Prominent
Nigerians on Tuesday suggested ways in which the Federal Government
could immortalise the winner of the 1993 presidential election, Chief
Moshood Abiola.
These include the
Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Dr.
Lateef Adegbite; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi
Ikuforiji and Niger-Delta activist, Ms. Ankio Briggs as well as a former
member of the Senate, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora.
They spoke at the Lagos
residence of the the late Abiola during the 19th anniversary of June 12
tagged ‘June 12 Democracy Day Celebration’ organised by June 12
Movement, Change Agents of Nigeria Project and Kudirat Abiola Initiative
for Democracy.
Adegbite lamented that Nigerian authorities had yet to accord due recognition to the historic day.
He urged President
Goodluck Jonathan, whose election he described as the closest in
“cleanliness” to Abiola’s on June 12, 1993, to do more in honouring the
late politician.
Adegbite said, “Release
officially the results of the elections. Declare Chief M.K.O Abiola the
winner of the election. Confer posthumously on MKO Abiola all the
honours due to an elected President of Nigeria including the award of
the national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic.”
He added that June 12 should be declared MKO Abiola Day to replace May 29 currently observed as Democracy Day.
Ikuforiji, who
supervised the laying of a wreath at the tomb of Abiola, noted that the
deceased paid the supreme price for the enthronement of democracy.
‘‘We must continue to
fight for what he stood for. A day must be set aside to honour Abiola.
The National Assembly must enact a legislation to declare June 12 MKO
Abiola Day. We call on the electoral body to as a matter of national
importance declare Abiola as winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential
election,” he stated.
Briggs stated that the
yearly celebration of June 12 was meant to correct all the ills and
injustices that had existed in the country.
She added that one of
the ways to honour Abiola was to recognise him alongside other
democratically-elected Presidents in the country.
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