“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.
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.