Knocks, Praises As Buhari Announces June 12 As Democracy Day

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to respect the laws of the country if he truly wants to honour the late MKO Abiola.

The party made the demand in a statement on Wednesday by their National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan.

They issued the statement hours after the President announced June 12 as Nigeria’s new Democracy Day, to honour Abiola – the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election.

President Buhari, who also conferred a posthumous GCFR title on the late businessman and philanthropist, explained that June 12 would replace May 29 because it is more symbolic.

But the opposition PDP believes there is more to the President’s announcement than honouring Abiola, claiming it might not be distanced from political reasons.

Amid the party’s allegations of prosecution of perceived political opponents, they said, “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.”

They further alleged that the President’s action smacks of hypocrisy and political desperation ahead of the presidential election in 2019.

June 12: FG Has Ended ‘The Hypocrisy Of May 29’ – Falana

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for declaring June 12 as the new Democracy Day.

In a statement titled ‘In Celebration of Men of History’ and signed by him on Wednesday, the activist noted that the Federal Government has put an end to the “hypocrisy of May 29” proclaimed since the return to democracy.

Commending the President’s action, Falana said Buhari’s administration made history by honouring Abiola’s huge contribution to the restoration of democratic rule in the country.

Shehu Sani, Ezekwesili Applaud June 12 Declaration As Democracy Day

The lawmaker representing Kaduna Central district in the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, has joined other Nigerians to extol the declaration of June 12 as the new Democracy Day.

Commending the development, Senator Sani noted that the 1993 mass action against military dictatorship has been crowned and the recognition should be appreciated.

A co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, described the President’s announcement as “a very welcome gesture”.

She stressed the symbolism of June 12 as huge for Nigeria’s democracy and urged the Federal Government to accord the honour due to Abiola’s wife, Mrs Kudirat, for the family’s sacrifice.

On his part, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, took a swipe at the opponents of President Buhari’s administration.

Senator Sani, Dr Ezekwesili, and Mr Keyamo took to Twitter to share their thoughts about the June 12 declaration;