MKO Abiola: Prominent Nigerians react to change in Democracy day

A lot of prominent Nigerians have recently reacted to the change in Democracy day by the presidency.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday announced the change of date in honour of the late MKO Abiola.

A former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has reacted to the change of the Democracy Day date from May 29 to June 12.

Ezekwesili hailed the decision by Buhari to declare June 12 as the new Democracy Day in honour of the late presumed winner of the June 12 1993 Presidential Election, Abiola.

She, also, urged Buhari to also honour Mrs. Kudirat Abiola.

Ezekwesili, in a tweet, said, ”That’s a very welcome gesture from @NGRPresident @MBuhari – this honor done Chief MKO Abiola. The symbolism of June 12 is huge for our Democracy.

”The sacrifice of the Abiola family was much and I do hope Mrs Kudirat Abiola is similarly accorded the honor due her. #History.”

Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Also says President Muhammadu Buhari has by declaring June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day put an end to the “hypocrisy” of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Falana said declaring June 12 as Democracy Day “validated the integrity of the fair and free election that was criminally annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida junta”.

The human rights lawyer also called on the government to adopt Abiola’s welfare programme to tackle poverty.

“The Muhammadu Buhari administration made history today by conferring the post humous national award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Chief M. K. O. Abiola, the acclaimed of the June 12, 1993 presidential election for his huge contribution to the restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria,” the statement read.

“By declaring June 12 Democracy Day the federal government has officially validated the integrity of the fair and free election that was criminally annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida junta.

“By recognizing June 12 as Democracy Day the federal government has put an end to the hypocrisy of May 29 which was proclaimed by the Olusegun Obasanjo regime. By confering the post humous award of national award of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) on Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN the federal government has officially endorsed his enormous contributions to the titanic battle against military dictatorship and promotion of human rights in Nigeria.

“In addition to the historic gesture the federal government should proceed to adopt chief Abiola’s programme of welfare to poverty and respect the human rights of all Nigerians which Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN championed and defended in his life time.

“In particular, the federal government should mark the first national democracy day on June 12, 2018 with the release of all citizens who are being detained illegally all over the country and immediate compliance with all valid and subsisting court orders.”

Falana also called on the government to equally honour Kudirat Abiola who was assassinated while defending her husband’s mandate.

On the other hand, Festus Keyamo replies Nigerians saying Buhari has an ulterior motive in declaring June 12th democracy day
PDP in a statement released by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, says President Buhari’s declaration of June 12th as the new democracy day in memory of late MKO Abiola and conferring him with the GCFR title posthumously, smacks of desperation and hypocrisy. Read their statement below

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the national honour proposed to be conferred on the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993, Chief MKO Abiola, by President Muhammadu Buhari, smacks of hypocrisy and political desperation ahead of 2019 presidential election.

PDP declares that President Buhari’s action merely sought to use the name and person of Chief Abiola to gain a political capital and not out of genuine reverence and recognition for him.

The party recalls that President Buhari, who was serving in the military administration of General Sani Abacha during the travails of Chief MKO Abiola, did not associate either by words or actions with the late winner of June 12 election.

The party further stated that history did not record President Buhari as sympathetic to the Abiola’s family when his wife, Kudirat, was gruesomely murdered by the agents of a government which President Buhari served.

It is therefore a sign of political desperation for President Buhari to seek to use Chief Abiola’s name as a tool to sway Nigerians in less than twelve months to an election where he, (President Buhari) is seeking a second term.

It is also shocking that the respectable grave of Abiola can be dishonoured by granting a posthumous award on him along with someone who denounced the June 12 mandate and preferred the company of his (Abiola’s) traducers.

Even those who now masquerade as change agents were opposed to the naming of University of Lagos after Chief Abiola.

If President Buhari genuinely wants to honour Chief Abiola, he should do so by ending all anti-democratic proclivities of his administration and allow for the rule of law and respect for our constitution.

The PDP therefore urges President Buhari to shed his desperate actions in his quest to win the 2019 presidential election as Nigerians can no longer be deceived by such antics.

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore, says President Buhari’s award of GCFR on MKO Abiola is illegal

Belgore described as illegal, the award of the highest title in Nigeria, GCFR, to winner of the June 12th 1993 election, MKO Abiola, posthumously.

Belgore who was Chief Judge between 2006 and 2007 and also the chairman of the National Honors Committee in 2016, spoke to Premiumtimes where he stated that the National honors are only conferred on living people and that it is only soldiers or service men that are awarded posthumously for their bravery.

“It is not done… it is for people living. The only thing they could do is to name a place after him, but national honours award, no.” he said

FFK commends President Buhari for declaring June 12th democracy day in honor of Abiola

Reno Omokri has said the President’s action was done in desperation,

”President Buhari declared June 12th democracy day in desperation for Southwest votes” Reno Omokri says

Reno Omokri has described as a political gimmick President Buhari’s declaration of June 12th as Democracy Day.