was just two weeks ago. Why did Buhari not remember to announce it then? After all, he is replacing May 29 with June 12, which is his intention. It looks political anyway, as far as I am concerned. But it is very good Abiola is recognised as somebody that won an election in this country. But if Buhari wants to do it better, he should investigate why it was annulled and the people involved should be invited to explain why they annulled a free and fair election.

—Idowu Ifaturoti

I commend President Buhari for recognising M.K.O. Abiola as the winner of the June 12, 1993 election. It is long overdue. This would give the Southwesterners courage and a sense of belonging. And, even those that fought with M.K.O. will appreciate this. Some of them are still alive. I really thank the president for doing this.

—I. A. Oyedele

Honouring M.K.O. Abiola is a right step in the right direction. Ordinarily, I expected someone like Obasanjo to have done this in the past. He was there for eight years, but he did not deem it fit. Abiola deserved the honour given him by President Buhari. It was the first time in the history of this country that we have a Muslim-Muslim ticket and nobody went against it, not even the Christians. We all spoke with one voice then. We, the Southwest people, felt pained and cheated by the annulment of that election, and at the same time, Abiola lost his life in the process. The June 12 struggle led to the victory of Obasanjo in 1999. I will appreciate if Buhari’s government will continue. Buhari will do well if he goes further. However, it would be nice if President Buhari declares Abiola president posthumously. Abiola deserved it.

—Akinwale Johnson

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I am happy for the honour President Buhari gave Abiola. I was among the people that stood for that struggle and for democracy. Since that time, I have not been happy that they abandoned that struggle. Now that Buhari has recognised him, we are happy. Anybody that is against it is an enemy of Nigeria. Many people died because of that election, even though it was a free and fair election recognised all over the world. Why should somebody annul it? As long as this honour on Abiola is concerned, we recognise Buhari in Yorubaland than Obasanjo, who is our son. Obasanjo did not do anything for Yorubas, he does not want our progress.

—A. A. Alonge

I appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring M.K.O. Abiola on his victory in the June 12, 1993 presidential election, even due it is overdue. It was the most free and fair election conducted in Nigeria. I give Buhari kudos for that. This is the best thing and action Buhari has taken since he came into office three years ago. Though Abiola and Kingibe shared the same ticket, Kingibe only wants to benefit from where he did not sow, because he never stood by Abiola when he was in detention. He even served under the Abacha government that killed Abiola. Again, kudos to President Buhari for honouring Abiola.

—Sunday Oyetunde

Honouring M.K.O. Abiola with a posthumous award by the president is a welcome idea geared in a positive direction, considering the trauma it caused to the SDP presidential candidate, which I may say led to his death. I see the shifting of Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 as nothing but a political move to dent the image of some politicians and to gain unnecessary favours from the west. Buhari, knowing too well that he has failed as a president and in the deliverance of all his campaign promises, is now thinking of how to gain favour from the masses. If I may ask, of what benefit is this move to the nation? At a time that nothing is working, staff salary payment has become a serious issue in the country, not to talk of poor infrastructure or the lingering state of unemployment and corruption. I think there are many more important issues that need urgent and serious attention in the country than the shifting of Democracy Day,which to me has no impact on Nigerians, but rather political in all ramifications to the sole advantage of the president. This is nothing but political campaign in disguise, but Nigerians are smarter and wiser than yesterday and our PVC shall surely speak come 2019.

—Abdullucky Ajige

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It is long overdue.One may start asking questions. Why is it happening now? This move by the presidency is politically inclined.Election is near, and strategy to be used has already been listed and it is being followed strictly. The whole idea of change of Democracy day is politically inclined and it is also a conspiracy theory.We need not be deceived. June 12 is not an achievement because it has no impact on our economy, security, education and standard of living. What we need is good governance.

—Odaudu Michael

Although Democracy day was decided by President Obasanjo, Buhari can also declare it based on whatever criteria he would base his argument on. But as for me, it is immaterial as to which day it is. Buhari did this to the disdain of IBB and to appreciate the truth about Nigerian history. Yes, M.K.O. was a great man to be honoured. Yet, I will not give kudos to Buhari. We want action.Do not only declare it, but act it. You have not achieved anything by fighting your enemy and trying to please the Yorubas. Upgrade the Nigerian economy with good politics and employment. You do not manipulate people’s achievement to gain Nigerian’s favour!

—Pev Iortsaha

In my opinion, there is no gainsaying Buhari’s motive for honouring M.K.O. Abiola this particular time. We know that it is a plain political move to attract the blessing of Southwest people for 2019 presidential election. But truth be told, it is a courageous move. Past presidents declined to make the move to honour June 12. Buhari has restored the dignity and symbolism of June 12 when Nigerians forsook religious stance and voted en-masse in Nigeria’s freest election till date for Abiola and Kingibe. Changing Democracy Day to June 12 is a welcome development,albeit selfish and political motive. This will live long in the memories of generations to come. Conferring GCFR on Abiola posthumously may not have much effect as he is dead, but the story of Nigeria democracy is not complete without the mention of Abiola. Despite the timing of the honour and the changing of Democracy Day, Buhari has done what others refused to do.

—Joseph Oluwagbade