M.K.O. Abiola

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday made what most political observers in Nigeria see as a very smart political manoeuvre which could earn him a great electoral advantage in the 2019 presidential election.

He declared June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day to replace the May 29 date. This declaration answers to the yearnings and agitations by pro-democracy groups across Nigeria who had long argued that June 12 1993 was the first time the country witnessed a truly free and fair national election.

Buhari, while making this declaration, also pronounced Nigeria’s highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, on the presumed winner of the presidential polls, the late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.

Abiola is believed by most Nigerians to be a martyr of the country’s democracy. Following the refusal of the military government led by General Ibrahim Babangida to declare the results of the election and the eventual annulment of the entire exercise, Abiola declared that he had secured the mandate of Nigerians.

MKO refused to surrender that mandate although the military junta refused to declare him as the winner of the election. He was subsequently jailed without trial by General Sani Abacha, the maximum military ruler who succeeded Babangida.

Also honoured by Buhari is Amb. Babagana Kingibe who was Abiola’s running mate in that election. Kingibe will be conferred with the title of Grand Commander of the Niger, GCON which is the country’s second highest honour.

The legendary Nigerian human rights activist and campaigner, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi is the third beneficiary of Buhari’s gesture. He is to be posthumously conferred with the honour of Grand Commander of the Niger, GCON.

President Buhari said the investiture of the three men with the honours will be done on June 12 which is next week.

This is apparently without regard to the fact that Democracy Day for the year 2018 was celebrated with a public holiday less than two weeks ago.

Buhari’s declaration came in the form of a statement which he personally signed. He declared:

“For the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29, as Democracy Day. That was the date when, for the second time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government. The first time this happened was on October 21, 1979.

“But in the view of Nigerians, as shared by this administration, June 12, 1993 was far more symbolic of democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29 or even the October 1.

“June 12, 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. “Accordingly, after due consultations, the Federal, Government has decided that henceforth, June 12 will be celebrated as Democracy Day.

“Therefore, the government has decided to award posthumously the highest honour of the land, GCFR, to the late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 cancelled elections. “His running mate as Vice President, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, is also to be invested with a GCON.

“Furthermore, the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualisation of the June 12 elections and indeed for democracy in general, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, is to be awarded the GCON.

“The investiture will take place on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, a date which in future years will replace May 29 as a National Public Holiday in celebration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day.”