Two respected Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, Yusuf Ali and John Baiyeshea, have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare June 12 as Democracy Day in the country, adding that the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, late MKO Abiola, should be immortalised.
Ali, who doubles as chairman, Anti-Corruption Commission, Nigerian Bar Association, said June 12, remains a significant moment in the history of Nigeria’s democracy.
He called on the need for the political leaders to serve the people well and deliver dividends of democracy as a veritable way to immortalise Abiola whom he claimed, sacrificed a lot for his fatherland.
“I think we should turn June 12 to democracy day. We should forget May 29 and make June 12 Democracy Day. That is the date that defines the current dispensation of Nigeria. It is a defining moment for democracy.
“Another way to immortalise MKO is for the political class to get together and serve the people that voted them into office rather than serve themselves.”
Also adding his voice, Baiyeshea said, “No matter how we pretend about it, no matter how those in authorities pretend about it, it has become a watershed for democracy in this country.
“And I know that sooner or later, we would get to a stage where June 12 will become a nationally recognised holiday or the day will be declared to immortalise Abiola who is the symbol of democratic struggle in Nigeria. I know the time is coming very soon. I support the declaration of June 12 as a democracy day.”
Abiola was the acclaimed winner of June 12 1993 presidential election. The election was however annulled by the then military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
It would be recalled that the late business guru, who was arrested on June 23, 1993, later died on July 8, 1998 at the age of 60,under the regime of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
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