National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
President Muhammadu Buhari has institutionalized June 12 as the day for the observance of return of democracy in the country,declaring the day a National holiday henceforth.
The President made this known Wednesday night via his verified Twitter account with a press statement from the Presidency attached.
President Buhari also conferred the highest honour in the land,Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.
“Dear Nigerians, I am delighted to announce that, after due consultations, the Federal Govt has decided that henceforth, June 12 will be celebrated as Democracy Day. We have also decided to award posthumously the highest Honour in the land, GCFR, to the late Chief MKO Abiola,” President Buhari.
The Presidency also conferred the honour of Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON) on the late Chief Ghani Fawehimi SAN,one of the campaigners for the actualization of the mandate of the 1993 annuled election.
Chief Abiola’s running mate,Babagana Kingibe, was similarly bestowed with the honour of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).
“The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military Government does not distract from the democratic credential of that process,” said Buhari.
The investiture and commemoration will take place on June 12,2018 and the date will from then onward be observed as a National holiday,according to the Presidency.
The 1993 election was adjudged the most free and fair election in the nation’s history.
The election was presumed to have been won in a landslide by the standard bearer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP),MKO Abiola, who contested against Maman Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
The then Military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida annulled the elections,citing some irregularities.
The quest to have his mandate restored led to MKO’s incarceration and subsequent death in detention.
Many Nigerians also died as a result of the military clampdown on protesters agitating for the reversal of the government’s decision over the election.
