Ambode commends Buhari on declaration of June 12 as new Democracy Day

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State  on Wednesday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for declaration of June 12 as New Democracy Day in honour of the late presumed winner of the June 12 1993 Presidential Election, Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.
The Governor lauded the President, saying that the development was a historic and symbolic moment in the nation’s political trajectory.
“This is a welcome development. It is a historic moment in our nation and I join other Nigerians to commend President Buhari on this announcement. By this move, he has done what previous administrations failed to do. This not only shows that the President is a man of history and character but also eloquently confirms that the heroes of democracy did not die in vain after all,” Governor Ambode said.
President Buhari, in a statement on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, remarked that “for the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29th as Democracy Day;” explaining: “That was the date when for the second time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government.” He noted that the first time this happened was on October 1, 1979.
The President, however, argued: “but in the view of Nigerians, as shared by this administration, June 12th, 1993, was far more symbolic of Democracy Day in the Nigerian context than May 29th or even the October 1st.”
President Buhari articulated that “June 12th, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our Independence. The fact that the outcome of that election  was not upheld by the then military government does not distract from the democratic credentials of that process.”
Buhari, therefore, declared: “Accordingly, after due consultations, the Federal Government has decided that, henceforth, June 12th will be celebrated as 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 12th, 1993 cancelled elections. His running mate as Vice President, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be invested with a GCON. Furthermore, the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualization of the June 12th election and, indeed, for Democracy in general, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN, is to be awarded posthumously a GCON.”
President Buhari stated that the commemoration and investiture will take place on Tuesday, June 12th, 2018, a date which in future years will replace May 29th as a National Public Holidays in celebration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day.