June 12: Civil Societies March In Osun, Demand Declaration Of MKO’s Election Result

Civil society groups under the umbrella of Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Osun state on Wednesday marched to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election.

The groups marched from Ayetoro through Old Garage to Orita Olaiya to the popular Olaiya junction climaxing at the Osogbo city Hall, Olonkoro.

In their separate addresses, leaders of the coalition, Comrade Waheed Lawal, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, Comrade Wale Adebisi and Barr Rahman Shenge commended the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari you for listening to the yearnings of pro-Democracy activists in recognizing June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

It also congratulated Nigerians who stood by the struggle and not giving up even in the face of dictatorship.

The groups however demanded for a comprehensive inquiry into all matters of human rights abuses relating to June 12 as well as adequate compensation for those concerned either dead or living just as it called for the official declaration of the result of the June 12 presidential election to completely situate the event as a cogent record in Nigeria’s history.

The civil societies coalition urged government at all levels to as a matter of duty tackle expeditiously the myriad of challenges facing the country to actualise the essence of the mandate given to them.

The statement read in part “It is, however, important to state that it is not yet huruhuru; as a Nation, we must take a step further by officially declaring the result of the election while former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida and other dramatis personae are still living to properly situate the history and complete the records for this present generation of Nigerians and that of the future.

“We equally align ourselves with agitation of workers for a living wage by calling the government to begin proper implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage across sectors and sections of government. We will be doing ourselves great favour as a nation, improve workers welfare and alleviate poverty to a certain degree with this. However, we call for creation of more jobs not retrenchment or disengagement under any guise.”

“We implore the government to resolve all security challenges bedevling the Nation before the people take their security as a matter of private concern resulting in self help. This situation is becoming alarming and must be addressed holistically and comprehensively. We must also as a people and nation give maximum support to efforts of the government to curb this ugly development.”

“We remain grateful the people and implore Nigerians never to give up on agitation and struggle for a better Nigeria,” the coalition concluded.