June 12: President Muhammadu Buhari Reawakes History
2 min readMojisola Lawal
26 years after the annulment of the historic June 12, 1993 election results, precisely, June 6 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari reawaken the hopes of millions of Nigerians.
He resonate the historic June 12, 1993 struggle in the hearts of millions of Nigerians with his signing into law bill that makes June 12 a national holiday.
President Buhari awarded the highest national honour in Nigeria, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR to the celebrated winner of the June 12, 1993 elections.
He also directed that the nation’s Democracy Day will, henceforth, hold on June 12 of every year as against the current arrangement where the ceremony holds on May 29.
Apart from Abiola, President Buhari also honoured his running mate, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, and the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, with the second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Niger.
President Buhari’s Statement That Altered the Cause of History:
President Muhammadu Buhari on June 6, 2018 while addressing journalists at the presidential villa, Abuja about the resolve of his administration to honour Chief MKO Abiola said, “For the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29, as Democracy Day. That was the date when, for the second time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government. The first time this happened was on October 21, 1979.
“But in the view of Nigerians, as shared by this administration, June 12, 1993 was far more symbolic of democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29 or even the October 1.
“June 12, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful election since our independence. The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military government does not distract from the democratic credentials of that process.
“Accordingly, after due consultations, the Federal, Government has decided that henceforth, June 12 will be celebrated as Democracy Day and as a National holiday“
Views: 0
