Osun State Government has declared that this year’s June 12
anniversary will be celebrated with pomp and pageantry as a mark of honour for
the winner of the annulled election, Chief Moshood Olawale Abiola. Read more
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr
Sunday Akere said at a press conference to herald activities for the June 12
celebrations that the present administration in the state would continue to
give recognition to June 12 as the real Democracy Day in the country.
Akere, who noted the significant contributions of the late
MKO Abiola to the enthronement of democracy in the country, observed that some
beneficiaries of democracy in the country were those who stood against the
declaration of the result of the June 12, 1993 presidential election believed
to have been won by Abiola.
He said: “What we are celebrating is the election held on
June 12, 1993 in which Nigerians went out with the goal of electing a president
under the supposed handing over agenda of the then Military junta. The election
adjudged as the freest in the democratic history of Nigeria was clearly won by
MKO Abiola but the powers that be, in their way and wisdom refused to declare
him as winner, scuttling the process after over half of the result had been
made public by the electoral body.”
He also informed that the state government was doing every
thing possible under the law to ensure that proper recognition was given to
June 12, even by successive administrations in the state.
To this end, Akere hinted that Governor Rauf Aregbesola was
already working on sending a bill to the state House of Assembly to make June
12 issue a constitutional one in the state for the government to recognize it
as the state’s Democracy Day.
Also speaking, renowned activist, Amitolu Shitu lamented
that the beneficiaries of democracy in the country today were those who stood
against the declaration of Chief MKO Abiola as the winner of June 12, 1993
Presidential election.
He, however, declared that the spirit of democracy would
continue to torment those who enjoy the present democracy in the country
without paying the due price for it.
Shittu maintained that “the late MKO Abiola sacrificed his
life for Nigerian democracy to thrive. The messenger was actually killed but
the message can never be killed.”
Also Ogun State Government has declared Wednesday, June 12,
public holiday in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the June 12, 1993
presidential election won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
In a statement by Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, Secretary to State
Government, the government said the public holiday would enable the people to
further appreciate the watershed that the annulled election represents,
particularly as it serves as the forebear of the current democracy which the
country now enjoys.
As part of the anniversary to celebrate the memorable day
now known as Democracy Day, the government will host a Democracy Walk and Rally
in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Expected to participate in the walk are workers, students,
market women and men, artisans, members of civil society, pro-democracy groups,
Non-Governmental Organisations, Community Development Associations,
professional groups, trade associations, National Union of Road Transport
Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria(RTEAN),
ACOMORAN, AMORAN, religious organisations and the general public.
The walk will begin at 7:30am from the June 12 Cultural
Centre in Kuto, Abeokuta and move through Kuto to Oke Ilewo, Lalubu Road, newly
constructed Ibara-Sokori-Totoro Road to Enu Garder Lafenwa to Ago Ika, Oke-Ido
and have its first stop in the family house of the late Abiola in Oja Igbo,
where Governor Ibikunle Amosun will lead others to pay homage to the family of
the late politician.
From Abiola’s family house, the train will move to Odo Oyo,
Itoku, ,Sapon, Ago Oko, Ake, Isale Ake, Oke Ejigbo, Ijaye, Iyana Mortuary to
Abiola Way back to MKO Stadium where the Governor will address the crowd before
everybody will depart for their various homes.
Culled from The Sun newspaper
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