Ondo State governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has identified banishment of poverty in Nigeria’s society as the greatest honour the country can bestow on the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief MKO Abiola.
Akeredolu, who applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Abiola with the highest honour in Nigeria, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, said June 12, 1993 election would forever remain a watershed in the nation’s political experience. [soundcloud soundcloudurl=”http://presentng.com/lets-banish-poverty-as-honour-for-abiola-says-akeredolu/” ][/soundcloud]
The governor, represented by his deputy, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, made the remark on Tuesday in Akure during a special Town Hall Assembly organised by the Ondo State Government to mark June 12, Democracy Day.
Akeredolu’s remark followed discussions by a group of panelists who spoke elaborately on “June 12: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”
It will be recalled that the then military government headed by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida annulled the result of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, believed by both local and international observers to be the freest and fairest in the country.
According to Akeredolu, the election presented itself as a unifying factor devoid of ethnic, religious or political consideration in the country.
He said the popular dream of Nigerians of electing their leader in a freest and fairest election after a prolonged military government was truncated by the annulment of the June 12 poll.
Akeredolu said: “We have continued to wallow in its wanton consequences 25 years on. Succeessful governments have brushed aside calls and agitations for Abiola to be officially recognised as the winner and consequently honoured.
“It is gratifying to state and express our heartfelt gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for his well thought-out decision to honour the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola with the highest award in the land alongside some notable stakeholders in the June 12 project.
“We also thank him most sincerely for recognising our own late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, the foremost pro-democracy activist with an award of GCON .”
The governor said his administration, before Buhari named June 12 as Democracy Day, had always believed in the sanctity of the date.
He, as a result, renamed the Democracy Park at Oba Adesida Road, Akure, as “MKO Abiola Democracy Park” because of its importance in the political history of Nigeria.
Akeredolu said: “With the couragious step taken by the President of the country, President Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR, to right the wrong of the past by aknowledging the sacrifice made by the late Chief MKO Abiola, it has become patently clear that the position of Ondo State is justified.
“We eqaully thank the President for officially naming June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria. No other Democracy Day can be more appropriate than that in the political history of Nigeria. It is a wise thing to do.”
