Mixed reactions have trailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to change Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12.
Buhari in a press release also announced that MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled election,will be posthumously awarded the highest honour in the land, GCFR.
In varying reactions, some of the stakeholders in Nigerian polity who spoke to on the new development lauded Buhari for the step taken to restore the democratic values MKO Abiola represented. However, others strongly hold the declaration was ‘Greek gift’ to the South West ahead of the 2019 elections.
June 12 Democracy Day: Triumph of over injustice – Kokori
Former Executive Secretary of the national Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and an arrowhead of the June 12 Movement, Chief Frank Kokori, has described the formalization of the date as the National Democracy Day as the triumph of truth over injustice.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Kokori said the news of the proclamation by President Muhammadu Buhari and the posthumous honours conferred of the icon of the struggle, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, made him the happiest living man.
“I am the happiest man in this country today because I now realize that the struggle we made, especially my union; NUPENG and PENGASSAN, was not in vain and most of us who suffered terrible deprivation at that time. I am happy to be alive this day. They even said it is above October 1 because that was the day that we really fought for freedom and I have always said it everywhere. I am one of the happiest people on earth today and I appreciate this government because it is this government to come to realize the importance of that day.
Buhari tricked S/West with June 12 Democracy Day declaration – Omokri
Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has questioned Buhari’s declaration of June 12 as the official day for the celebration of Democracy Day in Nigeria.
His words: “In desperation for the Southwest vote, he has declared June 12, Democracy Day a d given MKO Abiola a post humous GCFR. What hypocrisy! This was a man who served Abacha while Abacha jailed Abiola. This was a man who praised Abacha, Abiola’s jailer!”
Afenifere hails decision
The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, hailed the declaration of June 12 as a national Democracy Day, noting that this was what it had been clamouring for over the years.
The group urged the Federal Government to go a step further by recognising the late Abiola as a former elected President of Nigeria.
Afenifere’s spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin, stated that the government should demonstrate that its decision was not a political gimmick by ensuring that “the spirit of June 12 prevails” in the forthcoming elections.
He added, “Though the GCON is the highest honour in the land, we want Abiola to be formally recognised as a former elected President of Nigeria.
“It is true that this decision is coming on the heels of another election in February 2019, the true test to demonstrate this is not a gimmick is to allow the spirit of June 12 to prevail in February in terms of free and fair elections where people can freely elect their leaders like it happened on June 12.”
Buhari’s move commendable – Okurounmu
In his reaction, Senator Femi Okurounmu, a former Secretary-General of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, said the move by the President was highly commendable.
Okurounmu, who represented Ogun-Central Senatorial District from 1999 to 2003, said the move had also put former President Olusegun Obasanjo to shame.
The Afenifere chieftain said all pleas to Obasanjo to honour MKO Abiola and declare June 12 a public holiday during his eight-year tenure were ignored.
He, however, said the Yoruba people should not be carried away by Buhari’s announcement given its timing, which is barely eight months to the Presidential election.
Okurounmu said, “It is a commendable act, and we appreciate him for that. Recognising the late MKO as the real winner of that election is long overdue. For us, June 12 had always been the authentic Democracy Day. May 29 was an insult to the Yoruba people. It was a mockery of the Yoruba.
“We appreciate him for honouring Abiola but we must not fall into any trap. Buhari is desperate for Yoruba votes. He knows he has lost the South-West and that is why he is doing this. This was how he lured us in 2015 with the help of Bola Tinubu. We must not fall a second time.
Political desperation, hypocrisy ahead of 2019 election –PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party, however, said the national honour to be conferred on Abiola by Buhari smacked of hypocrisy and political desperation ahead of the 2019 presidential election.
PDP said that President Buhari’s action merely sought to use the name and person of Abiola to gain a political capital and was not out of genuine reverence and recognition for him.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party recalled that President Buhari, who was serving in the military administration of General Sani Abacha during the travails of Abiola, did not associate either by words or actions with the late winner of June 12 election.
Ologbondiyan 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.
He said, “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 12 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 the 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.”
We are grateful to President Buhari – Ogun
In a statement signed on Wednesday night by the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, the state said, “We are grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for this recognition of an illustrious son of Ogun State and an icon of our democratic struggle, Chief MKO Abiola.
“President Buhari has shown with this action that he is a man that believes in justice and giving to every person his or her dues.
“Although this posthumous award may appear to some people to have come late, we thank the President. We urge all lovers of democracy and goodwill to continue to support the ideals for which Chief MKO Abiola lived and died for.
Supreme price Abiola paid: Olusegun Osoba
Two-time Governor of Ogun State Aremo Olusegun Osoba said: “I am very happy and highly elated. It is a major thing to accept Abiola as the president of Nigeria that was not sworn in. The honour of GCFR is reserved for presidents. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was the best president we never had, got it also without being president. I salute the President for the honour given to Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe. The GCON is always given to vice presidents.
“The acceptance of June 12 as the ‘Democracy day’ is in recognition of the supreme price that Abiola paid. It has elevated Abiola to the status of an international figure like Martin Luther King, who fought for justice and liberation in the United States.”
Abiola sacrificed self for Nigera: Balarabe Musa
“The decision is commendable and proper. I hope Nigerians will learn from it. June 12 was a watershed. We were united as a country to end the military rule. We shunned our differences to vote for Abiola. The election was peaceful. Buhari has the courage to do the right thing, which some thought was difficult. June 12 is the proper “Democracy Day” in Nigeria when people put their differences away.
“MKO Abiola sacrificed himself for the country. The chairman of the electoral commission at that time admitted that Abiola actually won the election. Therefore, I support the president on this. It is commendable because June 12 was a watershed.”
Mr. Wale Oshun
A former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives Mr. Olawale Oshun applauded the president, saying he had succeeded where former President Olusegun Obasanjo failed.
Oshun, a former Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and Afenifere: “It is a great day for democracy. Giving Chief MKO Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi the highest honours is in appreciation of the sacrifices made by the members of the civil society groups. It is a honour for the people who were shot along Ikorodu Road, Lagos by the military during the protests against the annulment. It has been late in coming. The first civilian president in this dispensation ought to have taken the decision. But, we are grateful that Buahri has done it.”
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