Activists on Thursday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring June 12 as the new Democracy Day.
President Buhari on Wednesday declared that June 12 would henceforth be celebrated as Democracy Day
He also conferred a posthumous national honour on the presumed winner of June 12, 1993, presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola.
President of Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA), Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, reacted on the development, saying: “We accept these honours no matter how belated because we and other Nigerians have campaigned around these issues over the years.”
Okei-Odumakin said June 12 could not be forgotten so fast by Nigerians because it was the day Nigerians freely elected a president in the freest and fairest election.
The rights activist prayed that the spirit of June 12 would take firm root in Nigeria future elections.
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“It is our wish that the essential spirit of June 12 takes firm root in our land with free and fair election and becomes a norm in our land from the Ekiti elections scheduled for July 14 and the general elections in 2019. That is the moment the spirits of Abiola and all martyrs of June 12 will forgive Nigeria,’’ she said.
National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party and former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said Buhari’s action had given Nigerians renewed hope.
“President Buhari’s action with regards to declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day and award of the highest honour to late Chief MKO Abiola are relevant, just, courageous and patriotic.
“The actions give hope that President Buhari can do the right thing and correct wrongs before it’s too late for him and for the nation,’’ Musa said.
(NAN)
