The Lagos State Government has declared Tuesday, June 12, as public holiday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the annulled 1993 Presidential election won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola.
This is contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, on Saturaday.
Bello said the significance of June 12, 1993 election, adjudged as the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria, would always be a reference point in the state’s quest to entrench true democracy in service to the people.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent declaration of June 12 as the new Democracy Day.
He said the singular act would forever ensure that MKO Abiola and other martyrs of democracy, who laid down their lives in the struggle to entrench good governance, did not do so in vain.
“On behalf of all Lagosians, we want to commend and applaud Mr President.
“We commend him for deeming it fit finally against all odds from all other past presidents that 25 years after, we are able to now celebrate our own Democracy Day and also declare that the real winner of 1993 June 12 Presidential election was actually our own MKO Abiola.
“No matter how long you try to hide history, history will always reveal itself with a true platform.
“So, we know that is one very important singular step as we go forward to build an enduring democracy.
“And for all democrats in this country, we are excited that we are moving in the right direction.
“It also affirms that Nigeria can get it right if we begin to put things in the right perspective and work for the general good of the greater number of people. That is the true essence of democracy.
“For us in Lagos, June 12 is not just a day to remember, it is a rallying point for those of us in service that we must continuously strive to entrench true democracy and good governance which is what Chief MKO Abiola totally exemplified,” Bello said.
Also, the Osun State Government has declared the day as public holiday.
Dr Obawale Adebisi, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, in a statement on Saturday in Osogbo, said the public holiday was in line with a policy of the state to observe June 12 as Democracy Day every year.
Adebisi said the present administration had since inception been observing June 12 as Democracy Day in remembrance of the 1993 presidential election, which was adjudged the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria.
The commissioner said Gov. Rauf Aregbesola had always maintained “June 12, 1993 was the day democracy was born in Nigeria.
“Aregbesola’s stance on June 12 as Democracy Day had been justified by President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration of the day as Nigeria’s democracy day instead of May 29.
“We also commend the President for honouring Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election with a posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).
“The state government of Osun commends the President on this righteous step of honouring June 12 and key players of the 1993 presidential election, 25 years after.
“The Government of the State of Osun has, therefore, declared Tuesday, June 12 a public holiday,’’ Adebisi said.
It will be recalled that Buhari had on Wednesday announced that effective 2019, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, marked every May 29 for the past 18 years, would be celebrated on June 12.
The move he said was to honour MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election.
The Oyo State Government also declared Tuesday as public holiday.
Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, said that the declaration was to commemorate the anniversary of June 12, 1993 election.
Arulogun expressed satisfaction that 25 years after the election adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria, Abiola, the winner of the election, was recognised by the Federal Government.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the posthumous award of the highest honour of the land, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, on Abiola and the decision to make June 12 as the Democracy Day in recognition and honour of the martyrdom of Abiola and others who fought for the actualization of Democracy in Nigeria.
Arulogun described the politician and business mogul as a symbol of democracy, noting that his strong conviction that the ordinary Nigerian must be freed from the shackles of oppression, poverty, penury and want would forever be appreciated and commended.
He explained that the ideal of the good governance, which the late Chief Abiola stood for, had always motivated the All Progressives Congress (APC) governments at Oyo State and the federal level, saying that the dividends of this good governance which is pro-people will forever be remembered in the annals of the country.
Arulogun assured that the state will continue to celebrate June 12.
