Osun Plans Big For June 12

From BAMIGBOLA GBOLAGUNTE, Osogbo

Osun State Government has declared that this year’s June 12 anniversary will be celebrated with pomp and pageantry as a mark of honour for the winner of the annulled election, Chief Moshood Olawale Abiola.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere said at a press conference to herald activities for the June 12 celebrations that the present administration in the state would continue to give recognition to June 12 as the real Democracy Day in the country.

 

Akere, who noted the significant contributions of the late MKO Abiola to the enthronement of democracy in the country, observed that some beneficiaries of democracy in the country were those who stood against the declaration of the result of the June 12, 1993 presidential election believed to have been won by Abiola.

He said: “What we are celebrating is the election held on June 12, 1993 in which Nigerians went out with the goal of electing a president under the supposed handing over agenda of the then Military junta. The election adjudged as the freest in the democratic history of Nigeria was clearly won by MKO Abiola but the powers that be, in their way and wisdom refused to declare him as winner, scuttling the process after over half of the result had been made public by the electoral body.”

He also informed that the state government was doing every thing possible under the law to ensure that proper recognition was given to June 12, even by successive administrations in the state.

To this end, Akere hinted that Governor Rauf Aregbesola was already working on sending a bill to the state House of Assembly to make June 12 issue a constitutional one in the state for the government to recognize it as the state’s Democracy Day.

Also speaking, renowned activist, Amitolu Shitu lamented that the beneficiaries of democracy in the country today were those who stood against the declaration of Chief MKO Abiola as the winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election.

He, however, declared that the spirit of democracy would continue to torment those who enjoy the present democracy in the country without paying the due price for it.

Shittu maintained that “the late MKO Abiola sacrificed his life for Nigerian democracy to thrive. The messenger was actually killed but the message can never be killed.”

Source : Sun News