President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday announced that June 12th will henceforth be celebrated as Nigeria’s democracy day in honour of the widely acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola.
On hearing the announcement, former ministers Femi Fani-Kayode and Oby Ezekwesili, as well as other well-meaning Nigerians took to their Twitter handles to air their views on the Federal Government’s gesture.
See tweets below:
I commend @MBuhari for announcing June 12th as our new Democracy Day. This is long overdue and I am pleasantly surprised.I also commend him for honoring Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the June 12th 1993 presidential election, with the posthumus award of GCON.This is great news!
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) June 6, 2018
That’s a very welcome gesture from .@NGRPresident @MBuhari – this honor done Chief MKO Abiola. The symbolism of June 12 is huge for our Democracy. The sacrifice of the Abiola family was much and I do hope Mrs Kudirat Abiola is similarly accorded the honor due her. #History.
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) June 7, 2018
One week you praise Abiola’s jailer, Abacha, the next week, you show your hypocrisy by remembering Abiola. You only accepted to serve Abacha AFTER he jailed Abiola. You only accepted to honour Abiola just BEFORE elections. You still served Abacha after Kudirat was murdered!
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 6, 2018
Someone should tell Buhari that Nigerians are wiser than these cheap gimmicks. Even If he decides to make Shagari’s Birthday a Public Holiday, erects a statue for MKO Abiola in all 36 states and brings back Nnamdi Azikiwe to life, he will still go back to Daura in 2019
— Barr. Jimoh Ibrahim (@JimohIbrahimOFR) June 7, 2018
Sowore Responds:
I spoke about #June12 #June12DemocracyDay before @MBuhari's "tokenesim".
I will do better as President by declaring Abiola @NGRPresident posthumously, pay him 8 years salary and entitlement – Presidential candidate and founder of @SaharaReporters @YeleSowore https://t.co/NaA7lDHRw6— Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) June 7, 2018
This June 12, MKO Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN hat-trick by President Buhari has all the signs of an Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu assist.
Just when Obasanjo, PDP and nPDP were attacking with ghen-ghen pressing, bang! Swift counter, Bola Ozil Tinubu assist Bubu hat-trick!— Nwachukwu Emmanuel (@emma_dele) June 7, 2018
Was Obasanjo really a compensation for the annulled June 12 election? If he was and never gave Abiola his due recognition and allow a Fulani man with a gap tooth to do the needful.
— BringBackOurGirls (@amenahuruemu) June 7, 2018
MKO Abiola was a Philanthropist and to a large extent- a good man. But he was no hero or saint.
— Daddy Khalil (@Oddy4real) June 7, 2018
I salute Mr. President for declaring June 12 as democracy day and for honouring Chief MKO Abiola as a gallant soldier who died fighting the cause of democracy. Let the govt now use this opportunity to build on the ideology of June 12 to move the country forward.
— liborous oshoma (@liborous) June 7, 2018
In 1997, I cornered Babagana Kingibe for an interview in Sheraton Hotel Lagos while he was smoking cigarette. He told me he has not granted any interview since the June 12, 1993 annulment. I begged him. He obliged and told me why he abandoned Abiola. Today, he is getting an award
— Jackson Ude (@jacksonpbn) June 7, 2018
President Buhari did this for politics? So what? Others had the opportunities to do it for legal, economic, religious reasons but failed to honour MKO Abiola
What's wrong with you people biko nu?
— Tunde Eneji (@iameneji) June 7, 2018
Declaring June 12 as Democracy Day has always been the right thing to do. Chief MKO Abiola sacrificed it all for the Democracy we are currently practicing in this country. He was voted for by all. This feat is for us all, not Yorubas alone.
— Bhadmus Hakeem (@Bhadoosky) June 6, 2018
MKO Abiola's election was annulled. Awwn sad story. We should all cry.
What they won't tell you is that there was a valid Court Order obtained by Authur Nzeribe's Association For Better Nigeria (ABN) which led to the said annulment.
Was the Court Order ever vacated?
— Daddy Khalil (@Oddy4real) June 7, 2018
Post-humous recognition of Abiola as duly elected president? Quite a significant move! I like what it does to our democracy. Yet we must separate its significance from the fact that an incompetent govt that watches its citizens slaughtered by killer herdsmen made this right move.
— Nedu Ekeke #BBOG (@Nedunaija) June 6, 2018
Politics you call it, June 12 was also a Political Occurrence and Abiola was the symbol.
Pmb played the right politics that PDP couldn't play in 16 years. This is the type of politics we should encourage not politics of looting, do or die or armed robber politics!!!!
— Ayekooto (@DeeOneAyekooto) June 6, 2018
Whether what PMB did on June 12 is political or not, the most important thing is that, MKO Abiola has finally been honoured. #June12
— #OtunbaAsiwaju (@AsiwajuOladimej) June 7, 2018
If you had seen through Buhari's failed presidency before & suddenly becomes swayed towards voting him in for a second term because of this Greek gift of #June12DemocracyDay & long overdue posthumous award to MKO Abiola, then I'm sorry to call you what you are: A FOOL!!!
— Olaudah Equiano® (@Uruokpala) June 6, 2018
This singular act of honouring #Abiola by @MBuhari has putten IBB, OBJ and PDP into public discuss and ridicule now till election periods.
— OMOKO (@Maiomoko) June 7, 2018
June 12 1993, Nigerians voted for MKO Abiola & that election was annulled. I can't understand how & when it became a "Yoruba" thing! I tire
— Michael Ojurongbe (@angels2mike) June 7, 2018
Abiola is too big a personality to be used for political negotiations maneuvering.
— tony (@obaro23) June 7, 2018
It is a welcome development. This is what we have been waiting for over the years. Good Nigerians have made several calls for Chief M K O Abiola to be recognised as a Nigerian President. For this government to have done this, it is a welcome gesture — Mohammed Fawehinmi#June12 pic.twitter.com/VCZPhZiLTB
— #ChangeHasCome (@ChangeHasComee) June 7, 2018
