Eminent Nigerians were on Friday June 12th 2015, calling on the Federal Government to declare June 12 Democracy Day, in place of May 29, so as to immortalize late Chief Moshood Kolawole Abiola and the spirit of the June 12 struggle.
Among those who led the call include Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode; Human Right Lawyer, Femi Falana and former Commissioner for Information in Lagos, Dele Alake.
Their request was the focus of their remarks at the commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election in Lagos, Friday, where they unanimously agreed that the declaration was the best national recognition that could be accorded the struggle.
At the well attended symposium organised by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with the June 12 Coalition of Democratic Formations, at the Lagos Television (LTV) Blue Roof, Agidingbi, Lagos, Ambode noted that the June 12 date would forever remain unique on the calendar, describing it as a date that has assumed a life of its own.
He said it was a day where the people of Nigeria trooped out to the polling booth to reclaim their rights and privileges as a people.
According to him, “June 12 symbolises the patriotic and nationalistic spirit in all Nigerians. On June 12, we showed that irrespective of class or political sympathy, we would always join hands to respect our national values.”
Ambode said though the peoples’ hope was dashed with the annulled election, presumably won by Abiola, “June 12 stands as the real democracy day which was sanctioned by the blood of martyrs who laid down their lives for this democracy.”
Continuing, he said: “We shall not forget them; they will always be with us. As we continue to march on and sustain democratic governance, we would enhance and empower the well being of our people.
“The outcome of this year’s general elections has proven that the lessons of June 12, 1993 have been fruitful. I urge you all to take some time and reflect on the democratic journey that we have commenced for the benefit of all of us.
“Should we abdicate our responsibilities and allow personal interest and agenda to truncate our journey? We owe it as a duty to immortalize the memories of our fallen compatriots and deepen our democracy to sustain us as a people of destiny,” Ambode said.
Prof. Akin Oyebode, who was the chairman of the occasion, said the day was a celebration of die-hard spirit of Abiola, his wife Kudirat and hundreds of Nigerians that were killed in protest of annulment of the freest and fairest election ever held in the country.
Oyebode said it was sad and almost inconceivable that the politicians and the military decided to make May 29 Democracy Day.
“It must be said that without June 12, 1993, we would never have had May 29, 1999. We know that even as enemies of democracy try to thwart the idea, the sacrifice of MKO Abiola and of Nigerians who took to the streets should never be forgotten,” he said.
Oyebode added that it was unfortunate that the June 12 watershed has been ethnicised, with some states in the South west already marking it as a holiday, while others were still not bothered.
He said it was also amazing that Nigeria named monuments in Abuja and Stadium in Kano after military junta Sanni Abacha, while Abiola has not been immortalized as so deserved.
“Abiola remains a hero, even as June 12 has conscientised Nigerians that no power or effort can stop the will of the people united. MKO Abiola is the precursor of the ‘change’ we have today, given his idea of ‘farewell to poverty.’ To continue to ethnicise such date is a disservice to Nigeria. I think the time is now ripe for Nigeria to demonstrate their commitment to democracy and truly declare June 12 as a national holiday,” he said.
Apparently in agreement with earlier speakers, Falana said the onus was on Federal Government to immortalize the true heroes of Nigeria’s democracy.
Falana said: “This day (June 12) must be a national day and be declared a national holiday.”
He appealed to Lagos State to further champion the course of deepening democracy, by ensuring that living heroes and heroines of June 12 struggle are not forgotten.
Alake, who was the Editor of defunct Concord Newspapers and a close associate of late Abiola, in his lecture said June 12, was a day Nigerians were rebirthed as a true nation-state, adding that the annulment was the biggest damage ever done to the country.
He saluted the courage of June 12 activists like Frank Kokori, Ayo Opadokun, Alfred Ilenre, Dr. Amos Akingba, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Odion Akhaine and Segun Mayegun among others that were also present at the event.
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