June 12 Declaration: Award for all progressives – Forum

June 12 Declaration: Award for all progressives – Forum

Thursday, June 7, 2018 5:52 am


MKO Abiola

The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum has said that the declaration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy day by President Muhammadu Buhari is a reward for all progressives in the country.
Mr Akin Malaolu,  Secretary-General of the forum, said  this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria  (NAN) in Abuja.
He applauded the decision of President Buhari to posthumously award Chief M. K. O Abiola with the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).
Malaolu said the decision and recognition provoked emotions and tears of joy throughout the country, especially in the Western region.
He noted that Abiola was a political figure that was respected by all tribes in the country and across the world in his life  time.

“We had this opportunity in 1999 when Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo was president, but despite all appeals to him, he turned the teeming masses down.

“But GOD and Allah said that this day shall come and it came without rancour but happiness and warm smiles everywhere.

“Candidly, when the news broke, artisans, market women and workers were in jubilation, commercial drivers and passengers hugged one another with smiles.
“Every word that came out from the jubilant crowd can be interpreted as: do good and good will follow you,” Malaolu said.

He congratulated Nigerians and the victims of brutal killings during the struggle for the actualisation of June 12 in 1993.

He also thanked President Buhari, the Vice President and others, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the decision.

NAN reports that President Buhari, in a statement,  said: “ After due consultations, the Federal Government has decided that henceforth, June 12 will be celebrated as the Democracy Day.

” Therefore, government has decided to award posthumously, the highest honour of the land, GCFR to late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 cancelled election.

“His running mate as Vice President Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe is also to be honoured with a GCON.”

He also said that the Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi would be posthumously awarded GCON.

The President said the commemoration and investiture would take place on June 12.

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