In a bid to win the support of the South West geopolitical zone in the 2019 general election, President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that democracy day in Nigeria will henceforth be marked on June 12 of every year as against the May 29 that it normally holds.
Buhari who made this known in a press release issued on Wednesday in Abuja said that, “For the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29th as Democracy Day. That was the date when for the second time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from the military government. The first time this happened was on October 21st, 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 1st.
“June 12th, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest and most peaceful election since our independence. The fact that the outcome 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”.
He also said that the government has decided to award posthumously the highest honour of the land, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) to Late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election which was annulled by the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s administration.
He further stated that Abiola’s running mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe is also to be invested with the second highest honour in Nigeria, the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) while the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN is to be awarded posthumously, a GCON.
The President however disclosed that the commemoration and investiture of Chief MKO Abiola, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe and Chief Gani Fawehinmi will take place on Tuesday June 12th, 2018, a date which he said would in future replace May 29th as a National Public Holiday in celebration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
Send your news, press releases/articles to augustinenwadinamuo@yahoo.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @reportersinfo and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526, 08053908817.
